- Sku: FW1-F9024
- Vendor: Squeaky's Aquatics
WYSIWYG Imbellis Hybrid Plakat Male Betta (Betta sp.)
This Imbellis Hybrid Plakat Male Betta (Betta sp.) is a captive bred hybrid between Betta imbellis, the wild Peaceful or Crescent Betta, and the domestic Siamese fighting fish, Betta splendens. He is not a pure wild imbellis. He carries the lean, short-finned build of the imbellis side: a dark bronze body covered in rows of turquoise scales, iridescent cheek bars, a turquoise dorsal tipped in red, and a tail with turquoise rays and a red outer band. Care is the same as any betta, and he is hardy and beginner friendly. Browse the rest of our live freshwater fish and freshwater supplies to set his tank up right.
Why WYSIWYG Matters on an Imbellis Hybrid
Hybrids vary even more than pure lines, because each fish lands somewhere different between the two parents. One male looks almost like a wild imbellis, the next shows more domestic color or longer fins, and the amount of turquoise scaling and red on the tail changes from fish to fish. The scaling also shifts with the angle of the light, and he will darken or pale with mood. The photo on this page is him, in our store, as he looks right now. Expect his color to deepen as he settles in with shade, plants, and a few catappa leaves.
Care Guide
- Tank size: 5 gallons minimum, 10 gallons is better. Imbellis-type bettas are active swimmers and use the extra room. Give him a real heated, filtered, cycled tank.
- Temperature: 76 to 82°F, held steady with a heater. A small preset unit like the Aquatop Pisces 25W suits a 5 to 10 gallon tank.
- Gentle flow. Both parent species come from still, slow water. A sponge filter such as the Hikari Bacto-Surge Foam Filter is ideal.
- A tight lid is essential. Imbellis-type bettas are strong jumpers. Close the gaps around cords and filters, and leave an air gap under the cover, since he breathes air at the surface through his labyrinth organ.
- Water parameters: pH 6.0 to 7.5, soft to moderately hard. Slightly soft, tannin-stained water brings out his best color. Change about 25% weekly and treat new water with Seachem Betta Basics or another dechlorinator.
- Feeding: carnivore. A small betta pellet such as New Life Spectrum Betta Pellets as the staple, with frozen or freeze-dried bloodworms and daphnia two or three times a week. Some imbellis-type fish are shy about pellets at first, and a few days of frozen food usually brings them around.
- Decor: plenty of cover. Plants, wood, and shade make him feel safe, and a nervous fish is a pale fish. Floating plants, a cave, and a few catappa leaves help him color up.
- One male per tank. Pure imbellis are known as calmer than domestic bettas, but as a hybrid he may have as much of the splendens temper as the imbellis calm. Treat him like any male betta: never with another male.
Specifications
| Scientific name | Betta sp., B. imbellis x B. splendens hybrid |
| Common names | Imbellis hybrid, imbellis x splendens |
| This listing | WYSIWYG, one specific male, quantity of one |
| Coloring | Bronze body with rows of turquoise scales, turquoise dorsal tipped red, tail with turquoise rays and a red outer band, red ventral fins |
| Fin type | Plakat, short finned, wild-type body |
| Sex | Male |
| Care level | Beginner |
| Temperament | Semi-aggressive, one male per tank |
| Max size | About 2 to 2.5 inches |
| Minimum tank | 5 gallons, 10 preferred |
| Temperature | 76 to 82°F |
| pH | 6.0 to 7.5 |
| Diet | Carnivore |
| Lifespan | 3 to 5 years with good care |
| Origin | Captive bred hybrid line |
| Pickup | In-store pickup at Squeaky's Aquatics |
Compatibility
He can share a 10 gallon or larger, well-planted tank with calm, small neighbors. Good choices include Pygmy Corys, Otocinclus, Black Kuhli Loaches, and nerite snails. Amano Shrimp usually hold their own, while small shrimp tend to become snacks.
Avoid fin nippers such as tiger barbs and serpae tetras, avoid large or boisterous fish that outcompete him at feeding time, and do not add another male betta. Temperament varies by individual, so watch closely for the first week.
Recommended Foods & Supplies
- New Life Spectrum Betta Pellets or Hikari Betta Bio-Gold as the daily staple
- Frozen bloodworms and Hikari Bio-Pure Frozen Daphnia for variety
- Seachem Betta Basics for every water change
- Aquatop Pisces 25W Nano Heater for a steady temperature
- Fritz Catappa Leaves for the tannin-stained water imbellis-type bettas color up in
FAQ
Is the photo really this fish?
Yes. That is him in one of our tanks, photographed as he is now. There is one of him, so when he sells the page comes down instead of being restocked with a different betta.
What does "hybrid" mean here?
His parents were a wild-type Betta imbellis and a domestic Betta splendens, the common pet store betta. That is why he is listed as Betta sp. rather than as a pure species. If you are looking for a true wild imbellis for a species tank or a breeding project, he is not that fish.
Is he harder to keep than a regular betta?
No. Care is the same as any betta: heated, filtered, gently moving water and a varied carnivore diet. He jumps harder than most domestic bettas, so the lid matters more, and he may be shy for the first few days.
Will his color change?
Some. The turquoise scaling looks different under different lights and angles, and most bettas color up once they settle into a planted, shaded tank. Stress, cold water or a move can make him look dull for a few days. A lasting fade usually points to water quality or temperature.
Can I keep him with another betta?
Not with another male. Even pure imbellis males spar and can injure each other in home aquariums, and as a hybrid he may be as feisty as a domestic betta. Keep him as the only male betta in his tank.
Should I breed him?
We do not recommend it. Hybrid offspring should never be sold or traded as pure Betta imbellis, because that muddies wild lines that hobbyists work to keep pure. Enjoy him as a pet.
Have a question?
WYSIWYG Imbellis Hybrid Plakat Male Betta (Betta sp.)
