VISITING THE HOMELAND OF Betta brownorum

VISITING THE HOMELAND OF Betta brownorum

Date : June 19, 2005

In 1986, Mr & Mrs Brown from England found a new species of red-colored small fighting fish in the peat swamp of Sarawak. Later, the fish is named after them; Betta brownorum. However, they did not managed to bring the life fish back to England.

About 1 or 2 years later, Reene Krummenacher & his friends from Europe came to Sibu to collect Betta brownorum. They were the first European brought back the life fish back and they also managed to breed them in Europe.

Today, the swamp where Reene collected the fish is disappeared due to the development, together with the fish!

Alfred Waser, my friend from Switzerland came to visit me together with his wife, Geetha & Reene. Alfred is the man who found Betta waseri in Pahang. The fish is named after him and it was described by Reene. It is my honour to be the guide of two Betta expert from Europe.

Sunday. June 19, 2005. There's too much rainfall in Kuching area since few months ago. Before I decided to bring them to visit the habitat of Betta brownorum, I told Alfred & Reene that we might not catching any fish as the water level is too high.

On the way to Sri Aman, I decided to find a new location.....a swamp which the water level is not too high. About 2pm, we stopped our car near the roadside next to a freshwater swamp. Reene did not feel good about this swamp, so he was scooping around with a net at a drain near the swamp. Alfred & I decided to penetrate the bushes into the swamp. The swamp is a freshwater swamp. The water is very clear & cold. The water PH is around 6.5.

At first, we did not catch anything. The water near the roadside was polluted. We're moving deep into the swamp and Alfred caught Betta ibanorum. Betta ibanorum is a dominant species and less colorful fighting fish. Later, I caught a small Betta. It was not looks like Betta ibanorum but something else. I shouted at Alfred with joy!!! I told him that I found Betta brownorum. Alfred, at the same time also collected a few Betta brownorum. As the leaf litter in that swamp is very thick, Alfred fell into the hole for a few times. the worst part was his half body was stuck in the swamp for a few minutes. Nevertheless, he managed to get out and continued to hunt for the fish.

Reene was moving into our direction. He was shocked and excited when we told him that we found Betta brownorum in this new location.

While collecting fish, I found out there is a species of aquatic plant, Cryptocoryne sp. growing on the leaf litter. Later, Alfred found the spathe (flower) of the plant and we could identify that is a species called Cryptocoryne longicauda. Barclaya motleyi, another dominant species of aquatic plant was also found at the inner part of the swamp.

After we collected everything we wanted, we're heading back to Kuching with beautiful smiles. To me, it was a wonderful collecting trip with two fish experts from Europe. They all were having great time in the "heaven on earth", my beautiful homeland ....Borneo !!!!

THE END.

The clearwater swamp.