MouthBrooding species of Bettas.:
Mouthbrooders are exactly what their name states, the male of the species incubates the eggs inside cheek pouches like some species of cichlids. Mouthbrooders are generally found in flowing streams instead of stagnant ponds or paddies like bubblenesters which is why they developed a different way of reproducing giving their fry a better chance of surviving in the fast current. the water in these streams is generally at the pH of 6.5-7.2 very close to neutral, the water is also moderatly hard due to calcium bedrock. All of the mouthbrooders are peaceful and are not used for fighting in their native communities. They can be kept in a species tank without the risk of major fights. They do best in 20 gallon tanks with a neutral pH not in rainwater. They do well on live and frozen fods and due to the fact of them being larger then bubblenesters they can be fed small peices of beefhart and shrimp. frequent water changes and high water quality may induce spawning. The mouthbrooding bettas are broken up into about 7 groups with the exception of a few species. theun grouped species may include B.Anabatoides, B. Dimidiata, B.Edithae, B.Macrostoma, B.Schalleri, and B. Unimaculata.
The Picta Group:
This group contains B. Picta, B.Taeinata, B.Simplex, and B. Falx. The species in this group may be characterized by the prominent dark margins of the anal and caudal fins, an iridescent gill cover, and a small size.
The Pugnax Group:
This group contains B. Pugnax, B. Pulchra, B.Breviobesus, B.Prima,and B. Enisae. These species may be found in the upland flowing waters of Borne, Sumatra, Cambodia, Vietnam, and Thailand. They all have large heads, a brownish body with greenish to blueish gill covers . The males generally have dark markings.
The Waseri Group:
In this group are Bettas Waseri, Tomi, Renata, Pi, Spilotogena, Hipposideros, and Chloropharynx. The fish of the waseri group can be distinguished by the color zonatin of their eyes, and diagnostic throat and lower jaw patterns.they are mainly large fish with yellow-brown bodies and iridescent gold belly and gill scales. The group can be found in the peninsula of Malaysia, Sumatra, Southern Thailand, Banka, Pulau, and the Riau Archipelago.
The Arkarensis Group:
In this group are betta species Arkarensis, Balunga, Chini, Pinguis, Climacura and a few unamed species. the species in this group are restricted to Borneo. Members in this group have a characteristic black stripe on their cheek to the snout and eye. there are no iridescent scales on the gill covers. The caudal fin is rhomboidial rather then rounded.
The Foerschi Group:
In this group are bettas Foerschi and Strohi. They are swamp inhabitants and do well in acidic soft tea colored waters. They are characterized by a dark body and two orange bars on the gill covers of the males.
The Albimarginata Group:
Contained within this group are species Albimarginata and Channoides. They have wide flat heads. they are also swamp dwellers. Both species are darkly colored.
The Patoti Group:
B. Patoti, and 2 unamed species. They are native to Borneo, and can be classified by pointed analfins, a spade shaped tail, and the body has many iridescent scales. Betta Patoti can be distinguished by its 11 dark bars on its body.

Thanks to Dr Robert Goldstein the author of Bettas, A Complete Pet Owners Manual.

This post has been edited by slamster17: Jul 20 2005, 07:38 PM

long read...

wow thats alot of good info slamster, now i can say i learned something new today thank you for teh good read

Sam

Awesome, awesome, awesome!! I've PM'ed you about what we should do with this.

bump

cool!
how hard are these to find for pets?
I'd like to see pics. Are they all fancy like spendens? Do they hybridize? My current betta is very mellow. He won't even bother guppies thay wave their tails in his face. Is it possible he's not pure spendens? I got him off the shelf at Walmart, and I think he's getting old now, but he never was a really outstanding specimen by most standards.