18/06/2026
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An interesting Review - Bioecology, Conservation Status and Breeding Efforts of Wild ๐ต๐๐ก๐ก๐ Fish (Teleostei: Osphronemidae) in Kalimantan, Indonesia: making the strong case for coordinated research and conservation programs to preserve Kalimantan's unique ๐ต๐๐ก๐ก๐ fauna. Kalimantan, the Indonesian part of Borneo, is a major centre of diversity for wild ๐ต๐๐ก๐ก๐ species, harbouring 29 species grouped into eleven species complexes.
"To enhance conservation effectiveness, several priority actions are recommended. First, there is an urgent need for the establishment and effective management of protected peat swamp forests and blackwater ecosystems, which represent critical habitats for many stenotopic ๐ต๐๐ก๐ก๐ species. Second, the development of standardized, science-based captive breeding and genetic management protocols is essential to support ex situ conservation and prevent genetic erosion in captive populations. Third, improved regulation and monitoring of the ornamental fish trade are necessary to mitigate unsustainable harvesting pressures on wild populations."
"Most breeding efforts to date have been informal and led by hobbyist communities rather than academic institutions or conservation agencies. The online platform, YouTube, has been utilized to share wild Betta captive breeding activities such as ๐ต. ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ก๐. These efforts have contributed to basic knowledge on courtship behaviour, parental care (mouthbrooding or bubble-nesting) and juvenile development, but lack standardized protocols and genetic monitoring. The absence of genetically managed broodstock poses risks of inbreeding and loss of genetic diversity, which is particularly concerning for species considered for future reintroduction.
To support conservation goals, there is a pressing need to develop science-based breeding protocols that include water chemistry replication, broodstock management and health monitoring. Establishing ex situ assurance colonies for the most threatened species can also serve as genetic reservoirs in the face of habitat collapse.
Furthermore, collaborations between academic institutions, public aquaria, local NGOs and regulated hobbyist networks should be encouraged to share knowledge and resources. Successful models from other taxa, such as killifish and cichlids, demonstrate that community-driven breeding programs, when guided by scientific frameworks, can significantly aid conservation outcomes. A recent example comes from Indonesia, where the NGO Sulawesi Keepers has implemented coordinated captive-breeding and species-rescue initiatives for endemic freshwater fishes, illustrating how nongovernmental efforts can support conservation goals. While Kalimantan's wild ๐ต๐๐ก๐ก๐ species show promising potential for captive management, significant investments in research, training and policy frameworks are required to realize their role in long-term species conservation."
๐ฅ๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฐ๐ต ๐ง๐ถ๐๐น๐ฒ
Bioecology, Conservation Status and Breeding Efforts of Wild ๐ต๐๐ก๐ก๐ Fish (Teleostei: Osphronemidae) in Kalimantan, Indonesia
Paywall - https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/aqc.70399
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Rohmy, S., A. Priyadi, S. Cindelaras, et al. 2026. โBioecology, Conservation Status and Breeding Efforts of Wild ๐ต๐๐ก๐ก๐ Fish (Teleostei: Osphronemidae) in Kalimantan, Indonesia.โ Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems 36, no. 6: e70399. https://doi.org/10.1002/aqc.70399.
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Kalimantan, the Indonesian part of Borneo, is a major centre of diversity for wild ๐ต๐๐ก๐ก๐ species (family Osphronemidae), harbouring 29 species grouped into 11 species complexes.
These fishes occupy specialized habitats such as blackwater streams, peat swamp forests and acidic lowland rivers. Despite their ecological significance and popularity in the ornamental fish trade, many species are threatened by rapid habitat loss, overharvesting associated with the aquarium trade and pollution.
This review synthesizes current knowledge on the diversity, distribution, habitat preferences, conservation status and breeding efforts of wild native ๐ต๐๐ก๐ก๐ species in Kalimantan. Species-rich provinces such as West Kalimantan and Central Kalimantan support many localized endemics highly sensitive to environmental change. Peat swamp degradation and conversion to monoculture plantations are major threats to many habitat-specialist ๐ต๐๐ก๐ก๐ species, several of which are classified as endangered or critically endangered.
Captive breeding efforts remain limited and are largely conducted by hobbyists, with few science-based protocols in place. To ensure long-term conservation, integrated efforts involving habitat protection, sustainable harvest management and ex situ conservation through captive breeding are essential.
This review highlights the urgent need for coordinated research and conservation programs to preserve Kalimantan's unique ๐ต๐๐ก๐ก๐ fauna.
๐ฃ๐ต๐ผ๐๐ผ ๐๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฑ๐ถ๐
Wild ๐ต๐๐ก๐ก๐ species distribution in Kalimantan based on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
ยฉ 2026 the Author(s). Published in the journal Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems.
