Smaragdina

[SalleesHalfmoons]

I have a question about betta smaradina, I have resently purchased a pair of betta smaradina, and I wonderd if I need to keep them seperated tell I get more females or should I let them together and just cover the tank with plants? I already have Betta Imbellis (wild caught out of the Chiang Ria reagon) and many many many (around 400 of many different colors) betta Splendens, so if keeping the pair seperated would be best I'm more then capable of housing them in my barracks (264 1/4 gallon tanks in a shelving unit) but as I can not find a good site or book to tell me the best way to care for them I would really love any advice y'all might be able to give me thank you.


Constance Sallee
Sallee's Halfmoons and Deltas
1 pair of Fp. gardneri nigerianus Misaje (killifish)
around 400 Betta Splendens
4 betta Imbellis
1 green sunfish
23 guppies

 

[red-devil0602]

don't know if this will help
http/www.plakatthai.com/smarag.html

http/www.atchison.com/fisharticles/smaragdi.htm

also found on the IBC site
"The male's body colour is mainly blue or green, giving the impression of an emerald. The fin rays are bright red as the pelvics are the same with a large black edge ending on the extremity in white-blueish. Operculum is green. The anal fin is pointed, the dorsal fin looking like a large flame. The body is quite more elongated than in Betta splendens…A group of 5 fish, 1 male and 4 females, can be kept together…Water conditions: hardness: 8 to 10° GH, pH slightly below 7 with a temperature around 24 to 28 Celsius degrees." [126]

 

[Morrgan]

I have a question about smaragdinas as well, so I thought I'd add it to this topic.

There might be a chance for me to get my hands on a few of these in the near future, but right now the only suitable tank would be a 26 gal Asian community, full of plants and a couple of pieces of driftwood. It only has small fish, but they include 4 sparkling gouramis and 2 honey gouramis. Would combining a trio of smaragdina with these other labyrinths be a bad idea? The gouramis I have a very peaceful and ignore each other, so I don't expect trouble from their side, but how do the smaragdinas behave towards other fish?

 

[Elisabeth83]

I've got a pair of betta smaragdinas too. I probably would of bought more females but at the store I got them from they only had these two in. I've got them in a 11 US gallon tank along with 2 licorice gouramis and 6 harlequin rasboras. The male and female don't really hang out together. They are pretty peaceful to eachother though. He sometimes chases her but only away from his one spot he likes under a piece of wood. He never does any damage though.

My tank has quite a few hiding spots though where the male and female can retreat too. I've got a couple pieces of wood in there along with 1 live plant and 2 silk plants. So if your tank is heavily planted I'd say you can keep the male and female together no problems until you get more females.

 

[Elisabeth83]

I have a question about smaragdinas as well, so I thought I'd add it to this topic.

There might be a chance for me to get my hands on a few of these in the near future, but right now the only suitable tank would be a 26 gal Asian community, full of plants and a couple of pieces of driftwood. It only has small fish, but they include 4 sparkling gouramis and 2 honey gouramis. Would combining a trio of smaragdina with these other labyrinths be a bad idea? The gouramis I have a very peaceful and ignore each other, so I don't expect trouble from their side, but how do the smaragdinas behave towards other fish?

Hi morrgan - We must of posted at the same time

I think adding 3 smaragdinas to your set up would be just fine. Like I said in my last post I've got them in with licorice gouramis and some rasboras. I did have them in for a short period of time with some spike tails but decided to move them to their own tank. They got along just fine while they were living together and right now living with the licorice gouramis and rasboras they are fine too.

I was actually thinking of getting some honey gouramis yesterday but am happy I didnt because my spike tails ended up spawning yesterday and I ended up having to move the rasboras over. If I would of bought the honey gouramis my tank would of been very overstocked

 

[Morrgan]

Thanks Elisabeth, I think I'll get them then. With any luck they wouldn't have to be in the community tank for very long, only until I get a species tank set up for them.

Awww, pity you couldn't get the honeys. They're one of my favorites, I do recommend them for when you have the space. But on the other hand, congratulations on the spawning! I saw the wonderful photos in the other forum.

