Betta persephone SCHALLER, 1986

Etymology

Betta: from ikan betah, the vernacular Malay for species of this genus.

persephone: named for the Greek goddess Persephone, daughter of Demeter and Zeus and queen of the Underworld, in allusion to the largely blackish colour pattern.

Classification

Order: Perciformes Family: Osphronemidae

Distribution

Appears to be endemic to forested areas around the towns of Ayer Hitam, Muar, and Kluang in southwestern Johor state, Peninsular Malaysia.

Type locality is ‘Asian highway No. 2, 1°56’20.00″N, 103°09’40.00″E, at road bridge about 3 kilometers north of Ayer Hitam, Malaysia’.

Habitat

A stenotopic inhabitant of peat swamp forests and associated streams. The dense canopy of branches above means very little light penetrates the surface of such environments, although they are increasingly disturbed by human activity.

The water is typically stained darkly with humic acids and other chemicals released by decaying organic material. The dissolved mineral content tends to be negligible and pH can be as low as 3.0 or 4.0.

The substrate is usually covered by fallen leaves, branches and submerged tree roots and at certain times of year the fish may be forced to survive within the moist leaf litter for several weeks since permanent water is not always available.

The majority of its original habitats have been heavily modified as much of the area has been turned over to oil palm plantations. It is now  restricted to a few remaining pockets of primary peat swamp forest and has been listed as ‘Critically Endangered’ on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species since 1996.

Maximum Standard Length

30 – 35 mm.

Aquarium SizeTop ↑

An aquarium with base measurements of 45 ∗ 30 cm should be the minimum considered, but is suitable for a pair or small group.

Maintenance

Can be maintained in a fully-decorated aquarium although many breeders prefer not to use a substrate for ease of maintenance. Driftwood roots and branches can be used and placed such a way that a few shady spots are formed, while clay plant pots or lengths of piping can also be included to provide further shelter.

The addition of dried leaf litter offers additional cover and brings with it the growth of microbe colonies as decomposition occurs. These can provide a valuable secondary food source for fry, while tannins and other chemicals released by the decaying leaves are considered beneficial for fishes from blackwater environments. There is no need to use natural peat, however, the collection of which is both unsustainable and environmentally-destructive.

Like others in the genus this species seems to do best under fairly dim lighting. Aquatic plant species that can survive under such conditions include Microsorum, Taxiphyllum or Cryptocoryne spp., while floating vegetation is also appreciated by the fish.

This species requires acidic conditions with negligible carbonate hardness and very low general hardness, meaning a reverse osmosis unit or other method of obtaining soft water may need to be employed. This can be further acidified using phosphoric acid or similar if necessary.

As it naturally inhabits sluggish waters filtration should not be too strong, with an air-powered sponge filter set to turn over gently adequate. Keep the tank well-covered and do not fill it to the top as like all Betta spp. it requires occasional access to the layer of humid air that will form above the water surface, and is an excellent jumper.

Water Conditions

Temperature: 22 – 28 °C

pH: 4.0 – 6.0

Hardness: 18 – 90 ppm

Diet

Likely to prey on small aquatic and terrestrial invertebrates in nature.

Captive fish will normally accept dried products once they are recognised as edible, but should be offered plenty of small live or frozen foods such as Daphnia, Artemia or chironomid larvae (bloodworm) regularly to ensure development of optimal colour and condition.

Take care not to overfeed as Betta spp. seem particularly prone to obesity.

Behaviour and CompatibilityTop ↑

Not recommended for the standard community aquarium. Its care requirements and disposition mean it is best kept alone or with very peaceful species. Some small cyprinids and loaches that inhabit similar environments in nature are suitable, but proper research prior to purchase is essential and in most cases it is best maintained alone.

Provided the aquarium contains plenty of cover this species can be maintained in a group, although it is preferable to isolate pairs for breeding purposes.

Sexual Dimorphism

Males are more intensely-coloured and develop more-extended fins than females as they mature.

Reproduction

Bubble nester. It is particularly important to provide plenty of cover for the female, and empty camera film canisters or lengths of plastic tubing can be used to offer potential nesting sites. Floating plants may be incorporated into the nest if present.

The aquarium should have the tightest-fitting cover possible (some breeders use clingfilm/plastic wrap) because the fry need access to a layer of warm, humid air without which development of the labyrinth organ can be impaired.

The pair need not be separated prior to spawning. The male might construct the nest in a tube or canister, under a broad plant leaf or among fine-leaved surface vegetation, and will not usually tolerate the female in the vicinity until it is complete.

