25 Types of Betta Fish: Breeds, Patterns, Colors & Tails (With Info & Pictures)
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The Betta or Siamese fighter fish is one of the most popular, colorful, tropical fish. Betta fish have been kept as pets for centuries, making them one of the oldest domesticated fish besides goldfish. Due to years of selective breeding, breeders have developed several Betta fish colors, patterns, and tail types.
Many breeders take pride in creating new varieties of Betta fish to improve their qualities and fascinating appearance. This article will focus on the various colors, patterns, and tail types of Betta fish.
About Betta Fish Breeds
Betta doesn’t just refer to a single species but instead over 70 different ones. However, Betta splenden is a species often kept as a pet. This is also the same species that has been selectively bred to produce hundreds of varieties.
All Betta fish are freshwater anabantoids, which can breathe surface oxygen using a labyrinth organ. Also, most Betta fish are 2 to 3 inches long, with females having a larger body than males. However, the male Betta fish has more unique fins, patterns, and color types.
Regardless of their color or fins, all domesticated Bettas have relatively similar care. Below is the basic information regarding pet Betta fish.
Common name: | Betta fish |
Origin: | Thailand |
Water conditions: | Freshwater, tropical (heated) |
Temperature: | 72 to 85° Fahrenheit |
Diet: | Carnivore |
Minimum tank size: | 5 gallons for heavy-finned, up to 10 for female or short-finned varieties. |
Compatibility: | Male Betta fish are solitary and should never be kept in the same tank. |
Types of Betta Fish Tails
Betta fish are widely known for having various types of tails. The type of tails and fins that the Betta fish has may affect how they swim. The larger or heavier-finned varieties may be slow-moving compared to the short-tailed Bettas. Furthermore, male Bettas have the most tail variations.
Female Bettas are usually a duller color than the males, and their fins are not as long and prominent as the rest of their bodies. It’s common for Bettas to be named after their appearance or caudal fin shape, so their name typically gives you insight into how the fish is expected to look.
1. Crowntail Betta Fish
Crowntail Bettas have distinctively shaped fins that earn them their name. These caudal fins look like webbing with long rays at the ends. The caudal fin flares out from the body and can vary in color.
Due to the delicacy of a Crowntail’s fin, they shouldn’t be kept in an aquarium with sharp decorations or other aggressive fish. Crowntails usually don’t have much difficulty swimming in a larger aquarium as long as the water current isn’t too strong.
2. Veiltail Betta Fish
A Veiltail Betta fish has a simple yet elegant caudal fin that makes them better swimmers than many other varieties. They have long dorsal and anal fins, with a narrow caudal fin. Their fins generally aren’t heavy or dragging in the water, and Veiltail Bettas can be good swimmers.
Veiltail Bettas can be found in various colors and patterns, but turquoise is more common.
3. Halfmoon Betta Fish
A popular variety of Betta fish is those with halfmoon tails. Their fins are long and flowy, usually double the size of their bodies. Halfmoon Bettas can also be found in various colors and patterns that appeal to many hobbyists.
Due to the Halfmoon Betta’s heavy fins, they may have difficulty swimming in large tanks or tanks with fast-flowing filters. Halfmoon Bettas will appreciate having plenty of soft leaves and surfaces in their tanks.
4. Plakat Betta Fish
Plakat Betta fish look quite similar to their wild counterparts in terms of their fins. A Plakat Betta has short and simple fins that make them efficient swimmers. Their fins allow them to swim more easily, regardless of how strong the filtration system is. However, Betta fish, in general, still don’t prefer to have a strong current in their aquarium.
5. Rosetail Betta Fish
One of the most beautiful yet heavy-finned Betta fish is Rosetails. These Bettas have extremely long fins that frame most of their bodies. When all their fins are upright, the fins can form the shape of flower leaves, hence their name. As heavily finned Betta fish, they require plenty of soft resting places in the aquarium with a low-flowing filter.
You might find that Rosetail Bettas aren’t as active as the others since their fins weigh them down.
6. Elephant Ear Betta Fish
Aside from their interesting name, Elephant Ear Bettas also have a fairly unique appearance. They have very large pectoral fins that stand out on their bodies. They can have various tail shapes, and the large fan-shaped pectoral fins look spectacular when paired with heavy-finned Betta fishes. Even if the Elephant-eared Betta has a short caudal fin, their large pectoral fins don’t make them agile or fast swimmers.
