| 1. Conservation Status |
|---|
| Scientific Name | Betta miniopinna |
| Common Name | Miniature Pinna Betta |
| Family | Osphronemidae |
| IUCN Status | Critically Endangered (CR) |
| Distribution | Bintan Island, Indonesia — isolated peat swamp pockets |
| Notes | One of the smallest mouthbrooding Betta species; extremely sensitive to water quality and disturbance. |
| 2. Natural Habitat & Ecology |
|---|
| Habitat Type | Shallow peat swamp forest pools; leaf‑litter beds |
| Water | pH 3.0–4.5; conductivity 10–30 µS/cm; heavy humic acids |
| Substrate | Deep leaf litter, peat, submerged roots |
| Behaviour | Shy; pair‑forming; male mouthbroods |
| 3. Water Chemistry Requirements |
|---|
| Temperature | 24–27°C |
| pH | 3.5–4.5 (breeding), 4.0–5.0 (grow‑out) |
| Conductivity | 10–30 µS/cm |
| Tannins | Very high; catappa leaves, peat, alder cones |
| Lighting | Extremely dim; floating plants essential |
| 4. Social Structure & Behaviour |
|---|
| Group Dynamics | Pairs only; males may be territorial |
| Male Behaviour | Darkens and intensifies colour during courtship |
| Female Behaviour | Shows subtle barring; initiates spawning |
| Territoriality | Moderate; increases during breeding |
| 5. Conditioning Protocol |
|---|
| Duration | 2–3 weeks |
| Diet | Live foods: mosquito larvae, daphnia, grindal worms |
| Environmental Stability | Ultra‑soft water; minimal disturbance |
| Indicators | Male throat darkens; female swells with roe |
| 6. Spawning Strategy |
|---|
| Method | Mouthbrooding (male) |
| Spawning Behaviour | Pair embraces; female releases eggs; male collects eggs in mouth |
| Parental Care | Male incubates eggs and fry until release |
| 7. Spawning Triggers |
|---|
| Pre‑Trigger | Soft acidic water; heavy tannins; stable temperature |
| Trigger Event | Small cool water change (5–10%); increase live foods |
| Additional Stimuli | Lower light; add fresh leaf litter |
| 8. Eggs & Incubation |
|---|
| Clutch Size | 5–20 eggs (very small species) |
| Egg Type | Large, yolk‑rich eggs |
| Incubation | 14–20 days (male mouthbroods) |
| Male Role | Holds eggs/fry in buccal cavity; does not eat during incubation |
| 9. Larval Development |
|---|
| Day 0–7 | Developing inside male’s mouth; yolk absorption |
| Day 7–14 | Fry fully formed; male aerates by “chewing” motion |
| Day 14–20 | Male releases free‑swimming fry |
| Post‑Release | Fry are small but capable; male may continue guarding |
| 10. First Foods & Feeding Schedule |
|---|
| Stage 1 (Day 1–7) | Microworms, vinegar eels, tiny Artemia |
| Stage 2 (Week 2–4) | Moina, micro‑daphnia, fine crushed pellets |
| Stage 3 (4+ weeks) | Small live foods; transition to pellets |
| 11. Grow‑Out Requirements |
|---|
| Tank Size | 40–60L for early grow‑out |
| Water | Soft, acidic, tannin‑rich |
| Flow | Minimal; gentle sponge filtration |
| Water Changes | 5–10% weekly; avoid large changes |
| Density | Low density reduces stress |
| Culling | Remove weak or deformed fry early |
| 12. Genetic Management |
|---|
| Practices | Maintain unrelated pairs; avoid line collapse; track lineage |
| 13. Conservation Notes |
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| Threats | Peat swamp destruction, agriculture, pollution |
| Status | Critically endangered; wild populations extremely fragmented |
| Goal | Maintain genetically diverse captive lines |
| 14. Recommended Breeding Setup |
|---|
| Tank | 20–40L blackwater tank |
| Substrate | Leaf litter + peat + botanicals |
| Flow | Minimal; air‑driven sponge filter |
| Water | pH 3.5–4.5; conductivity 10–30 µS/cm |
| Group | Bonded pair |
| Trigger | Cool soft‑water change + increased live foods |
| Egg Care | Male mouthbroods; do not disturb |
| Fry | Microworm → Artemia → Moina |
| Grow‑Out | Soft water; low stress; stable parameters |
