iantojonesthebetta:

A lovely little example of the Betta splendens complex! (I couldn’t trace it back to the original, though, so if anyone knows that, hit me up so I can properly credit this. All I know is that it’s from Betta Thailand.)

Even within these species, there’s some variation depending on what regions the fish reside in and selective breeding within the hobby, but this is a basic look at them in general.

It’s because of hybridizing these guys that we have the pet store bettas we have today.

Look how pretty! 

Wild bettas like these, which haven’t been bred to fight, can be kept in pairs. A 10 gallon tank with plenty of plants makes a great home for a pair of wild-type B. splendens if you can get some. They’ll even breed in there quite happily.

Some other wild-types can be kept in larger numbers. I used to have two pairs of B. albimarginata in the same 25g tank, and they did just fine. The males would occasionally put on a little flaring-show at each other, but nothing stressful at all. 

Mouthbrooders are best kept with at least two males per female, otherwise the males go really hungry due to carrying eggs around in their mouths all the time. Gotta give ‘em a break. Non-mouthbrooders do best in pairs. If the tank is large enough and it’s one of the more docile species, you can keep multiple pairs or trios with no issues whatsoever.