X'mas Betta

Field Trip 25 Dec 2007

Looking for Tomi's habitat. Came across this stream and a 30mins scooping around the stream yielded 4 snakehead, channa gachua and 4 pugnax. One of the pugnax was mouthbrooding and release about 3 fries whilst in the container. Release back 2 juveniles pugnax. One of the channa gachua only have a left pectorial fin but apparently a healthy fish. Not handicapped by a fin short.

Channa Gachua and male pugnax

The female

The mouthbrooding pugnax released a few fries in its new tank and the rest on the next day. There must be slightly over a hundred fries. These will be release back to the wild upon reaching 1 inch.

There were many residents monkeys that move freely along the road, no fear of humans.

Wild Singapore Part 4

Field Trip 8 Nov 2007

Unplanned trip. Actually scouting around for possible Betta Tomi habitat. Met John and his friend Matthew catching fish at a known Pugnax habitat. They have got couple of gobies and big channa gachua. Caught 4 pugnax for John, 3 males and a female. One of the male was mouthbrooding. Unfortunately the biotope was a little disturbed before the picture was taken. The biotope was formed from water seepage from the nearby reservoir through underground piping. A stream must have been there originally and now a service road actually run across this place.

Continuing the wild search, came across this stream that is wild and seems untouch. Rasbora, barbs are a common inhabitant. There's plenty of wild guppy. Collected a few for my tank. Some of the flora around the stream. Search still goes on for Tomi habitat

Hunt for Betta Tomi

Field Trip 3 Nov 2007

Planned trip to see the elusive Tomi habitat. This was a result of some discussion over the forum on BettaBite of how the Tomi in Singapore could be extinct etc. The trip started at 7am driving towards Kota Tinggi/ Mersing. On the way stop by some black water habitat that could be a promising betta haven. Baboons can be seen along the roadside foraging for food. Unfortunately road kills of monkeys are commom along this route





Along the way, we stopped at the Bak Kut Teh shop and have our brunch. We kind of know that once we start collecting, there may be no time to think about food or anything except betta. We reach Tomi's place around noon. We were definitely happy cos the description of the habitat matched what we saw upon arrival.


Getting into the biotope requires some care and caution. The area is quite dense but there seems to be some makeshift planks thrown along the path. Presence of other betta collectors. The area is a primary forest and seems to be a low drainage point offering this betta biotope. Caugnt channa gachua,nandus, anabas, boraras, loaches, wild guppy, pugnax and tomi. Living alongside are freshwater prawns, crabs and frogs. The tadpoles are big orange coloured that can be seen almost everywhere. Surprisingly, the mosquito was not present and that is a definite relief. Some of the habitat seems to be dried up almost like a dry season but it rained while we were collecting Tomi.


Biotopes of Betta Tomi










Comparing our catch

Wild Singapore Pt 3

Field Trip 7 October 2007Casual trip on a splenden catching trip. One of the last frontier where wild betta still survived. The croaking gourami thrived here. In fact it's one of the biggest I have ever seen from those many trips. Possibly the food source here is plentiful

Some of the flora is simply beautiful to me. Never seen them before cos we live out of kampong some 30 odd years already. Enjoy the view




Mushroom growing on a fallen tree across the stream






A small stream and the main waterways

Road leading to the spenden habitat and biotopes



Some flora in splenden country
Star of the show, Singapore wild betta Splenden. Collected a few pieces

This is an overdue update after a hobbyist enquired on the Singapore Splenden.
This species was collected from an unused plot of land which previously seems like a small village (kampong in Malay language). The splenden was collected in a Military occupied place and this was actually out of bound. As I was only surveying, I figured it wasn't any harm taking a look. I can say from the surrounding, the habitat has been as it was at least 5-10 years of untouch human interferrence.

By Dec 2007, the splendens have grown, matured sexually and ready to breed. I managed to get a batch of fries from this few collected. The male is slightly different from the Imbellis collected, the anal fin is almost red all over whereas the Imbellis is more turquoise blue and the red distincrt anal tip.

Some pictures of the male and bubble nest

Hello Suparat. Hope you like those pictures. Thanks for viewing

Field Trip 6 Oct 2007, Pontian

Short trip to Pontain. Target fish is Betta Pulchra. This is the 3rd trip to Pontian and last 2 trips did not find the Pulchra. After some research, finally zoom in on the location. The location covers a small Kampong (village) ranging over a 5 km stretch of road. The first location only yielded Bellica. Got about 7 pieces in a single location. Very promising.



Bellica biotope and one in the net


See the tree on the left of vehicle with bird nest and a close up shot.

Oh. forget to mentioned that release back to the wild were at least 20 pieces of rasboras and 3 climbing perch


Move on the another location and saw a small black water stream over a plantation. First scoop, a juvenile betta. Thought it was a Bellica but on closer examination, it was a pugnax like fish. We know that pugnax has never been found in black water so it should be the pulchra. The biggest specimen at 6.5 to 7.0cm confirms that the betta is actually pulchra. Most annoying were the mosquitoes. About an hour there at most, we had almost 18 pieces, mostly juveniles. Question was where are the adult? The small stream branch into a main drainage and I believe, most of the good adult pulchra are in. Happy with the catch. hehe.

Anyway, had to move due to the rain, spoilt the show as it was drizzling quite heavily and thunder could be heard nearby. Enough la.

Photo taken after arrival


Stabalize after a day. Kept in ketapang water, pH 5.5


Unusual mosses.


On the way back, got a couple of Pugnax from Gelan Patah. This particular male is very coulourful compared to most of the pugnax caught