{"product_id":"betta-pugnax","title":"Betta Pugnax","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"betta-desc\"\u003e\n\u003cstyle\u003e\n  .betta-desc { font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size:15px;\n    line-height:1.75; color:#1a1a2e; max-width:860px; margin:0 auto; }\n  .betta-desc p { margin-bottom:14px; }\n  h2.fish-title { font-family:Georgia,serif; font-size:1.7em; font-weight:bold;\n    color:#3d1f5c; text-transform:uppercase; letter-spacing:0.03em;\n    border-bottom:2px solid #7b4fa6; padding-bottom:8px; margin-bottom:18px; }\n  .tip-box { background:#f3eafa; border-left:4px solid #7b4fa6; border-radius:4px;\n    padding:12px 16px; margin:18px 0; font-size:0.95em; }\n  .tip-box strong { color:#3d1f5c; }\n  .warn-box { background:#fff3e0; border-left:4px solid #e67e22; border-radius:4px;\n    padding:12px 16px; margin:18px 0; font-size:0.95em; }\n  .warn-box strong { color:#b94600; }\n  .spec-table { width:100%; border-collapse:collapse; margin:20px 0; font-size:0.92em; }\n  .spec-table th { background:#7b4fa6; color:#fff; text-align:left; padding:8px 12px;\n    font-family:Georgia,serif; font-weight:bold; text-transform:uppercase;\n    letter-spacing:0.04em; font-size:0.85em; }\n  .spec-table td { padding:7px 12px; border-bottom:1px solid #e8ddf2; vertical-align:top; }\n  .spec-table tr:nth-child(odd) td { background:#faf7fd; }\n  .spec-table tr:nth-child(even) td { background:#ffffff; }\n  .spec-table td:first-child { font-weight:bold; color:#3d1f5c; white-space:nowrap; width:38%; }\n\u003c\/style\u003e\n\u003ch2 class=\"fish-title\"\u003eBetta Pugnax\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"tip-box\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAbout the Photo:\u003c\/strong\u003e The image shown is a representative example of this betta variety — it illustrates the size and coloring you may receive. Bettas are living animals and each one is unique; color intensity, pattern, and fin development vary naturally from fish to fish. To choose your exact fish, see our WYSIWYG program below.\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"fish-body\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBetta Pugnax\u003c\/strong\u003e — widely known as the Forest Betta, Penang Betta, or Malayan Betta — is one of the larger and more robust wild betta species, growing well beyond the size of the domesticated \u003cem\u003eBetta splendens\u003c\/em\u003e. Adults display an olive-brown to brassy-gold body with iridescent scale flecking along the flank, and unpaired fins trimmed in yellow-orange with fine black-and-blue spotting. Native to fast-flowing forest and hill streams of the Malay Peninsula, southern Thailand, Sumatra, and the Riau Islands, this species behaves and grows more like a small cichlid than the cup-bound fighting fish most hobbyists picture when they hear \"betta.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn the wild, B. pugnax is found among submerged roots, leaf litter, and overhanging vegetation along the banks of clear, flowing streams — quite different from the still, shallow puddles associated with B. splendens. A well-decorated aquarium with river-rock hardscape, dense planting, driftwood, and gentle water movement recreates this environment well. Unlike many wild bettas, B. pugnax tolerates a bit more current and is not restricted to dead-still water.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMales are somewhat more colorful with a more pronounced, domed head and a visibly swollen throat when carrying eggs. Females are duller and slightly smaller. This is a paternal mouthbrooder — after spawning, the male collects the fertilized eggs into his mouth and incubates them for roughly one to two weeks before releasing free-swimming fry.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"tip-box\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFeeding \u0026amp; Care Tip:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eHikari Frozen or Freeze-Dried Bloodworms\u003c\/strong\u003e and \u003cstrong\u003eHikari Frozen or Freeze-Dried Baby Brine Shrimp\u003c\/strong\u003e make excellent daily staples — wild bettas are insectivore-biased and respond well to live and frozen invertebrate prey. Feed small amounts 2–3 times daily. Supplement 2–3 times per week with \u003cstrong\u003eHikari Frozen Daphnia\u003c\/strong\u003e and \u003cstrong\u003eHikari Frozen or Freeze-Dried Tubifex Worms\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWhen moving your betta to a new aquarium, add \u003cstrong\u003eSeachem Betta Basics\u003c\/strong\u003e to the water — it neutralizes chlorine and chloramines and provides a slime coat supplement to ease the stress of transition. Use it at every water change.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIndian almond leaves (Catappa) are appreciated by this species — the tannins soften and lightly acidify the water and recreate the shaded, leaf-litter margins where B. pugnax is found in the wild.\n\u003cp\u003eCompared to many wild bettas, B. pugnax is considered relatively easygoing in temperament and can be kept in a small group (one male with two or three females) in a sufficiently large, well-decorated tank, rather than requiring strict single-fish isolation. That said, males will spar with one another, especially in cramped quarters, so give the group room and plenty of visual breaks.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOur wild bettas are kept in individually filtered, heated, and UV-sterilized homes — each fish with its own stable, carefully maintained water environment. Wild bettas are more sensitive to water quality than domesticated varieties and are maintained accordingly.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ctable class=\"spec-table\"\u003e\n  \u003ctr\u003e\u003cth colspan=\"2\"\u003eBetta Pugnax\u003c\/th\u003e\u003c\/tr\u003e\n  \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDifficulty\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eIntermediate\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n  \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTemperament\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eModerately peaceful — males spar with each other\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n  \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAdult Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e3–4 inches (8–10 cm)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n  \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGroup Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e1 male with 2–3 females in a large tank, or species-only single male\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n  \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eIdeal Temperature\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e74–80°F (23–27°C)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n  \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eIdeal pH\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e6.0–7.5\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n  \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eIdeal GH\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e2–10 dGH\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n  \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eIdeal KH\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e1–6 dKH\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n  \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eStaple Food\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eHikari Frozen or Freeze-Dried Bloodworms; Hikari Frozen or Freeze-Dried Baby Brine Shrimp\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n  \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTreat \/ Supplement\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eHikari Frozen Daphnia; Hikari Frozen or Freeze-Dried Tubifex Worms\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n  \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNotes\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\n    \u003cstrong\u003eHousing:\u003c\/strong\u003e More tolerant of tankmates and moderate flow than most wild bettas\u003cbr\u003e\n    \u003cstrong\u003eBreeding:\u003c\/strong\u003e Paternal mouthbrooder — male incubates eggs roughly 1–2 weeks; do not disturb during incubation\u003cbr\u003e\n    \u003cstrong\u003eNew Tank:\u003c\/strong\u003e Seachem Betta Basics at setup and every water change\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNote:\u003c\/strong\u003e One of the larger wild bettas — needs more space than splendens or nano species\n  \u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Cuboid Nature Aquarium","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52947635994935,"sku":"Betta Pugnax","price":26.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"url":"https:\/\/cuboidstore.com\/products\/betta-pugnax","provider":"Cuboid Aquatics LLC","version":"1.0","type":"link"}