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Article of the Month MARCH 2015 : Betta mahachaiensis

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Post by Biulu Fri Mar 06, 2015 8:45 pm

Mahachaiensis is one of the fish that I brought back from Thailand. It is endemic to Thailand and until now only found south-west of Bangkok and in a province north east, close to the border with Laos.

I definitively have the variety (recognisable by the form of the tail) from the area close to Bangkok. The seller even showed me on Google maps where he had the fish from. I am not sure whether these are all wild caught or F1.

This fish was until 2012 listed as Betta sp. 'mahachaiensis' but after that it became apparent that it was a separate species. I read that this fish is responsible for the so-called 'dragon' variety of the splendens and I can imagine that when you see the scale pattern on mahachaiensis.

This fish makes even the nicest fancy betta look like a sinco (sin color) and I can't get enough of watching this fish; they are gorgeous!

I got 2 males, and 3 females. Two females are still juveniles and are in not too good condition, already when I got them. The seller gave them for free, when I asked for females. The third female is mature. One of the males is around 3 months old (suspected F1), and the other male mature.

I have put the mature male and female in a 10 gallon tank in the hope to breed them. The male already produced a small bubble nest, but I think it is still incomplete and that no fertile eggs are in the nest at the moment.

Enough talk; some pictures now:

female (hardest to photograph as she is often in hiding):

Article of the Month MARCH 2015 : Betta mahachaiensis 16712792546_6eea044af6_zDSC02247 by Biulu, on Flickr

male:

Article of the Month MARCH 2015 : Betta mahachaiensis 16552544039_46d5d466fe_zDSC02269 by Biulu, on Flickr

It was recommended to include caves as hiding spots in the tank and they are actually using them:
Article of the Month MARCH 2015 : Betta mahachaiensis 16712795486_f9b788788c_zDSC02244 by Biulu, on Flickr

The nest: I think it is still too small, but for 2 days in this tank, not bad
Article of the Month MARCH 2015 : Betta mahachaiensis 16551285350_5d7770e07b_zDSC02243 by Biulu, on Flickr

The male guarding the nest:
Article of the Month MARCH 2015 : Betta mahachaiensis 16712787216_0612c845c5_zDSC02252 by Biulu, on Flickr

Some more pictures of the male so you can see the scale pattern and irridiscent colours under different lights (as I said, I can't get enough of this fish!)

Article of the Month MARCH 2015 : Betta mahachaiensis 16552553259_523642d387_zDSC02264 by Biulu, on Flickr

Article of the Month MARCH 2015 : Betta mahachaiensis 16712790386_68ae3b286d_zDSC02250 by Biulu, on Flickr

Article of the Month MARCH 2015 : Betta mahachaiensis 16738662055_c83535c600_zDSC02266 by Biulu, on Flickr

Here are some of the juvenile male and in the last picture you can see clearly why they call it a dragon type scale:

Article of the Month MARCH 2015 : Betta mahachaiensis 16738686465_9d67495ef9_zDSC02241 by Biulu, on Flickr

Article of the Month MARCH 2015 : Betta mahachaiensis 16552573829_2f90057921_zDSC02238 by Biulu, on Flickr

Article of the Month MARCH 2015 : Betta mahachaiensis 16531403607_2782013a0c_zDSC02256 by Biulu, on Flickr
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Post by alexmtl Fri Mar 06, 2015 10:12 pm

Stunning !! Builu you have great taste ! These are exceptional
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Post by nyleveiam Sat Mar 07, 2015 1:47 pm

Absolutely beautiful!!! I notice the first photo female's tail almost comes to a central point. Some of the others also seem to do the same. Is that a character of them in particular or do others such as the plakats do that?
I absolutely LOVE the dragon scales, several of mine have that, but your guys have the most amazing patterns on their heads and "faces". LOVE them!!!!
Glad you could introduce us to them!!!!
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Post by CAAIndie Sat Mar 07, 2015 3:49 pm

I want one. Seriously. Absolutely gorgeous fish. I love the colouration. Any behavioural differences with these ones?
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Post by nyleveiam Sat Mar 07, 2015 3:59 pm

CAAIndie, stand in line BEHIND me!!!! I will drive to Montreal and put one in my thermos to get it across the border!!!!
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Post by CAAIndie Sat Mar 07, 2015 4:01 pm

nyleveiam wrote:CAAIndie, stand in line BEHIND me!!!!  I will drive to Montreal and put one in my thermos to get it across the border!!!!

haha. I feel like that would not fly. I can only imagine the trouble that would cause.