7. Giant Betta Fish
The Giant Betta fish, scientifically known as B. anabatoides, is one of the larger-growing Bettas. Giant Betta fish can grow up to 5 inches long. This is a few inches bigger than the B. splendens, the most commonly kept Betta fish. Giant Betta fish are uncommon in some areas and aren’t found in as diverse colors, patterns, and fin types as the B. splendens.
Due to the Giant Betta fish’s expected size, they require much larger tanks than other Bettas. Most do well in a 10-to-20-gallon tank, but they can live in slightly larger ones.
8. King Betta Fish
If you come across a Betta labeled as a “King,” it is just a fancy way of labeling a Betta that is slightly larger than average but not as big as a Giant Betta fish. They have the scientific name B. splendens regen and can reach a size of 3 to 3.5 inches. They have similar colors and fin types as other Betta fish.
9. Double Tail Betta Fish
The Double-tail Betta fish looks similar to the Halfmoon, but the caudal fin looks as if it is separated into two fins instead. In some cases, the bottom caudal fin can be shaped like a heart. Double-tail Bettas can have various colors and patterns, but the greenish-black coloration is particularly striking.
Double-tailed Bettas usually swim well, although the fins can sometimes become heavy if they are long.
10. Wild-Type Betta Fish
Wild-type Bettas are not as common in the hobby and occur in their natural wild form. They are generally green and have an elongated body shape. Thanks to selective breeding, you can also find Wild-type Bettas in other iridescent colors like red, yellow, and blue.
Most Wild-type Bettas are excellent swimmers and can even be fast and agile in the water. Their size varies from 2 to 4.5 inches, and as they have short fins, they require larger tanks than other Betta fish. With plenty of hiding places from live plants, Wild-type Bettas can thrive in large tanks.
11. Combtail Betta Fish
The Combtail Betta is often confused with the Crowntail, as their fins can look similar initially. This is because both fish have threadlike fins that look like webbing. With Combtail Bettas, the rays are longer and take up more space than the webbing on the fish’s fins.
The Combtail’s care and swimming ability are relatively the same as the Crowntail Betta fish, and there’s not much difference besides the length of the rays.
12. Delta Betta Fish
You can spot a Delta Betta fish by looking at their dorsal fins. A Delta-tailed Betta fish will have a pointier dorsal fin than other Bettas. Their caudal fin becomes narrower towards their body and fans out at the ends. Most Delta-tailed Bettas swim perfectly fine, and their tails aren’t overly long and heavy.
Another variation is the “Super Delta” Betta fish. These Bettas have a caudal fin that resembles both a Halfmoon and Delta Betta fish. The dorsal and tail fins are long and prominent on the fish, and their caudal fin has no crowning or fraying.
13. Half Sun Betta Fish
If a Betta fish has slight crowning at the ends of the fins that are not significant enough to be a Combtail or Crowntail, it is likely a Half-sun Betta. They have a half-moon tail with a small section of the tail end showing crowning.
They are often overlooked because the crowning can appear as fraying or damaging the tail, which isn’t appealing to many Betta fish keepers. Half-sun Bettas can also be found in various colors and patterns that might make up for their unusual fins.
14. Feathertail Betta Fish
One of the more striking and rarer Bettas is the Feathertail variety. They have uneven and ruffled caudal, anal, and dorsal fins that give them an interesting appearance. Their fins make them easy to identify, but they are not for everyone.
Some hobbyists don’t like the messy and ruffled appearance of the fins, while others find this variety interesting. When the fins are flared, they can appear as half a sideways flower.
15. Fan Tail Betta Fish
Fan or Round-tailed Betta fish have simple fins with rounded caudal edges. The dorsal and ventral fins can either be long or short, affecting their swimming. Most Fantail Betta fish are excellent and strong swimmers. Their rounded caudal fins propel them through the water and don’t weigh them down much.
Like other Bettas, the Fantail Betta can be found in several colors and patterns. Blues, yellows, and white are usually the most common colors, although they can also have multiple colors.
16. Spade Tail Betta Fish
The Spade Tail Betta fish has uniquely shaped fins that make them stand out. You can quickly identify a Spade Tail Betta by its round and slightly pointed caudal fins. Their anal fins are usually long and flowy, although they can also be shorter and end at a defined point. Spade Tail Bettas never disappoint with their vibrant and interesting color combinations.
As a short-finned variety, Spade Tail Bettas make good swimmers and do well in small to medium-sized tanks.
What Types of Colors Do Betta Fish Come In?
