Betta rutilans can be housed in pairs, species tanks, and community tanks.  Pairs can be housed in a 5 gallon tank, groups should be housed in a 20 gallon tank or larger.  Pairs should be given cover such as caves and plants.  In a pair or species situation it is possible that fry could be discovered in the tanks.  For best results remove a brooding male.

Betta rutilans comes from blackwater environments and should have soft acidic water that is well filtered.  They should be kept at cool to mid 70s F.

Females have an egg tube.  Females ovaries might be visible via spotlighting. Males may be more intensely colored.  Males will also have a more pointed dorsal fin and longer pelvic fins.  Females should be rounder and may exhibit an egg tube.

Rutilans primarily a bubblenester however under certain circumstances rutilans has been known to mouthbrood.  The exact trigger is unknown. 

Kottelat, M., A.J. Whitten, S.N. Kartikasari and S. Wirjoatmodjo, 1993. [58]
Howe, Jeffrey C,1992. [150]
Baensch, H.A. and R. Riehl, 1995. [26]