I guess you'll just need to move to Canada. You might as well. Laughing
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Post by guppyguy Sat Mar 07, 2015 4:15 pm

Wow that is a stunning fish. Incredibly beautiful and I love the color. Don't blame you for picking up these beauties
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Post by Biulu Sun Mar 08, 2015 10:47 am

Thanks for the kind comments everybody!
@CAAIndie: yes, there are some differences. The main difference is that you can leave the female in the tank, even after spawning. And when your tank is big enough, you can even keep several males. It is important though to ensure there are hiding places and decor to ensure each male can have their own territory.

@nyleveiam: that is exactly the difference in variety; good observation! The tail ends in a point (I think they call it a spade tail, but not sure) whereas in the other variety the tail is round, like from a normal plakat betta.

The male in the mean time has made a proper (multilayer) nest. If I am successful in breeding them then of course I will make them available to you guys.

@nyleveiam: you are more than welcome to visit in Montreal! We will prepare you a warm welcome (weather permitting!). At the US customs you simply say that you came to Quebec to try and see for yourself that our wines are better than the ones from California... That will distract them Laughing
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Post by nyleveiam Sun Mar 08, 2015 11:10 am

Biulu, for a graduation present way back when, well, the World Fair was there that year, I was given a weeks stay in Montreal. I remember much of it quite clearly! My Aunt, who took me, MADE me speak French... my French teachers always joked that I spoke Franglais.
I have been in Canada fairly often since then for dog stuff, but never that far from the border.
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Post by Biulu Sun Mar 08, 2015 10:04 pm

nyleveiam wrote:
I have been in Canada fairly often since then for dog stuff, but never that far from the border.

We are not far from the border.... Just a bit more than an hour....
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Post by Biulu Sun Mar 08, 2015 10:05 pm

Here is a better pic of the female:

Article of the Month MARCH 2015 : Betta mahachaiensis 16573508530_25ee5024b9_zDSC02274 by Biulu, on Flickr

@nyleveiam: you can also clearly see the spade shaped tail here.
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Post by CAAIndie Sun Mar 08, 2015 10:26 pm

Absolutely stunning fish. Wow!
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Post by GaryE Mon Mar 09, 2015 4:50 am

That is a real beauty.

Any time I have kept wild-type Bettas, I have been impressed by their speed. They can move like rockets. Plus we forget sometimes that people have linebred Betta splendens for centuries, and not just for fancy fins. They have also been bred for fighting as part of the gambling tradition, and selection has made the males more aggressive than nature probably did.

I have had Betta species where the males just swam by each other, unconcerned. Then again, with some other wild-type Bettas, you'd need a 4 foot tank to have that happen. They are are a wonderful Genus of fish and it's a shame so many aquarists think there is only the one species.
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Post by Fores41 Tue Mar 10, 2015 9:38 am

Biulu very nice fish love the dragon scale need a few more tanks when I see fish like these.
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Post by JordanG Wed Mar 18, 2015 8:17 pm

Biulu wrote:Here is a better pic of the female:

Article of the Month MARCH 2015 : Betta mahachaiensis 16573508530_25ee5024b9_zDSC02274 by Biulu, on Flickr

@nyleveiam: you can also clearly see the spade shaped tail here.

Wow fantastic looking fish good-luck breeding them!

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Post by Biulu Wed Mar 18, 2015 8:47 pm

Thanks Jordan! I am working on it....
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Post by CAAIndie Wed Mar 18, 2015 9:30 pm

Biulu wrote:Thanks Jordan! I am working on it....
bounce Happydance Fishbowl
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Post by l_l_l Thu Mar 19, 2015 7:01 am

I would be interested in seeing this breed with your yellow plakkat...
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Post by Biulu Thu Mar 19, 2015 8:08 am

l_l_l wrote:I would be interested in seeing this breed with your yellow plakkat...