Bettas are often described as the jewels of the aquarium, and for good reasons. These freshwater fish are available in several colors and combinations. Some of the colors can vary in richness, and in some cases, a mixture of colors can result in unusual yet stunning Betta fish.
- Orange
- Gold
- Red
- White
- Yellow
- Black
- Green
- Emerald
- Blue
- Pink
- Grey
- Violet
- Brown
- Copper
- Pastel or opaque
The most common colors include reds, blues, and whites. In contrast, the rarer colors include pastel pinks, yellow, orange, gold, and copper. Wild-type Betta fish generally have dull green, gray, or brown colorations and are not as vibrant as domesticated Betta fish.
Although black is usually a standard color in other species, true black Betta fish are rare. They are known as Melano Bettas and look striking in lighter-themed aquariums. If the Betta isn’t a true black fish, the black coloration usually develops a blue or gray tint. However, these Bettas are equally appealing.
So far, there is no objective evidence that an albino Betta fish exists, but there might be a rare case of albino Bettas hatching in a clutch. However, you do get Bettas with a white or pearl coloration. They are often misidentified as albino Bettas, but they have a platinum-white coloration. In most cases, white Betta fish may have a slightly pink or pearled appearance in direct lighting.
Types Of Betta Fish Patterns and Color Combinations
Bettas have been bred to develop several patterns, too. However, solid-colored Bettas are pretty common and prized by Betta fish keepers. Let’s take a look at the different patterns of Betta fish below.
1. Mustard Gas
The term “mustard gas” is used to describe dark yellow (mustard) and blue Betta fish. They are considered rare bi-colored Betta fish that were developed in the late 1990s by Jude AI. This pattern took over a decade to perfect in Betta fish and plenty of experimentation. Mustard gas Bettas have blue- and yellow-colored fins, but the blue can sometimes be replaced by brownish-blue colorations.
2. Marble
Koi or marbling in Betta fish refers to a combination of colors resembling a koi fish. The colors don’t follow a particular pattern or structure, and a marbled Betta generally has three colors. Two colors are spotted, blotchy, or patchy on the fish’s primary body coloration. These are probably the most striking and vibrantly colored Bettas you can get.
3. Bi-Colored
Bi-colored refers to any Betta with two colors. The colors can be distinct and do not overlap, but they can sometimes be uneven.
4. Tri-Colored
Tri-Colored Bettas are often called multi-colored Bettas and look quite striking in aquariums. The colors are usually uneven, which creates fascinating color combinations in Bettas.
5. Piebald
Piebald Bettas generally have a light-colored face that is white or fleshy. The rest of their body is generally darker.
6. Butterfly
A highly sought-out Betta fish is the Butterfly Betta. Their long fins are a different color than their bodies. In some cases, the caudal fin’s base color can “leach” into the rest of the fin’s coloration.
Depending on the quality, some butterfly Bettas can have distinct color differences between their bodies, the base of their fins, and the ends of their fins. Common color combinations in Butterfly Bettas include red, white, and blue.
7. Cambodian
Cambodian Bettas generally have a light, solid body color, and the rest of their fins are another contrasting color. They are considered bi-colored Bettas, and their light bodies are believed to be caused by a recessive gene.
Sometimes, older Cambodian Bettas can develop black spotting. However, breeders are unsure of how this irregular spotting occurs, but it is possibly inherited.
8. Dragon scale
Dragon scale Bettas are elegant and striking, and the term “dragon scale” describes the thick, white scales overlapping their bodies. This makes the scales of the fish more prominent than standard Bettas due to the dragon gene.
This variation results from crossing different Betta species together, and they are uncommon. If you want a true dragon scale Betta fish, finding a good and reputable breeder that specializes in dragon scale Bettas is recommended.
9. Dalmatian
Dalmatian Bettas are super rare and have gorgeous colors. Their main body coloration is uneven, with specks and patches of color. The color combinations are usually red, white, or blue, and the contrast varies.
Conclusion
You can find numerous Betta variations, and breeders are still working hard to create new and unique species. A Betta’s temperament isn’t defined by its colors, fins, or pattern type. They are fascinating pets that are naturally curious and explorative.
Finding some rarer Betta fish can be challenging since they aren’t available in most pet stores. If that is the case, you might need to locate a reputable Betta breeder.
Also see:
- 5 Best Filters for Betta Fish Tanks – Recommendation & Top Picks
- 8 Best Betta Fish Foods (Freeze-Dried & Pellets) – Reviews & Top Picks
Featured Image Credit: Mr.Soonthorn Thonglor, Shutterstock