The nuptial female becomes paler in colour and dark bars appear on the flanks. Spawning normally occurs beneath the nest in an ’embrace’ typical of osphronemids, with the male wrapped around the female.

At the point of climax milt and a few eggs are released, which the female proceeds to catch between pelvic fins and body. The male then transfers these to the nest while the female recovers any loose eggs. The process is then repeated until the female is spent. This is not a particularly prolific species with less than 20 eggs being typical although bigger broods of up to 50 are not uncommon.

Post-spawning the adults can normally be left in situ, and normally both will participate in broodcare.

The eggs hatch in 24-72 hours, remaining in the nest for a further 3-4 days until the yolk sac is fully-absorbed, the male continuing to collect and return any that fall. Once the fry begin to swim freely the male will lose interest, but the adults do not usually eat their offspring.

The fry are large enough to accept motile foods such as microworm and Artemia nauplii immediately, though it should be noted that there exist reports of young Betta developing health issues if fed excessive amounts of the latter. Water changes should be small and regular rather than large and intermittent.

NotesTop ↑

This species is included in the B. coccina group of closely-related species within the genus. This assemblage mostly comprises small, red-coloured fishes with the exceptions of B. hendra, B. persephone and B. miniopinna which are greenish or darkish.

Members of the B. coccina group possess the following shared characters: small adult size (up to 40 mm SL); either red or black body colouration; presence of midlateral blotch in some species; 9 abdominal vertebrae (vs. 10-12 in all other Betta species); stenotopic inhabitants of forest peat swamps.

B. persephone can be told apart from other members of the group by the following characters: no lateral blotch; body blackish; lateral dorsal head profile relatively convex, sloping gently posterior to eye; no parallel vertical iridescent gold opercle bars; pelvic-fin falcate with white filamentous tip, remainder black to reddish; median fins covered diffusely with light green iridescence; dorsal fin-rays 9; anal-fin rays 24-27; subdorsal scales 6-7; lateral scales 27-29; predorsal scales 17-18.

It is most similar to B. miniopinna but can be distinguished most obviously by its less elongate body (27-29 lateral scales and 17-18 predorsal scales vs. 30-31, 20 respectively in B. miniopinna), relatively convex (vs. concave) lateral dorsal head profile, and blackish to dull reddish (vs. red) pelvic fins.

The genus Betta is the most speciose within the family Osphronemidae. Members have successfully adapted to inhabit a variety of ecological niches from stagnant ditches to flowing hill streams including some extreme environments such as highly acidic peat swamp forests.

The referral of members to a number of groups containing closely-related species is largely based on morphological and behavioural characters. A full list of the species groups as currently recognised can be found here.

Like others in the suborder Anabantoidei this species possesses an accessory breathing organ known as the labyrinth, which permits the fish to breathe atmospheric air to a certain extent. Comprising paired suprabranchial organs formed via expansion of the epibranchial (upper) section of the first gill arch and housed in a chamber above the gills, it contains many highly-vascularised, folded flaps of skin which function as a large respiratory surface. Its structure varies in complexity between species, tending to be more developed in those inhabiting harsher environments.

References

1. Schaller, D., 1986 - Aquarien und Terrarien-Zeitschrift 39(7): 297-300
   Laubschlupf. Eine Überlebensstrategie in einem besonderen Biotop und die Beschreibung einer neuen Kampffischart.
2. Kottelat, M., 2013 - Raffles Bulletin of Zoology Supplement 27: 1-663
   The fishes of the inland waters of southeast Asia: a catalogue and core bibiography of the fishes known to occur in freshwaters, mangroves and estuaries.
3. Tan, H. H. and P. K. L. Ng, 2005 - Raffles Bulletin of Zoology Supplement 13: 43-99
   The fighting fishes (Teleostei: Osphronemidae: Genus Betta) of Singapore, Malaysia and Brunei.
4. Tan, H. H. and S. H. Tan, 1994 - Ichthyological Exploration of Freshwaters 5(1): 41-44
   Betta miniopinna, a new species of fighting fish from Pulau Bintan, Riau Archipelago, Indonesia (Teleostei: Belontiidae).
5. Witte, K.-E. and J. Schmidt, 1992 - Ichthyological Exploration of Freshwaters 2(4): 305-330
   Betta brownorum, a new species of anabantoids (Teleostei: Belontiidae) from northwestern Borneo, with a key to the genus.