Koi Multicolour Plakat (Betta splendens)

Betta splendens are native to the shallow, slow-moving waters of Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam and Laos, where they inhabit rice paddies, ditches and still ponds. This variety is bred in Indonesia and takes its name from its resemblance to Japanese koi carp, displaying irregular patches of red, white, orange and black scattered across the body and fins.

Koi bettas carry the marble gene, so the pattern is not fixed — colours and patches can continue to shift and develop as the fish matures, meaning no two fish are ever quite alike and the fish you buy may look noticeably different in a few months' time.

As a plakat, this male has short, robust fins rather than the long flowing fins of other betta types, tracing back to the fighting bettas historically bred across Southeast Asia for stamina and agility. This gives it a hardier, more compact build and makes it a strong, active swimmer.

Juveniles often don't display full colouration and become more and more vivid as they age, making them fascinating to watch as they change.

Care

• Origin: Indonesia

• Temperature: 24-27℃

• pH: 6.5-7.5

• Ammonia: 0

• Nitrite: 0

• Nitrate: <20

• Water Flow: Gentle

• Food: high grade betta pellet, frozen bloodworm, frozen brine shrimp, frozen white mosquito larvae.

We recommend catappa leaf as a natural botanical that provides tannins, cover and leaf-litter habitat, helping to create a more natural environment for your fish. Research also suggests possible additional health benefits.