 

[SalleesHalfmoons]

I've got a pair of betta smaragdinas too. I probably would of bought more females but at the store I got them from they only had these two in. I've got them in a 11 US gallon tank along with 2 licorice gouramis and 6 harlequin rasboras. The male and female don't really hang out together. They are pretty peaceful to eachother though. He sometimes chases her but only away from his one spot he likes under a piece of wood. He never does any damage though.

Hmmm..... if that is the case how would I breed them, (I'm in the SMP with the IBC) I'm at this point working one breeding of wild and domestic spieces and this is one of the wilds I plan to start working with.
thank you all for you help
Sallee's Halfmoons and Deltas
Constance
www.csbetta2.com

 

[Elisabeth83]

I've got a pair of betta smaragdinas too. I probably would of bought more females but at the store I got them from they only had these two in. I've got them in a 11 US gallon tank along with 2 licorice gouramis and 6 harlequin rasboras. The male and female don't really hang out together. They are pretty peaceful to eachother though. He sometimes chases her but only away from his one spot he likes under a piece of wood. He never does any damage though.

Hmmm..... if that is the case how would I breed them, (I'm in the SMP with the IBC) I'm at this point working one breeding of wild and domestic spieces and this is one of the wilds I plan to start working with.
thank you all for you help
Sallee's Halfmoons and Deltas
Constance
www.csbetta2.com

I'm not planning on breeding mine so that is why I have them in with other types of fish. I don't know much about breeding bettas so I hope someone else comes along who knows a bit more and can let you know.

I would assume that if your going to try and breed them to only get a pair and set them up with their own 10 gallon.

 

[SalleesHalfmoons]

I'm not planning on breeding mine so that is why I have them in with other types of fish. I don't know much about breeding bettas so I hope someone else comes along who knows a bit more and can let you know.

I would assume that if your going to try and breed them to only get a pair and set them up with their own 10 gallon. unsure.gif

LOL, I breed bettas as a hobby so I'm getting the smaradina for my breeding program I hope someone can help me
thanks for you input though it helps


Sallee's Halfmoons and Deltas
www.csbetta2.com

 

[bkk_group]

I've got a pair of betta smaragdinas too. I probably would of bought more females but at the store I got them from they only had these two in. I've got them in a 11 US gallon tank along with 2 licorice gouramis and 6 harlequin rasboras. The male and female don't really hang out together. They are pretty peaceful to eachother though. He sometimes chases her but only away from his one spot he likes under a piece of wood. He never does any damage though.

Hmmm..... if that is the case how would I breed them, (I'm in the SMP with the IBC) I'm at this point working one breeding of wild and domestic spieces and this is one of the wilds I plan to start working with.
thank you all for you help
Sallee's Halfmoons and Deltas
Constance
www.csbetta2.com

low water level, place a plastic tube big enough so that the top of tube extends above water line and long enough for the fish to think of using it for breeding. these fish like a lot of shelter and will actually mate in the tube. keep the breeding tank well planted as well and treated with indian almond leaf of some such substitute.
i always loved this little story told by precha at plakatthai regarding smaragdina -

"...Now the problem is; how does the breeder distinguish the best fighters amongst the thousands available in the pond? How does he catch the best fighters from such a big pond without disturbing the other living creatures in the pond? The method to catch the best fighters is very simple yet at the same time extremely intelligent.

The breeder places a bamboo tube at the side of the pond. Early in the morning he just lifts the tube out of the water and checks to see if there is a fighter inside the bamboo or not. Of course, almost 100% of the time he will get a fighter in the tube he placed out yesterday.

The intelligence behind this method needs to be explained further. Only the strongest fighters will be able to claim the tube for occupation, as it is the best location for building a bubble nest and waiting for his new lover. The bamboo tube is considered to be the best and strongest shelter to hide in because it protects the delicate bubble nest from winds and unstable water surface. In short, only the strongest fish can claim the best location to breed. And the breeder gets that one to fight in the ring."