Red Dwarf Betta

Red Dwarf Betta

Betta rutilans

💧 Freshwater ✌️ Peaceful 🔴 Advanced 🥩 Carnivore

One of the smallest betta species with a warm reddish-brown body and iridescent markings. Part of the B. coccina complex from Borneo peat swamps.

Tank Size

5 gal
minimum (10+ preferred)

Temperature

75–82°F
24–28°C

pH Range

3.5–5.5
water acidity

Max Size

1.2"
3.0 cm

Lifespan

2–4 years
typical in captivity

Swim Level

Top
preferred zone

Care Notes

Requires extremely soft, acidic blackwater — pH below 5.5 essential. Very small and easily outcompeted for food. Best kept in a dedicated species nano tank.

Feeding

Live and frozen micro foods: baby brine shrimp, micro worms, daphnia. Too small for most pellets.

Compatible Tank Mates

Cardinal Tetra 2" Chili Rasbora 0.7" Green Neon Tetra 1" Phoenix Rasbora 0.8" Exclamation Point Rasbora 0.7" Marbled Hatchetfish 1.5" Dwarf Pencilfish 1.2" Coral Red Pencilfish 1.2" Ruby Tetra 0.7" Three-Lined Pencilfish 1.5" Chocolate Gourami 2.5" Licorice Gourami 1.5"

Use Caution With

Rummy Nose Tetra 2" Ember Tetra 0.8" Serpae Tetra 1.75" Glowlight Tetra 1.5" Lemon Tetra 1.5" Black Neon Tetra 1.5" Flame Tetra 1.5" Emperor Tetra 2" Red Eye Tetra 2.5" Red Phantom Tetra 1.5" Espei Rasbora 1.5" Silver Hatchetfish 2.5"

Incompatible With

Neon Tetra 1.5" Black Skirt Tetra 2.5" Congo Tetra 3.5" Harlequin Rasbora 2" Celestial Pearl Danio 1" Zebra Danio 2" White Cloud Mountain Minnow 1.5" Bloodfin Tetra 2" Diamond Tetra 2.5" Buenos Aires Tetra 3" Scissortail Rasbora 3.5" X-Ray Tetra 1.75"

Check Compatibility

Want to check if Red Dwarf Betta is compatible with a specific fish? Use our compatibility checker to build your complete tank.