Meeting Notes

November, 2009

There were 54 people present with 55 items in the auction. Club president and Nominating Chairman Larry Wilkie conducted the elections for the 2010 year. The 2010 Board of Directors consists of the following:

Sherry Mitchell, President
J.T. Thomas, Vice President
Frank Cowherd, Treasurer
Paul Lord, Recording Secretary
Shawn Carlson, Corresponding Secretary
Cristy Keister, at large
Michael Kaiser, at large
Ron Leftwich, at large
Susan Findley, at large

Aquafest auction results were presented to the members. It appears that each club (PVAS, GWAPA and CCA) will come out of the event with roughly $1500 for each club after all expenses are paid. There were 984 items in the auction, 158 donated items, 44 Bump Ups, 49 sellers and 133 buyers. There were also 167 participants at Aquafest with 144 entried in the fish show.

Gerry Hoffman presented the new embroidered logos that will be available from Lands End. Calendars were also for sale, and a group buy for December was announced with a buy of New-Life fish food.

This month Bob Dozier returned to talk about wild betas. Bob outlined the Species Maintenance Program from the International Betta Congress. The SMP was developed by Gerald Griffin and it's purpose is to educate the public about wild betta conservation. The SMP can be found at http://www.ibcbettas.org.

There are 70 species of bettas in the world, with 64 described. Wild species are at risk due to habitat destruction, deforestation, development and global warming. Bob went on to say that the SMP began when more wild bettas began coming into fish shows. Gerald Griffin, founder of the program said, "Nobody can save them all, but everyone can save one."

The SMP has plans for a "stock bank" for fish enthusiasts to acquire fish to breed. Bob mentioned that Aquabid is also a good source for many wild species of bettas. The SMP website is the primary portal of information for many wild betta breeders.

Wild bettas are survivors. They live in harsh conditions; in ditches, puddles and small areas of water, but Bob pointed out that species are disappearing.

History and Classification: Group: Pisces. Class: Actinopterygii. Order: Perciformes. Family: Belontiidae. Genus Betta, with 64 currently described species. Bettas migrated to Asia 26,000 to 6,000 years ago. They are not found in the Phillipines because the Sunda shelf does not go down that far.

Habitat: warm, slowly moving, acidic water with lots of plants. Mouthbrooders like movement to the water. All are found in ditches, trenches, rice paddies and puddles.

Groups: Bubble nesters and Mouthbrooders. Bubble nesters comprise three species, and mouthbrooders comprise five.

Bubble nesters: Most breeders breed them in 10 gallon tanks set to 80 degrees (F). The female is pulled after breeding and the male is pulled two days after the eggs hatch. The male builds a nest of mucous bubbles at the surface for the eggs and young.

Mouthbrooders: Courtship is not quite as rough as with the bubble nesters. The male flares and spawns in typical fashion, then the female takes the eggs and spits them at the male. He takes the eggs into his mouth and cares for the eggs his whole time. Problems arise when the male eats the eggs or does not care fo them.

Captive Care: Most bettas, with the exception of betta splendens, do fine in pairs or in species set ups. Most wild types are easy to keep in tanks, but covers are imperative as they jump. Sponge filters are preferable to hang-on-back filters as HOB filters leave gaps that the bettas will jump through. Bubble nesters can be kept at 70-80 degrees (F) and mouthbrooders can be keps in the low 70's. Mouthbrooders need a bit of current in their tank.

Water quality is of the utmost importance. Bob changes the water on the jarred bettas 2-3 times a week, with tanks getting a twice-weekly water change.

Blackwater: Peat swamps with a pH of 5.0 or less. Bob uses almond leaves and driftwood in his tank to keep the pH at 6.0 to 6.5 in his tanks. One interesting side note is that bettas in highly acidic water in the wild have no parasites from the acidic content of the water. Captive bettas, however, are susptible to parasites if the pH is not kept low enough. A low pH will also initiate spawning.

Feeding: Bettas need more protein in their diet and will not be happy with basic flake foods. Bettas are carnivorous by nature. They do not eat plant roots! They are very opportunistic in the wild. In captivity the best foods include: brine shrimp, bloodworms, blackworms, frozen foods, daphnia, and high quality pelleted food. Bob mentioned that he uses Addisions brand and Tetra Discus Color Bits for the larger bettas.

The Bubble Nesters Include:

Bellica Complex - 2 species
Coccina Complex - 10 species
Splendens Complex - 5 species

Bellica Complex

Betta bellica: 5 inch bubble nesters with spikes on the caudal fin. They come from the soft acidic water of Malaysia.

Betta Simorum: Males have ray extensions on the caudal fins. From the peat swamps of Sumatra. (Soft Acid Water)

Coccina Complex

1 to 2 inch colorful fish. The ten species are mostly red, very pretty, and difficult to breed depending upon the species

Betta coccina: 2 inches. Likes very acidic water less than 5.0 with peat on the bottom of the tank.

