Betta taeniata 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, taeniata 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.

Males have a broader head then females and a much darker stripe on the anal fin.  Females may not have a stripe or faint stripe on the anal fin.  Females ovaries might be visible via spotlighting.

Taeniata is a paternal mouthbrooder and the male incubates from 9 to 12 days with 10 days being very consistent.  Incubation time can vary with water temperature.  Females normally initiate spawning.

Baensch, H.A. and R. Riehl, 1985. [24]
Grabda, E. and T. Heese, 1991. [45]
International Betta Congress 1986. [145]
Kottelat, M., A.J. Whitten, S.N. Kartikasari and S. Wirjoatmodjo, 1993. [58]
Khoa, T.T. and T.T.T. Huong, 1993. [51]
Liebetrau, Sue. 1975. [125]
Robins, C.R., R.M. Bailey, C.E. Bond, J.R. Brooker, E.A. Lachner, R.N. Lea and W.B. Scott, 1991. [88]
Vierke, Jorg. June 1985. [132]
Vierke, Jorg. July 1989. [133]

BMNH 1893.3.6.147-150 (4)

Countries:

Indonesia
Malaysia
Singapore
Thailand
Viet Nam

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Betta sp .aff. "taeniata" movie 1
Betta sp .aff. "taeniata" movie 2

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This species is found in clear moving water as well as in dirty drainage ditches. These waters exhibit a yellow, sandy substrate with red particles which are thought to be iron. [132]

Coloration of males and females is the same except during mating when the female takes on the fear pattern and the male really shows his display colors. B. taeniata spawns on the bottom and if the aquarist isn't watching, it can be missed with the only telltale sign being the pronounced bulge below the male's mouth, indicating his mouthful of incubating eggs. Most of the time, however, the act of spawning can last for several hours. As soon as the male's mouth is full, he stops accepting eggs from the female, who continues to spit eggs at him for a time. She eventually realizes the futility and swallows the rest. The spawning embraces continue until the female's supply of eggs is exhausted. At this time, the male retreats to a protected corner of the aquarium at the water's surface. The female then takes on the roll of defender, guarding the brooding male since he has no way of biting with his mouthful of brooding eggs. She is lightning fast with her surprise attack at chasing away other Bettas and is always on the move looking for possible intruders. Success in spawning depends largely on the male, who, at the slightest disturbance, either swallows the eggs or spits them out, never to pick them up again. It is then up to the aquarist to raise them artificially. The male normally carries the brood for 9-12 days, after which he releases them. At this point, the fry are between 1/8 to 1/4 inch long and can be fed baby brine shrimp or the smallest cyclops without difficulty. From the beginning, the fry start leading the secretive lives of their parents. Betta taeniata is a smaller mouthbrooder that is easy to raise and reportedly attains a maximum length of only 3.25 inches. [133]

Differentiation from similar species:

Betta taeniata is very timid in captivity and needs plenty of plants and rocks to hide in and behind. Known to be less shy when placed with other species . This timidity disappears at feeding time, however, and favorite foods include mosquito larvae, tubifex, and small earthworms. While the males are larger, the female has the bigger appetite, eating till quite round, storing nutrients for future egg production. This species can change its markings very quickly, ranging from an overall brown at rest to dark spots on the head, back, and rear of the fish, followed by horizontal dark stripes the length of the body, to vertical dark stripes, depending on the degree of danger it perceives at the time. [133]

Betta sp. aff. taeniata was collected between Sekadau and Sintang. It was found in the river where the current was strong. Location: 00 '00' 17 S 110 '59' 05 E Altitude: 44 m. [6]