Betta pallifina is a species of fish

Fish

Fish are a paraphyletic group of organisms that consist of all gill-bearing aquatic vertebrate animals that lack limbs with digits. Included in this definition are the living hagfish, lampreys, and cartilaginous and bony fish, as well as various extinct related groups...

 in the Osphronemidae

Gourami

Gouramis are a family, Osphronemidae, of freshwater perciform fishes. The fish are native to Asia, from Pakistan and India to the Malay Archipelago and north-easterly towards Korea. The name "gourami" is also used for fish of the families Helostomatidae and Anabantidae. "Gouramis" is an example of...

 family (or Belontiidae according to some authors). It is endemic to Indonesia

Indonesia

Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...

. This fish was described in 2005. Their adult size is up to 4 inches (10 centimeters). Coloring is very vivid, especially in the males. They are a tan/brown, with green and blue iridescence, especially in the males. Adult males' gill plates are adorned with metallic scales that range from sky blue to gold, depending on the lighting. They have a black spot on the base of their caudal fins  These fish can be found in the upper Barito River

Barito River

Barito is a 890 km long river, located in South Kalimantan, Indonesia. It originates in the Muller Mountain Range from where it flows southward into the Java Sea...

 in Borneo

Borneo

Borneo is the third largest island in the world and is located north of Java Island, Indonesia, at the geographic centre of Maritime Southeast Asia....

.

Diet

Betta pallifina are carnivores and thus should be fed a meat based diet. They will eat a large variety of live foods, such as white worms (Enchytraeus albidus), grindal worms (Enchytraeus buchholzi

Enchytraeus buchholzi

Enchytraeus buchholzi are cultured by aquarists as a fish food.Whiteworms ~ Enchytraeus albidus are probably one of the most popular forms of live food cultured by aquarists...

), wingless fruit flies (Drosophila melanogaster

Drosophila melanogaster

Drosophila melanogaster is a species of Diptera, or the order of flies, in the family Drosophilidae. The species is known generally as the common fruit fly or vinegar fly. Starting from Charles W...

), and brine shrimp

Brine shrimp

Artemia is a genus of aquatic crustaceans known as brine shrimp. Artemia, the only genus in the family Artemiidae, has changed little externally since the Triassic period...

. Captive fish will readily take pelleted and flake foods, as well as frozen and freeze dried foods, though these should be soaked prior to feeding.

Habitat

Betta pallifina come from forest streams in the upper Barito river. The water temperature in which these fish are found is typically 77-79F (25-26C), with the pH

PH

In chemistry, pH is a measure of the acidity or basicity of an aqueous solution. Pure water is said to be neutral, with a pH close to 7.0 at . Solutions with a pH less than 7 are said to be acidic and solutions with a pH greater than 7 are basic or alkaline...

 ranging from 6.6-7.4.

Reproduction

Betta pallifina are a mouthbrooding species of betta. The male is the caretaker, holding the fry in his mouth for up to three weeks. In captivity, these fish are very easy to breed. During spawning, which can take several hours, the male embraces the female. Fertilized eggs are gathered into the male's mouth and he retreats to brood the fry when spawning is complete. Parents do not predate the fry when they are released. Fry should be fed baby brine shrimp

Brine shrimp

Artemia is a genus of aquatic crustaceans known as brine shrimp. Artemia, the only genus in the family Artemiidae, has changed little externally since the Triassic period...

, microworms, or infusoria

Infusoria

Infusoria is a collective term for minute aquatic creatures like ciliates, euglenoids, protozoa, and unicellular algae that exist in freshwater ponds...

.

Care

Betta pallifina are relatively undemanding when it comes to care of bettas. They tolerate harder water conditions than most of their relatives. They adapt quickly to life in captivity. They should be kept in species-only tanks; one pair can comfortably occupy a 24 inch tank (60 centimeters), while two pairs should be kept in a 30 inch tank (75 centimeters). The tank should have many hiding places, plants, and driftwood. pH should be kept in the range of 6.6-7.4, though a level that is under or over this is fine if kept stable. Feeding is easy, as they will readily take most foods offered. As for any fish, it is recommended that the tank is cycled to prevent ammonia

Ammonia

Ammonia is a compound of nitrogen and hydrogen with the formula . It is a colourless gas with a characteristic pungent odour. Ammonia contributes significantly to the nutritional needs of terrestrial organisms by serving as a precursor to food and fertilizers. Ammonia, either directly or...

 or nitrites from harming the fish. Water current caused by a filter does not cause problems with Betta pallifina, since they come from forest streams and can handle current better than most bettas.