Betta pi
Betta pi is a species of gourami belonging to the genus Betta. It is found in the Pru Toe-Daeng peat swamps in Narathiwat Province in Southern Thailand, but its range also extends into northern Peninsular Malaysia, most notably the states of Kelantan and Terengganu. It is primarily found in well-shaded peat forest blackwater swamps and creeks where the pH can be as low as 3.0 or 4.0. It is benthopelagic. It can grow to a maximum length of. It is a fish of mild importance in the aquarium industry. Its diet consists of aquatic invertebrates in the wild, but will also eat frozen, live and dried foods such as larva of Chironomidae, Daphnia, and brine shrimp in aquariums.
Anatomy and behavior
Anatomy
Betta pi has a body, coloration, and anatomy typical of the B.wasseri complex of closely related fish. It is mostly clay yellow, with iridescent gold scales in adult males, and black throat markings, which in Betta pi resemble the Greek letter pi, hence the specific name. It is also, like all fish of the Betta genus, a facultative air-breathing fish, because of its labyrinth organ.Behavior
Betta pi is a relatively less aggressive fish than most of the others in the genus Betta. However, it is still not recommended that it is put in a community aquarium.Sexual dimorphism
Betta pi displays mild sexual dimorphism, with males growing larger, developing more extended fins, and also having a broader head than females.Reproduction and development
Being a mouthbrooder, Betta pi has a breeding process which is very typical of mouthbrooding fish of the Betta genus. Following a protracted courtship, eggs and milt are released during a stage where the male is wrapped around the female. This is typical of gouramis. The male might have to wrap around the female several times before spawning happens. Then, fertilised eggs are caught on the anal fin of the male, then picked up in the mouth of the female before being spat out into the water for the male to catch. Once the male has all the eggs in his mouth the process is repeated until the female is spent of eggs, a process which can take some time.A brooding male may swallow or release the eggs prematurely if stressed or inexperienced. The incubation period is usually 10-28 days, after which the male will begin to release free-swimming fry. The adults tend not to eat the fry, and some breeders have reported them to develop at a faster rate when left with the parents. The fry are large enough to accept foods such as microworm and brine shrimp immediately, though there exist reports of young Betta developing health issues if it eats excessive amounts of the latter. In the aquarium, water changes should be small and regular rather than large and intermittent.As a result of the males' mouthbrooding capabilities, Betta pi exhibits male-only parental behavior. After the female releases the eggs, she does not play a role in caring for the offspring. Rather, the male guards the eggs until they have developed.