betta lehi

Betta Lehi or Cockerel Lehi, scientific name Betta lehi, belongs to the Osphronemidae family. The fish is named after the zoologist Charles Leh of the Sarawak Museum, located in the province of the same name on the island of Bourne. Peaceful calm fish, compatible with other species of comparable size. For experienced aquarists, its maintenance will not cause great difficulties, but beginners may encounter problems associated with maintaining a certain composition of water.

Habitat

It comes from Southeast Asia from the island of Borneo. It is endemic to a limited region in the west of the Indonesian province of West Kalimantan in the lower part of the Kapuas River basin. Inhabits peat bogs and associated streams and rivers, located among dense tropical forests. A typical biotope is a shallow body of water poorly lit by the sun. Shade-loving plants, mosses and ferns grow along the banks. The bottom is covered with a layer of fallen leaves, twigs and other plant material. The water has a rich brown color due to the high concentration of humic acids and other substances – decomposition products of plant organic matter.

Brief information:

• The volume of the aquarium – from 50 liters.
• Temperature – 22-27°C
• Value pH — 4.0–7.0
• Water hardness – 1–5 dGH
• Substrate type – any dark
• Lighting – subdued
• Brackish water – no
• Water movement – little or no
• The size of the fish is about 6 cm.
• Food – any food
• Temperament – peaceful
• Content – alone, in pairs or in a group

Description

Adult individuals reach a length of up to 6 cm. Males, unlike females, are somewhat larger and have a large amount of turquoise pigment in the head area and on the fins. The main color varies from beige to light gray.

Food

An omnivorous species, even recently caught individuals are able to successfully adapt to the intake of alternative products. The daily diet may consist of dry food in the form of flakes, pellets, etc. Specialized food for Betta fish, available from many manufacturers, is a good choice. Diversify the diet of live or frozen daphnia, brine shrimp, bloodworms, fruit flies, mosquito larvae and other small insects.

Maintenance and care, arrangement of the aquarium

The optimal size of the aquarium for one pair of fish starts from 50 liters. Although Betta Lehi is not picky about the choice of decoration, it is still worth choosing a decor that would resemble the natural habitat of this species – tropical swamps. Various snags, thickets of plants, dark soil will come to the place. Subdued lighting will contribute to the manifestation of turquoise shades in the color of the fish.

The leaves of some trees will not only become part of the design, but will also serve as a means of giving the water a composition characteristic of a natural reservoir. In addition, they can serve as a valuable secondary food source, becoming a breeding ground for a colony of microorganisms, such as shoe ciliates. Read more in the article “Which trees can be poured in an aquarium.”

Water quality is of key importance for long-term maintenance. This phrase means a stable aquatic environment within an acceptable range of temperatures and values ​​of hydrochemical parameters with low concentrations of organic contaminants (feed residues, excrement). The maintenance of the biological system depends entirely on the regularity of the obligatory maintenance of the aquarium, in particular, the weekly replacement of part of the water with fresh water, the removal of waste, and the smooth operation of equipment, the most important of which is the filtration system. When choosing a filter, you should give preference to the model that does not cause excessive movement of water.

Behavior and Compatibility

They belong to the group of fighting fish, but despite this they have a completely peaceful disposition. Although males tend to compete with each other for the attention of females, this rivalry does not lead to skirmishes, but is more of a display character. Compatible with many other fish that can live in similar conditions. It is worth avoiding large and even more aggressive neighbors that can intimidate Betta and push her to the periphery.

Breeding / breeding

They belong to the few fish that take care of their offspring. In the course of evolution, Lehi Bettas have developed an unusual adaptability to a changeable hostile environment. They hatch eggs in their mouths, rather than laying them on the ground or among plants. With the onset of the mating season, the male and female form a pair and, after lengthy courtship, start spawning, accompanied by a kind of “dance-embrace”. All fertilized eggs immediately end up in the male’s mouth, where they will stay for 7–12 days, after which fully formed fry appear. Parents do not pose a danger to their offspring, which cannot be said about other fish. If the breeding took place in a common aquarium, then the juveniles should be transplanted into a separate tank.

Fish diseases

The cause of most diseases is unsuitable conditions of detention. A stable habitat will be the key to successful keeping. In the event of symptoms of the disease, first of all, the quality of the water should be checked and, if deviations are found, measures should be taken to correct the situation. If symptoms persist or even worsen, medical treatment will be required. Read more about symptoms and treatments in the Aquarium Fish Diseases section.