🐠 Wild Betta Red Benjarong Spade Tail Male

🔹 Overview

The Wild Betta Red Benjarong Spade Tail Male is a stunning natural variant inspired by the Benjarong color concept — a traditional Thai art style that means “five-colored” — symbolizing harmony and contrast. This betta embodies that beauty through deep red hues, subtle iridescent highlights, and a distinctive spade-shaped tail, all while retaining its wild temperament and form.

It is believed to be derived from wild Betta splendens or hybridized naturally within wild populations near central and eastern Thailand, where diverse betta forms coexist in soft, shallow waters.

🔹 Origin & Background

Unlike the fully domesticated “Benjarong” bettas bred for ornamental contests, the Wild Benjarong variant preserves more natural body proportions and temperament, with a balanced mix of wild elegance and soft coloration.

🔹 Physical Description

1. Size:

   • Adult males reach about 5.5–6.5 cm (2.2–2.6 inches).

2. Body Shape:

   • Slender, muscular, and perfectly balanced.

   • Designed for agility rather than display.

3. Coloration:

   • Base Color: Deep ruby red to crimson, especially vibrant on the fins.

   • Body Sheen: Subtle blue-green iridescence on the scales, especially near the gills.

   • Tail & Fins: Spade-shaped tail with red center and faint metallic edge.

   • Highlights: Occasionally shows small blue or copper scales under direct light.

   • Females: Paler coloration with lighter red or brown tones.

4. Tail Type:

   • Spade Tail: The defining feature — a tail that tapers gently to a rounded point, giving a spade-like silhouette.

   • Offers smoother, more natural swimming than domestic long tails.

5. Sexual Dimorphism:

   • Males: Deeper coloration, sharper spade tail, more aggressive.

   • Females: Shorter fins, duller hues, rounder body.

🔹 Temperament & Behavior

• Temperament: Semi-aggressive; territorial but not as hostile as domesticated show bettas.

• Social Behavior: Males guard their territory; females can coexist if space allows.

• Flaring: Strong and beautiful flares with wide gill expansion and full tail display.

• Personality: Curious, alert, and responsive to human presence.

• Best Kept: Alone or in a large, well-planted tank with plenty of cover.

The Benjarong males are known for their confidence — they patrol their tanks calmly and display vibrant colors when relaxed.

🔹 Natural Habitat & Conditions

In their native region, these wild bettas inhabit warm, shallow, slow-moving waters with plenty of leaf litter and aquatic vegetation.
The water is soft, slightly acidic, and rich in tannins, creating a tea-colored environment.

To replicate their natural habitat:

• Use dark substrate and Indian almond leaves to release tannins.

• Include driftwood, roots, and floating plants to diffuse light.

• Maintain low water flow to imitate natural ponds and rice paddies.

🔹 Ideal Tank Conditions

🔹 Diet & Feeding

Diet Type: Carnivorous / Micro-predator

Preferred Foods:

• Live or frozen: mosquito larvae, brine shrimp, bloodworms, daphnia.

• High-quality betta micro-pellets or granules.

• Occasional freeze-dried foods as supplements.

Feeding Tips:

• Feed 1–2 small portions daily.

• Include live foods for muscle tone and color enrichment.

• Avoid overfeeding to prevent bloating and water fouling.

🔹 Health & Maintenance

Common Health Issues:

• Fin tears (from décor or fights).

• Bacterial infections in unclean tanks.

• Stress fading from strong lights or reflection.

Prevention & Care:

• Maintain stable parameters.

• Use tannins (almond leaves, peat extract).

• Perform small weekly water changes (20–25%).

• Avoid mirror-based flaring for long durations.

Healthy males display vivid red fins, confident swimming, and frequent bubble-nest activity.

🔹 Compatibility

🔹 Breeding Behavior

• Type: Bubble-nest builder.

• Courtship: Male flares and displays full color to attract female.

• Nesting: Builds bubble nest under floating leaves.

• Spawning Process:

  • The male embraces the female; eggs fall and are placed in the nest.

  • Female should be removed post-spawn.

  • Male guards and tends to eggs.

• Egg Hatch Time: 36–48 hours.

• Fry Care:

  • Infusoria for first few days.

  • Baby brine shrimp or micro-worms once free-swimming.

Breeding Difficulty: Moderate — requires stable water, quiet environment, and experience with wild betta behaviors.

🔹 Lifespan

• Typical: 3–4 years.

• With Excellent Care: Up to 5 years.

🔹 Key Features of Wild Red Benjarong Spade Tail

1. Unique Tail Shape: Graceful spade tail — a natural variation uncommon in domestic types.

2. Benjarong Color Influence: Deep red with subtle metallic undertones symbolizing Thai artistry.

3. True Wild Heritage: Closer to natural Betta splendens form and behavior.

4. Balanced Temperament: Active and bold, yet less aggressive than show strains.

5. Natural Intelligence: Observes environment keenly and recognizes human caretakers.

🔹 Quick Reference Summary

🔹 Summary

The Wild Betta Red Benjarong Spade Tail Male is a breathtaking combination of cultural elegance and natural power. With its radiant red hue, metallic glimmers, and distinctive tail form, it’s a living representation of Thai heritage and nature’s artistry.

Unlike ornamental hybrids, this wild variant retains its grace, intelligence, and raw authenticity, making it an ideal choice for aquarists who value both beauty and natural heritage in their fishkeeping experience.

FOR DELIVERY IN KOLKATA LOCATION ONLY. IMAGES ARE FOR REPRESENTATIVE PURPOSES ONLY.