TankMatesTankMates
Sign in
Encyclopedia / Gouramis & Bettas / Ceylonese combtail
★New · no ratings yetPicture coming

Variations

1 kinds · tap one for a closer look

Ceylonese combtail

Belontia signata · Ceylon combtail, Signata combtail

Territorial toward similar-shaped fish; a single fish or pair is best, with robust tankmates.

Local price coming soon
· real AED shop prices, never conversions
18 cmAdult size ✓
22–27 °CTemperature ✓
6–7.5pH ✓
108 LSmallest tank ✓
Add to my tankCompare
Tank mates
Check your own mix →
Not recommended
  • Ceylonese combtail eats animals up to about 4 cm. Neon tetra only grows to 2.5 cm.
Not recommended
  • Ceylonese combtail eats animals up to about 4 cm. Cardinal tetra only grows to 3 cm.
Not recommended
  • Ceylonese combtail eats animals up to about 4 cm. Black neon tetra only grows to 3.2 cm.
With conditions
  • Only a narrow pH range suits both: exactly 7.5.
With conditions
  • Only a narrow temperature range suits both: exactly 22 °C.
Compatible
Compatible
Compatible
Compatible
Compatible

375 species in our list are a good match.

Facts checked against sources on 16 Oct 2026. ✓ means a source backs it; ? means no reliable source yet. See sources

Care and water

Hardness ✓1–12 dGH
Group size ✓2 or more
Temperament ✓Semi-aggressive
Swims at ?Middle
Care level ✓Moderate
Diet Omnivore
Lifespan ?Unknown
Size in shops 4–7 cm
Growth Medium

Behavior

Territorial toward similar-shaped fish; a single fish or pair is best, with robust tankmates.

Food

Pellets, live and frozen foods, small invertebrates.

Tap a food to see what it is.

Male or female

Fully grown males are noticeably larger, with longer unpaired fins and longer filaments on the tail fin; juveniles cannot be sexed.

Health

Common problems. Tap one to see the signs. This is a guide, not a diagnosis.

Breeding

Bubble-nester · Hard

Bubble nester: the male builds a simple bubble nest under a leaf, a submerged overhanging rock or sometimes at the surface. Both parents tend the brood (female tends the eggs, male defends the area).

Pairing

A pair in a quiet planted tank.

Setup

120 L planted tank with floating plants and caves.

What starts it

Warm water and live food.

Eggs

About 500 eggs (pink, under 1 mm); they hatch 2-3 days after spawning.

Raising the fry

Newly hatched brine shrimp then crushed flakes.

Common mistakes
  • Strong flow
  • Putting two males together
Full breeding guide, day-by-day plan and simulator →

Where it lives in the wild

RegionSri Lanka
HabitatShaded, clear forest streams
Native rangeAbout 150 km across
See it on the world map

The story of the ceylonese combtail

A combtail endemic to Sri Lanka, also called the Ceylon fighting fish. It is reddish (vs brownish-grey in B. hasselti), smaller than the Java combtail (12 cm SL vs 20 cm SL), and does best in a dim tank with floating plants.

Albert Günther described this combtail in 1861. It is found only in Sri Lanka and is kept by enthusiasts for its red tones and comb-like fins.

First described by Albert Günther in 1861. Named for 'Signata' means marked.

  • It is endemic to Sri Lanka.
  • Its fins have comb-like extended rays.
  • Males guard a floating nest of eggs.

Sources

15 facts checked with sources