This will not happen as this is another species and I want to keep it pure.
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Post by l_l_l Thu Mar 19, 2015 8:30 am

Sad
Maybe you can give me the fry and I raise them? Razz
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Post by Biulu Thu Mar 19, 2015 9:47 am

I have a much better idea: when I have mahachai fry I give you some and then you can do with them whatever you want!

Btw, the yellow female is already in a breeding tank and will be released to spawn today or tomorrow.
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Post by l_l_l Thu Mar 19, 2015 10:21 am

Oh, that's a good idea Smile
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Post by JordanG Mon Mar 30, 2015 8:14 am

Biulu wrote:Mahachaiensis is one of the fish that I brought back from Thailand. It is endemic to Thailand and until now only found south-west of Bangkok and in a province north east, close to the border with Laos.

I definitively have the variety (recognisable by the form of the tail) from the area close to Bangkok. The seller even showed me on Google maps where he had the fish from. I am not sure whether these are all wild caught or F1.

This fish was until 2012 listed as Betta sp. 'mahachaiensis' but after that it became apparent that it was a separate species. I read that this fish is responsible for the so-called 'dragon' variety of the splendens and I can imagine that when you see the scale pattern on mahachaiensis.

This fish makes even the nicest fancy betta look like a sinco (sin color) and I can't get enough of watching this fish; they are gorgeous!

I got 2 males, and 3 females. Two females are still juveniles and are in not too good condition, already when I got them. The seller gave them for free, when I asked for females. The third female is mature. One of the males is around 3 months old (suspected F1), and the other male mature.

I have put the mature male and female in a 10 gallon tank in the hope to breed them. The male already produced a small bubble nest, but I think it is still incomplete and that no fertile eggs are in the nest at the moment.

Enough talk; some pictures now:

female (hardest to photograph as she is often in hiding):

Article of the Month MARCH 2015 : Betta mahachaiensis 16712792546_6eea044af6_zDSC02247 by Biulu, on Flickr

male:

Article of the Month MARCH 2015 : Betta mahachaiensis 16552544039_46d5d466fe_zDSC02269 by Biulu, on Flickr

It was recommended to include caves as hiding spots in the tank and they are actually using them:
Article of the Month MARCH 2015 : Betta mahachaiensis 16712795486_f9b788788c_zDSC02244 by Biulu, on Flickr

The nest: I think it is still too small, but for 2 days in this tank, not bad
Article of the Month MARCH 2015 : Betta mahachaiensis 16551285350_5d7770e07b_zDSC02243 by Biulu, on Flickr

The male guarding the nest:
Article of the Month MARCH 2015 : Betta mahachaiensis 16712787216_0612c845c5_zDSC02252 by Biulu, on Flickr

Some more pictures of the male so you can see the scale pattern and irridiscent colours under different lights (as I said, I can't get enough of this fish!)

Article of the Month MARCH 2015 : Betta mahachaiensis 16552553259_523642d387_zDSC02264 by Biulu, on Flickr

Article of the Month MARCH 2015 : Betta mahachaiensis 16712790386_68ae3b286d_zDSC02250 by Biulu, on Flickr

Article of the Month MARCH 2015 : Betta mahachaiensis 16738662055_c83535c600_zDSC02266 by Biulu, on Flickr

Here are some of the juvenile male and in the last picture you can see clearly why they call it a dragon type scale:

Article of the Month MARCH 2015 : Betta mahachaiensis 16738686465_9d67495ef9_zDSC02241 by Biulu, on Flickr

Article of the Month MARCH 2015 : Betta mahachaiensis 16552573829_2f90057921_zDSC02238 by Biulu, on Flickr

Article of the Month MARCH 2015 : Betta mahachaiensis 16531403607_2782013a0c_zDSC02256 by Biulu, on Flickr


How are they doing E?

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Post by Fores41 Mon Mar 30, 2015 8:32 am

I will be another person waiting in line for some fry from these guys. They are so easy to look at and would be interesting to see how much more gentle as well.
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Post by Biulu Mon Mar 30, 2015 9:24 am

The fish are doing very well, thank you! However, I am not trying to breed them actively anymore now since I know I will be travelling again in about 3 weeks' time.

The person taking care of my fish in that time will have enough on their hands with the betta plakat fry and maybe the peackock gudgeons. I have a tube of eggs bubbling of these at the moment.
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