Giant Bettas

Freshwater; benthopelagic; pH range: 4.5 - 7.5; dH range: ? - 1; depth range ? - 1 m (Ref. 81926). Tropical; 27°C - 30°C (Ref. 2060), preferred ?

Asia: lower Barito basin in South Kalimantan and Kotawaringin, Katingan, Sampit, Mentaya and Kahayan basins in Central Kalimantan, Indonesian Borneo.

Maturity: Lm&nbsp?&nbsp range ? - ? cm
Max length : 8.2 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 81926) Dorsal spines (total): 0 - 1; Dorsal soft rays (total): 8-9; Anal spines: 1-2; Anal soft rays: 27 - 29; Vertebrae: 30 - 31. Can be distinguished from other species in possessing the following combination of characters: a thick-set body (body depth 30.5-33.7 % SL) with the anterior part of the body reminiscent of the taxon Anabas; head devoid of pattern except for a preorbital stripe that runs from the black lower lip to the eye, and continuous with a postorbital stripe to the posterior edge of the opercle; in living specimens, the opercle with faint gold iridescent scales; and some median caudal rays projecting beyond the fin margin (Ref. 81926). Found in a murky stream, up to 1.2 m deep and pH 7.5. The stream water was sluggish and drained from cultivated area upstream (Ref. 81926). Seen only in local markets. Mouth brooder (Ref. 4537).

Male mouth brooder.

Kottelat, M., A.J. Whitten, S.N. Kartikasari and S. Wirjoatmodjo, 1993. Freshwater fishes of Western Indonesia and Sulawesi. Periplus Editions, Hong Kong. 221 p. (Ref. 7050)

Fisheries: minor commercial; aquarium: commercial

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