BETTA PUGNAX 



< The Mouth-breeding Labyrinth Fish 

 i C. J. HEEDE 



-«* * 



From the Far East, Singapore, to be 

 exact, was brought to the aquarist, in 

 1905, Bettd pugnax, one of the many 

 labyrinth fishes. The species is brown- 

 ish in color with greenish spotted scales; 

 fins with a greenish sheen ; dorsal and 

 anal with reddish spots. When mature 

 it measures about three and one-half 

 inches. 



This species presents a splendid ex- 

 ample of the way in which Nature adapts 

 the habits of her children to their envi- 

 ronment. Other labyrinth fishes build a 

 nest of bubbles at the surface of water, 

 in which the eggs are placed to incubate, 

 and in which the young are kept for a 

 few days under the care of a parent. 

 From this method the procedure of B. 

 pugnax differs radically. In its native 

 land it inhabits swift running water, in 

 which a bubble nest could not be built ; 

 pugnax conforms to the conditions by 

 becoming a mouth-breeder. 



The initial operation of expelling the 

 eggs and their fertilization is much the 

 same as with the other members of the 

 family. It is in the subsequent proce- 

 dure that the differing habit becomes evi- 

 dent. The male collects the eggs in his 

 anal fin, which bends at this time, then 

 they are transferred to his mouth by 

 the female. Here they hatch after the 

 manner of the Mouth-breeder, Haplo- 

 chromis strigigena, whose habits and 

 care have already been described by the 

 present writer in a past number of 

 Aquatic Life. The eggs hatch in a few 

 days, and as soon after as possible the 

 parents should be removed, otherwise, 

 as they are very cannibalistic, they would 



devour the young. 



The food requirements are the same 

 as for the other labyrinth fishes — 

 daphne, enchytrse worms, raw scraped 

 beef and chopped earthworms being pref- 

 erable. For the newly hatched fry an 

 abundant supply of infusoria is neces- 

 sary. Later, as they grow, the yolk of 

 a hard boiled egg should be mixed with 



Betta pugnax 



a little water, strained through fine 

 fabric, such as thin muslin, and dropped 

 into the tank. When large enough to 

 take them, feed the smallest daphne, 

 then finely scraped beef and, eventually, 

 the same-sized particles as the parents. 



Betta pugnax is a splendidly shaped 

 fish, quick in action, and due to its size 

 should be placed in a roomy aquarium. 

 Under ordinary conditions a tempera- 

 ture of 65 degrees, Fahrenheit, will be 

 sufficient, but while breeding and for the 

 young 70 to 75 degrees will be better. 



The related B. splendens and B. rubra 

 are the fishes used for fighting in the 

 East and not B. pugnax, which was for- 

 merly confused as such, and probably on 

 account of its specific name. 



