Betta edithae can be housed in pairs, species tanks, and community tanks.  Pairs can be housed in a 10 gallon tank, groups should be housed in a 20 gallon tank or larger.  Pairs should be given cover such as caves and plants.  In a pair or species situation it is possible that fry could be discovered in the tanks.  For best results remove a brooding male.

Not critical, edithae is very tolerant of water chemistry and thrives in almost any type of water as long as it is clean and well filtered.  They should be kept at cool to mid 70s F.

Edithae males are more intensely colored then females.  Males may also show a brilliant band in the anal and tail fins.  Females ovaries might be visible via spotlighting. 

Edithae is a paternal mouthbrooder and the male incubates from 14 to 20 days.  Incubation time can vary with water temperature.  Females normally initiate spawning. 

Original Citation

Vierke, J. 1984. [110]

References

Baensch, H.A. and R. Riehl, 1985. [24]
Chevoleau, Philippe, 2002 (127)
Kottelat, M., A.J. Whitten, S.N. Kartikasari and S. Wirjoatmodjo, 1993. [58]
Fernando, Yohan. [41]
Pinto, Tony, 2002. [138]

Type Locality

Barito Delta at Bandjarmasin, Borneo, Indonesia.

Holotype

SMF 18712

Paratype

SMF 18713 (1)

Where Found

Countries:

Indonesian island of Bangka - in shaded forest blackwater swamps and open swampy pools close to sea in full sun. [138]

Known Occurrences:

Indonesia: Blackwater tidal tributary of lower Mentaya, two hours by speedboat downstream from Sampit.
Indonesia: Borneo: Small Forest Stream And Man- Made Ditch, 2-3 M Wideand Maximum 1 M Deep, Flowing Into Sungai Sepatah, Atributary Of S (0 7.5 N 109 E)
Indonesia: Small forest stream & man-made ditch, flowing into Sungai Sepatah, trib. of Sungai Mandor, 24 km NE of Pontianak (0 7.5 N 109 30.0 E) Water depth: 1.0 - m
Indonesia: Sungai Keniyatan, shaded forest trib. to Sungai Landakca, 65 km NE of Pontianak & 27 km by road W of Ngabang (0 N 109 44.4 E) Water depth: 2.0 - m

Miscellaneous Information

Max Size:

8.2 cm TL

pH range:

5-7.5 [138]

dH range:

20.0

Temperature range:

24 - 28°C

Etymology:

In reference to Edith Korthaus.

General notes on water chemistry:

"Water quality is not really important, but the hardness should not exceed 10 GH degrees. Concerning the pH, it has no effect and the fish will spawn with a value of 6 as well as 7.5. The temperature should be between 25 and 28 Celsius degrees." [126]

Reproduction:

A dark spot at the bottom of the aquarium such as a flower pot on its side is the spawning site of choice. Spawning is similar to that of B. picta and B. simplex. The ritual itself is fairly secretive, and at times the only telltale sign that spawning has occurred is a male with a mouthful of eggs. The male embraces the female in typical betta fashion, causing her to release a few opaque white eggs which fall to the bottom of the tank. The female then picks up the eggs and spits them at the male, who then stores them in his throat. The embracing, repeated until the female has exhausted her egg supply, can last for 4-5 hours. The male then retreats with the mouthful of eggs and the female stands guard over him for the next 1-2 days, after which she gradually returns to her normal behavior. Incubation time for the brooding eggs can range anywhere from 14 to 20 days, with the male being very protective of his brood during this time. The male seems to prefer releasing the majority of the fry in the evening, improving their chance for survival. His parental duties end with the release of his brood, which can number from 80-100 fry averaging 4 mm in length. From then on, the fry are strictly on their own and will accept microworms and newly hatched brine shrimp nauplii as first foods. With constant water changes, fry growth is uneven, reaching adulthood at 5 months of age. They are not prone to velvet disease. This species is very prolific and although spawning may start at around 7 months of age, the brood size will be smaller in younger fish. [138]

General notes:

An aquarium provided with a dark background and low-light plants such as Java moss, Java Fern, and Cryptocorynes is recommended to bring out the full coloration of this species. Younger fish are good candidates for the community tank, getting along with smaller fish including Tetras and Rasboras, and are not as shy as other wild betta species. Water conditions are not a major concern as long as hardness is not too high. Live foods are eagerly eaten as are most frozen foods . Flake foods are not readily accepted although small micro pellets have been fed successfully. Can live to well over 3 years with proper care. [138]