Betta fish is a common name among aquarists. Their varied colors and shapes quickly gain viewers’ attention, whether adults or children. Many types of Bettas are found in the wild and can be classified based on their patterns, colors, and tail shapes.
These qualities make them famous among freshwater fish. They are ideal for both beginners and experienced aquarists, but newcomers often avoid them because of their aggressive behavior.
Keeping them in a good environment with compatible fish and feeding them well won’t create any mess for you. We are here to help you figure out which betta fish types or betta fish species are ideal for your tank. To know more, keep reading till the end.
Types of Betta Fish
There are different kinds of betta fish.
Bettas are small fish with a magnificent personality. They are commonly found with beginners. They have an aggressive nature; hence, they are also called Siamese Fighting fish.
Apart from their beauty, another reason for their popularity is their need for low maintenance. Over the years, crossbreeding of Bettas has become common, which is why they are found in so many astounding colors with different tail patterns.
Bettas can create bubble nests and are intelligent enough to recognize their owner. Another interesting thing about them is that they have a labyrinth organ that helps them breathe the air outside the tank. Their gills are not enough to absorb oxygen underwater.
We can classify Bettas based on their shapes, tail patterns, and colors. They have many variations, like long or short tails, and their bodies can have multicolored patterns or a single bold color. Bettas are the only fish that come in such a huge variety of colors.
Betta Fish Tails
The tail is the most striking characteristic of any fish, and the same is true of Betta. Their tails are often characterized by their size and shape.
Some of their tails are huge and flowy, while some are short and spiky. Some of them match the color and pattern of the body, whereas some have entirely different patterns, making them more attractive to look at.
Crowntail, Veiltail, and Halfmoon are the names of their large and majestic tails, while Plakat is the name of the shorter ones.
These names are easy to remember and magnificent to look at. You can select the color and tail type of your choice and add variety to your tank.
Crowntail Betta Fish
This famous Betta, founded by Ahmad Yusuf, came into existence 25 years ago in Indonesia.
The word ‘crown’ similarly gives the feel of royalty. Crowntail Betta has a magnificent royal appearance. As the name suggests, it has long, spikey fins that resemble the crown.
There are many similarities between Crowntail and Combtail Betta. Both their tails have similar looks except for the length. The tail of the Combtail is longer than that of the Crowntail Betta.
The male and female Crowntail Bettas are quite different. The male Crowntail looks more attractive with its long tail and brighter colors than the female Crowntail.
Veiltail Betta Fish
Veiltail Bettas have a dominant characteristic, so they are easy to breed. Their tail has a long downward swooping appearance, which looks like a veil, hence the name Veiltail.
This long, flowing tail, Betta, has many color variations and a remarkable appearance. It is easily available and common to all aquarists, whether beginners or experienced.
Just like Crowntail, their males have more majestic features than their females. The females are rarely found in bright colors and always have short fins and tails compared to the males.
Plakat Betta Fish
The word Plakat is derived from the Thai word “plakad” which means “fighting fish”. This breed is the common betta found in the wild and is bred for fighting.
These fishes are quite different than the other Betta in their appearance. They have short fins with a short and round tail as compared to other Bettas. But the magnificent color of the males is what gives them uniqueness and makes them famous.
Halfmoon Betta Fish
This Betta came into existence in the 1980s and soon reached Europe to become famous around the globe.
This betta has a long, flowing tail in the shape of a half-circle, giving it the appearance of a magnificent half-moon. This breed is not found in the wild but is grown by experts in captivity to exhibit in the Betta show.
Another reason is their aggression, which can become quite challenging for beginners to handle.
Double Tail Betta Fish
As the name suggests, this breed of Betta comes with two tails connected to its base.
This characteristic is common in the Bettas of different breeds but is dominant in the Double-Tail Betta only.
It has a small body with massive, long dorsal fins, giving it a magnificent and attractive look.
Elephant Ear Betta/Dumbo Betta Fish
This Betta, also known as Dumbo Betta, has two long pectoral fins in the shape of an elephant’s ears. It can be fun to look at, but this characteristic brings uniqueness to them.
They can be found in the wild, but their colors are usually dull, like brown, grey, or dark green. However, the ones bred by experts in captivity are available in more vibrant colors, like bright blue, yellow, turquoise, and red.
Delta Tail Betta Fish
The Tail of this Betta is wider on the edges and starts to narrow down as it reaches the body. The edges are uniform and don’t have any comb or crown-like structure. The tail looks like a triangle resembling the famous Greek symbol, delta. Hence, they are called Delta-tail bettas.
One more variation in Delta Tail Betta, known as Super Delta. It has a long tail that can make a 180o flare. The delta tail is quite larger than that of any other Betta.
Rosetail Betta Fish
Rosetail Betta belongs to the category of half-moon tail Bettas. But instead of the tail, this Betta has long flowing caudal fins.
These fins have branching features with a flare larger than 180o. These unique features make the caudal fin look like a rose.
