Blue Gourami (Trichogaster trichopterisi)

Close relatives of the Betta, Gouramis require the same aquarium care. Also known as the Three Spot Gourami, this peaceful fish grows to about 4 inches long and makes a great companion to the Betta in a sufficiently large aquarium. Males can be distinguished from females by the shape of the dorsal fin: His is pointed and elongated toward the tail; hers is much shorter and rounded at the tip. Several color variations of the Blue Gourami are available. This is an extremely hardy species that takes all common aquarium foods.

Rasboras (Rasbora spp.)

The genus Rasbora includes some of the best aquarium fishes found in Southeast
Asian waters. All remain small, seldom reaching 2 inches long. Schooling fishes
that swim among dense plant growth, they eat most types of aquarium foods with relish. Temperature and pH requirements are the same as for Bettas, making
them good choices for tankmates.

• The Harlequin Rasbora (R. heteromorpha) turns up in almost every dealer’s inventory from time to time. Pinkish-orange body coloration is accented by a black triangle at the base of the tail and the red-orange dorsal fin.
• Another relatively common species, the Scissortail Rasbora (R. trilineata) has a torpedo-shaped body. Its silvery scales have dark edges. A dark stripe runs from the midpoint of the body to the base of the tail. The outer tips of the tail fin have a yellow-black-yellow pattern of three spots. When the fish moves its tail, the moving spots give the illusion of a pair of scissors opening and closing.
• It’s worth looking for the Red-Tailed Rasbora (R. borapetensis). Like others in the genus, its peaceful habits and ease of feeding make it an ideal tankmate for the Betta. The silvery body has a pair of stripes running from the eye to the base of the tail. The upper stripe is golden yellow, the lower one is black. The base of the tail is blood red.
• Clown Rasboras (R. kalochroma) seldom school, unlike other Rasboras. In the aquarium they are peaceful and lively, darting in and out among the plants. The slender, brick red body has a black spot just behind the gill cover and another, larger black spot below the dorsal fin.
• Seldom exceeding an inch in length, the Pygmy Rasbora (R. maculatus) is also a perfect tankmate. Peaceful, it schools among plants in ponds and ditches. The red-orange body is marked with three black spots: one behind the gill cover, another near the anus, and the third at the base of the tail fin.

Glass Catfish (Kryptopterus bicirrhus)

The fascinating Glass Catfish is almost completely transparent. The internal organs can be clearly seen through the body wall. It does best in groups. Individuals usually remain together, hovering tail down among plants in midwater. A docile species, the Glass Catfish should not be kept with active, aggressive tankmates. These fish will often orient themselves facing the outflow from a power filter. In the wild, this behavior positions them to snatch food carried by the current.

Coolie Loach (Pangio kuhlii)

Grubbing about in the soft bottom mud beneath quiet water after dusk, the Coolie Loach usually rests among vegetation during the day. The dark brown body is attractively marked in yellow-orange bars from the snout to the base of the tail fin. This species makes a good scavenger for the Betta tank, as it will seek out food missed by the other fishes. In the wild, it grows to about 6 inches, but aquarium specimens are usually about half that size.

Tankmates for Bettas

For a truly splendid Betta tank, I prefer a design that mimics the Betta’s habitat, complete with fish and plants that might be found together in the wild.

Despite the fact that male Bettas fight viciously among themselves, a single male Betta rarely bothers other fishes in the community aquarium. Bettas can be successfully kept with most peaceful species of fish. Common choices include the many kinds of Tetras, small Catfishes, and livebearing fishes such as Guppies, Platies, and Swordtails. The species listed below all come from Southeast Asia.

Betta Color Patterns

There are six major color patterns found in Bettas, and these help hobbyists identify particular variations of a species. As time passes and new strains of Bettas are bred, they will be given new pattern names if they do not fit into the existing categories. The following descriptions should give you an idea of what to look for when you are searching for a particular pattern. Note that many hobbyists and breeders disagree on exact pattern definitions.

• A solid-colored Betta will have one color (bright red, royal blue, orange, or gold) that basically covers the entire body and fin areas. Solid coloration may be marred by imperfections (small specks of white or other colors), which breeders are working to eliminate.
• A bicolored Betta has a body that is one solid color with fins that are a lighter or darker variation of the same color. For example, a Betta with a light blue body and dark blue fins would be considered bicolored.
• A Cambodian Betta has a body of one color and fins of another. For example, the body on this type may be red, while all the fins are light blue.
• A butterfly Betta has a body of one color that blends into the fins near the torso area. The outer edges of the fins are a different color.
• The Cambodian-butterfly Betta, as its name suggests, is a cross between a Cambodian and a butterfly Betta. The body on this Betta will be of one color, while the fins will have two different colors. For example, the Cambodian-butterfly can have a red body with blue and gold fins.
• A marbled Betta is unique. The body and the fin tips are the same color. The inner portion of the fins is a different color, which gives this Betta a striped appearance.

Betta Fish Color

The Betta’s color is produced by pigment cells (chromatophores) in the skin. In the wild, coloration may help camouflage a fish from predators or may advertise its presence to potential mates. Wild Bettas do not possess the vibrant colors (bright red, lime green, royal blue) of their captive-bred counterparts. Fanciers have selectively bred Bettas to achieve fish with a wide range of colors and long, flowing fins. The males will develop much brighter colors than the females, and they exploit their bright coloration in mating displays designed to attract and impress females.

The Betta’s chromatophores occur in successive layers within the skin. To produce a Betta of a specific color, the other colors layered on top must first be stripped away through selective breeding to expose the desired color beneath. The top color is blue; next is red, then black, and finally yellow.