The genus Betta contains 70+ described species as of 2026. New species are described regularly. This page catalogs the commonly recognized species, organized by species complex, with IUCN conservation status and basic notes. Verify current status against the IUCN Red List directly before citing in formal work.
Splendens complex (bubblenesters, lowland tropical)
This is the complex most pet-trade bettas belong to. B. splendens is the domesticated species sold in every pet store; its wild relatives here, B. imbellis, B. smaragdina, B. mahachaiensis, B. siamorientalis, and B. stiktos, share the same bubble-nesting biology under different regional pressures.
| Species | Common | Habitat | IUCN | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B. splendens | Siamese fighting fish | Thailand, domesticated | VU | The pet-trade species |
| B. imbellis | Peaceful betta | Thailand, Malaysia, Sumatra | LC | Beginner wild betta |
| B. smaragdina | Emerald betta | Thailand | LC | Beginner wild |
| B. mahachaiensis | Mahachai | Thailand (Samut Sakhon) | VU | Brackish-tolerant |
| B. siamorientalis | none | East Thailand | DD | Recently described |
| B. stiktos | none | Cambodia, Vietnam | DD | Poorly studied |
| B. splendens (wild form) | none | Central Thailand | VU | Distinct from pet strain |
Coccina complex (small blackwater)
| Species | Common | Habitat | IUCN | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B. coccina | Wine-red | Sumatra, Malaysia | LC | Small, soft water |
| B. brownorum | Brown’s betta | Borneo | NT | Red-brown body |
| B. burdigala | none | Sumatra | DD | Rare |
| B. persephone | Black betta | Malaysia | CR | Critically endangered |
| B. livida | none | Malaysia | EN | Blue-green |
| B. miniopinna | none | Sumatra | DD | Small red species |
| B. rutilans | none | Borneo | NT | Wine-red |
| B. tussyae | none | Malaysia | EN | Rare |
| B. hendra | none | Borneo (Kalimantan) | CR | First captive-bred 2026 |
| B. uberis | none | Borneo | DD | Recently described |
Macrostoma complex (large Borneo mouthbrooders)
| Species | Common | Habitat | IUCN | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B. macrostoma | Brunei Beauty | Brunei, Sarawak | EN | Iconic mouthbrooder |
| B. ibanorum | none | Sarawak | DD | Similar to macrostoma |
| B. akarensis | none | Sarawak | LC | Lowland |
| B. balunga | none | Sarawak | DD | Poorly known |
| B. obscura | none | Sarawak | DD | Shadow betta |
Picta complex (Java and Sumatra mouthbrooders)
| Species | Common | Habitat | IUCN | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B. picta | Spotted betta | Java | LC | Small mouthbrooder |
| B. falx | none | Sumatra | DD | Similar to picta |
| B. taeniata | Striped betta | Sumatra, Borneo | NT | Medium mouthbrooder |
Unimaculata complex (Borneo large mouthbrooders)
| Species | Common | Habitat | IUCN | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B. unimaculata | Single-spot | Borneo | LC | Large, predatory |
| B. ocellata | Eye-spot | Borneo | NT | Large |
| B. patoti | none | Borneo | DD | Poorly studied |
| B. compuncta | none | Borneo | DD | Similar complex |
| B. pallifina | none | Borneo | DD | none |
| B. gladiator | none | Borneo | DD | none |
Pugnax complex (peninsular Malaysia mouthbrooders)
| Species | Common | Habitat | IUCN | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B. pugnax | none | Malaysia | LC | Common |
| B. schalleri | none | Bangka, Belitung | DD | Island endemic |
| B. enisae | none | Borneo | DD | Rare |
| B. chini | none | Sabah | DD | Highland |
| B. prima | none | Thailand, Cambodia | LC | Similar to pugnax |
Albimarginata complex (smallest mouthbrooders, red-orange)
| Species | Common | Habitat | IUCN | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B. albimarginata | White-edged | Borneo | NT | Striking red-orange |
| B. channoides | none | Borneo (Mahakam) | EN | Similar to albimarginata |
Bellica complex (large bubblenesters)
| Species | Common | Habitat | IUCN | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B. bellica | Slender betta | Malaysia, Sumatra | NT | Large, elongate |
| B. simorum | none | Sumatra | DD | Recently described |
Waseri complex (peat-swamp giants)
| Species | Common | Habitat | IUCN | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B. waseri | none | Malaysia | EN | Large, peat swamp |
| B. hipposideros | none | Malaysia | EN | Large mouthbrooder |
| B. tomi | none | Johor | EN | Critically limited range |
| B. pi | none | Malaysia | EN | Similar |
| B. spilotogena | none | Sumatra | EN | Recently described |
| B. chloropharynx | none | Sumatra | DD | none |
This complex holds the genus’s largest fish: B. waseri and B. hipposideros reach 12 to 14 cm, on par with the Unimaculata complex below and roughly double the 5 to 6 cm standard length of pet-trade splendens.
Other species (singleton or small complexes)
| Species | Common | Habitat | IUCN | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B. anabatoides | none | Sumatra, Borneo | LC | Mouthbrooder |
| B. edithae | none | Borneo | LC | Mouthbrooder |
| B. rubra | none | Sumatra | CR | Critically endangered |
| B. dennisyongi | none | Malaysia | DD | Recently described |
| B. mandor | none | Borneo | DD | none |
| B. kuehnei | none | Malaysia | DD | none |
| B. fusca | none | Sumatra | LC | Mouthbrooder |
| B. strohi | none | Borneo | DD | none |
IUCN status key
- LC Least Concern
- NT Near Threatened
- VU Vulnerable
- EN Endangered
- CR Critically Endangered
- DD Data Deficient (not assessed or insufficient information)
What this list doesn’t include
New species descriptions appear regularly in peer-reviewed ichthyological journals. As of 2026, several species are provisional or undescribed but known to hobbyists and researchers. Check current taxonomic databases (FishBase, Catalog of Fishes) for updates.
Some species formerly recognized as distinct have been synonymized. Some populations long treated as single species are being split based on genetic work. The genus is active taxonomically.
How to use this list
For conservation awareness: note the CR and EN species. Right now that’s B. persephone, B. hendra, and B. rubra at Critically Endangered, with most of that pressure coming from palm-oil expansion and peat-swamp loss across Malaysia, Borneo, and Sumatra. Many more sit at Endangered. All are facing near-term extinction due to habitat loss.
For keeping: start with LC splendens-complex species (imbellis, smaragdina). Work up to NT/VU species with experience. Leave CR/EN species to captive breeding programs unless you’re part of one.
For research: this list is a starting point. Always verify against primary taxonomic sources before citing.
For collecting: never collect from the wild. Source from captive-bred stock through IBC breeders, responsible AquaBid sellers, or specialist retailers who can document captive origin.
The conservation reality
Southeast Asian freshwater habitats are disappearing. The 2025 IUCN feature on Krabi endemics (iucn.org) documented the palm-oil expansion driving local betta extinctions. Betta hendra’s first captive breeding (Wiley, 2026) is a conservation milestone because the wild population may not persist.
Every hobbyist keeping a rare betta species in captive breeding is a small insurance policy against extinction. See wild betta conservation for the broader picture.
The pet-trade splendens is one species in a rich genus that is rapidly losing members. Keeping the others and breeding them responsibly matters.
Most wild bettas in the coccina, macrostoma, and albimarginata complexes require blackwater conditions in captivity. Indian almond leaves (affiliate), one large leaf per 5 gallons, replaced every 2–3 weeks, is the simplest way to acidify and tannin-stain water to species-appropriate parameters without RO equipment.