Betta livida: From Malaysia, 6 cm from peat swamps belos 6.0. CRITICALLY ENDANGERED.

Betta brownorom: Found is tropical Asia. 6 cm, less than 2 inches. Will mouthbrood under certain conditions and will breed in flower pots.

Betta rutilans: Very intense red coloration. 3.5 cm (2.5 inches). Eats small foods and infusoria/green water is ideal for the fry. Also microworms and baby brine shrimp. Found in soft, acidic waters.

Betta persephone: From in Malaysia. 3.2 cm. Soft to neutral water. CRITICALLY ENDANGERED. Dark in color.

Betta miniopinna: Indonesia, rare in our area. 3.5 cm. Soft acidic water. Found in peat swamps, leaf litter and soft mud. Success with breeding in England. CRITICALLY ENDANGERED.

Betta tussyae: Malaysia. 5.5 cm. Very soft and acidic water. Found in peat swamps in submerged nests.

Betta burdigala: Indonesia. 2.7 cm. Peat swamps. VULNERABLE.

Betta uberis: Kalimantan. 5.0 cm. Soft/Acid water. Peat swamps. Submerged bubblenester.

Betta Sukadona: Bob has never seen the betta except on the species maintenance site. From Sukadana area of Kalimantan Barat. 5.0 cm.

Splendens Complex:

Betta Splendens: Wide ranging (Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam). Size 6.5 cm. Water pH not critical — an adaptable species, usually kept at 80 degrees (F). Habitats include standing water, flood plains, canals, rice paddies, and medium to large rivers. These are the standard fighting fish kept in captivity. Ornamentals of this species include the Crowntail, Delta Tail and Double Tail.

Plaket: Means "biting fish." These are the original fish that the ornamentals are descended from. They feed on mosquito larvae and worms.

Betta imbellis: Malaysia and Singapore. 5.5 cm. Not as territorial as splendens. They prefer standing water.

Betta smaragdina: Thailand. 7 cm. Water pH not critical. These are often hybridized with betta splendens.

Betta mahachai: Found in tidal swamps of Thailand. The stock in the Species Maintenance Program of the IBC is pure stock.

The Mouth Brooders:

Pugnax Complex:

Betta pugnax: 12 cm. Soft/Acid Water. Found in flowing streams. Males have caudal spikes.

Betta pulchra: Malaysia. 5 cm. Soft/Acid water. Found in black water habitats and canals.

Betta prima: Thailand. 3.9 cm. Soft/Acid water. Found in moving water.

Betta enisae: A beautiful fish found in Indonesia. 5.87 cm. Soft/Acid water.

Betta lehi: 14 cm. Soft/Acid water.

Betta stigmosus: 12 cm. Soft/Acid water. Cool water.

Betta cracens: 12 cm. Newly described.

Betta raja: 12 cm. Indonesia. Soft/Acid water.

Arkarensis Complex:

Betta arkarensis: 14 cm. Soft, acidic water in the mid 70's.

Betta balunga: 3.6 cm

Betta chini: 5.1 cm Male and 5.6 cm Female.

Betta ibanorum: 13 cm. Rare.

Betta pinguis: 7.91 cm. Rare

Betta antoni: 10 cm.

Waseri Complex:

Betta waseri: 9.8 cm

Betta tomi: 7.03 cm. RED LIST

Picta Complex:

Betta picta: 6.0 cm. A betta with attitude!

Betta taeniata: 8.0 cm

Betta falx: 3.94 cm

Betta simplex: 3.84 cm RED LIST

Betta pallida: Newly described in 2004. 8 cm.

Edithae Complex:

Betta edithae: 8.2 cm

Foerschi Complex:

Betta foerschi: 7.0 cm. Red bars on the gill covers.

Betta strohi: 7.0 cm.

Betta mandor: 7.0 cm.

Betta rubra: 5.0 cm. Very pretty red and blue fish. Raise in a group tank.

Albimarginata Complex:

Betta albimarginata: Indonesia. 5 cm.

Betta channoides: 5 cm. Only from Mahakam River Basin.

Unimaculata Complex:

Betta macrostoma: 11.0 cm. Brunei. These fish are expensive ($200 to $300 a pair) and are excellent jumpers. Use a cover for their tank and leave no area exposed! Use of sponge filters is recommended.

Betta patoti: 10.7 cm. Found in Indonesia.

Dimidiata Complex:

Betta dimidiata: 4.6 cm. Found in Indonesia.

Betta krataius: 6 cm. Borneo.

This list is by no means complete. An excellent list of all complexes and species can be found at: http://www.ibcbettas.org/smp/species/by_complex.html

Sherry Mitchell