Wild Bettas from Brunei.

[GuppyLover]

Okay hello guys !

My sister is heading to Brunei on the 13 of November with her school. Was wondering if I could get wild bettas there. Here are some questions I would like to ask.

1) What type of wild bettas are available in Brunei?
2) What are the costs for a pair of these fishes?
3) Where to get them? (Other than catching)
4) How to bring them back to Singapore?

For the first question , I've read that Betta macrostoma are native to Brunei but there is a need to get permission from the Sultan of Brunei to keep this fishes and exporting them as this fish is very much loved by him.

For the second question , I know they cost a bomb here in Singapore but would it cost the same in Brunei too? Since it's available locally there it shouldn't cost that much right?

For the third question , any LFS in Bandar Seri Begawan that sells wild bettas? She's going there for a five day trip and this are the following places she would visit ; Kampung Ayer , Yayasan Complex , Ambulong Factory , Padi Field , Gadong Mall , Forestry Museum , Oil and gas discovery centre , Brunei museum , Jame Asr Mosque , Art and handicraft centre Empire Hotel. Basically there is a lot more places the school will be bring them. She will be staying in The Centrepoint Hotel. Any LFS nearby there? And for the padi field , I know bettas are generally found there , was wondering if the farmers there would sell them

Last question , I've read the AVA website that she could bring it back to Singapore. But how does she pack it , declare it or something? My mum works in SIA and she informed me that the airlines won't allow fishes back to Singapore. But I'm sure they can be imported here since I've seen fellow bros bring fishes/shrimps from Korea / Indonesia / Malaysia.

[stormhawk]

I believe Betta macrostoma is a protected species in Brunei itself. Not sure what other species exist in Brunei though. In any case, wild caught fish are a big no-no in most cases.

Bringing Bettas back to Singapore will require the usual plastic fish bag with some atmospheric air or oxygen pumped in. The bag ought be a little limp, not super firm like when you buy fishes locally. Place it in a styrofoam box or a cooler box and check it in as luggage and not carry-on luggage. You will probably need to declare the fish at the Bruneian customs and later on in Singapore, just in case.

If in doubt, contact the Brunei embassy here in Singapore, before your sister goes on the trip. Ask for their customs requirement regarding live fishes and whether you can take them out of Brunei legally.

[GuppyLover]

If other bettas that is sold in the LFS there , do we need to have a permit to bring them back here? I know that bringing live fish from Singapore to Malaysia or either way requires a permit ( What I was told by a fellow classmate). If it does require , any idea how much is the damage? Because I don't plan to spend more than $50 for a pair. Anyone can suggest whether I should ask her to bring them back here or just try to get for our local lfs?

[stormhawk]

Easiest way, to get a receipt stating the species etc from the shop. Fish from Malaysia into Singapore does not require a permit as long as they are not wild-caught or endangered species.

Since the Bruneian Dollar and Singapore Dollar is basically 1:1 on exchange rate, I think it'll cost you a lot more, in terms of risk of death due to stress while in transit. Might as well get macrostoma locally from breeders. I believe there must be people who are still breeding the macrostoma.

[GuppyLover]

Oh okay thanks stormhawk. I think I better not take the risk of it dying on the way here as it is a life too.

Any breeders selling macrostoma at very cheap prices?

[stormhawk]

You might want to check the Marketplace ads.

I think you'll probably find the other mouthbrooders easier to acquire as compared to macrostoma. I see them at C328 in pairs from time to time. Have you tried the Betta Club Singapore for sources? If anything, someone among them must still have this species at home.

[GuppyLover]

Just checked the website. Don't think there are sellers there though. Also read that the macrostoma is a very hard fish to keep alive.
Will try some simpler mouthbrooders before I move on to these beauties. Don't want to risk losing money .

Thanks for the help stormhawk.

[Azzurri3]

They don't sell the brunei beauty in the LFS there. It is illegal to catch them from the wild in the first place but that does not mean that people don't catch them.
They are normally found in remote areas of the Brunei jungle where the water is really clean slightly acidic and COLD. But it is a real mission to get there in the first place without local knowledge.
If you do get a first hand look at the wild ones, you can see a very big difference in colour and size when compared to the ones found in the LFS in Sg

[GuppyLover]

Thanks for the information Azzurri3 , my sister is coming back to Singapore tomorrow anyway.