Feathertail Betta belong to the same family, but their tails have a more ruffled and branchy look.
Other Tail Types
Bettas have other tail types, including Roundtail, Combtail, Over-halfmoon, Feathertail, Half-sun, Super delta-tail, and Spadetail.
- As discussed above, the Combtail betta fish is similar to the Crowntail but differs in length and features. The combtail’s tail is longer and has a richer look.
- Similarly, Roundtail betta fish and super delta tails are the same as Delta tails but differ in the shape and length of their tail’s edge. The Roundtails have a round edge, and the super delta has a longer flare.
- The Spadetail betta fish, the name suggests, looks similar to the spade of a deck of cards. This tail has a perfectly round shape with pointy edges.
- The Over-halfmoon betta fish is the same as the Halfmoon but has an over 180o flare reaching up to the body.
- The Half-sun betta fish results from the breeding of half-moon and crown fish. It has a long, wavy tail like a half-moon betta and spiky edges like a Crowntail betta fish.
Betta Fish Colors
Bettas are available in many vibrant colors. Some are mixed, while others are solid.
They are available in all rainbow colors and also in white, black, electric blue, green, translucent skin, copper, and more.
Purple Betta Fish
Purple is the rarest color for betta. Strikes of purple or mixed purple color are quite common in Betta, but the true purple-colored Betta is a rare fish.
They usually have a rich purple body with different-colored fins and faces. However, they are sometimes also found with a rich blueish-purple body with highlights of other colors, like black or copper.
They are available in a variety of tail types and patterns, so you can choose the one that best suits you.
Black Orchid Betta Fish
The Black Orchid Betta has a dark appearance with purple or blue highlights along the body. It is found in three variations: Black Lace, Melano, and Metallic.
The black metallic variation has opalescent scales, copper coloration, and a translucent appearance.
Rose Petal Betta Fish
These Bettas are rare to find and have an entirely strange look. They come in many variations. The most common one has a dark face and an electric light blue colored body. The most common variation of this Betta is generally dark blue or copper-colored.
Blue Betta Fish
Bettas are available in many shades of blue. Some of them have a dull appearance, like the ones with steel blue. This color almost looks greyish, giving the Betta a boring look.
In contrast, some Bettas come in shades of Royal blue, which makes their appearance more attractive and gives them a more royal and richer look.
Red Betta Fish
Most of the Bettas are found in red. It is either bold red covering the whole body of the Betta or sometimes just vibrant highlights on the body or fins of different colored Bettas.
If your red betta’s color looks washed off, it can indicate poor health, diet, or stress due to abnormal water conditions.
For consistent bright color, make sure your betta is healthy and that you are feeding it the right diet.
Pink Betta Fish Fish
These bettas also vary in their colors. Some have bright pink colors that add richness to their appearance, while others can have streaks or highlights of other colors, like purple, red, or white, on their tails, fins, and pink bodies.
Some of them also have a light pink color, which gives them a translucent appearance. They are usually confused with albino variations. These variations look like there is no pigment in their bodies, and only the flesh is visible.
Yellow Betta Fish
Yellow is the most common color found in betta fish. Although they have many variations, they generally have rich yellow coloration all over the body, fins, and tails.
They also come in different shades of yellow, from bright yellow to dull and soft coloration. Still, they look attractive and magnificent in each color and shade.
Their yellow variations are very similar to their red variations, and hence, they are sometimes also called ‘non-red bettas’.
White Betta Fish
These Bettas have a plain white coloration that can appear dull to some. But if chosen with the right tail, they will give a more magnificent and royal look compared to any other vibrant-colored Betta. This fish is also known as platinum betta.
To get this, choose the long flowing or swooping tail like the Veiltail or Crowntail betta. They will add charm to their beauty.
Green Betta Fish
This is another rare breed usually found in turquoise. These colorations are usually hidden under other bright and dark colors that are not visible to the naked eye. Its iridescent green tone will only be visible when you shine lights over its body.
They also come in bright green and dark green variations. These colors are easily visible in the light and, hence, are considered a very precious and rare breed.
Mustard Gas Betta Fish
These Mustard gas bettas come in bi-colored variations with different colors on the fins and body. This quality gives the mustard gas betta a unique and magnificent look.
The body color of Mustard Gas Bettas is usually dark blue or green, with variation in their fins with orange or yellow colors.
The other variation of these Bettas is often called Chocolate because of their brown color.
Betta Fish Patterns
Patterns are the last characteristic of bettas, on which their breeds can be classified. Patterns give bettas a remarkable and unique look, and many variations have been found and developed over the years.
Butterfly Betta Fish
The butterfly pattern is common among Bettas. Anyone can easily recognize it from its distinct features.
Generally, its body is covered in a solid color, which changes over time to an iridescent and paler color with white fins and tails.
Another variation has one solid color over the body, but the color of its tail and fin edges becomes transparent or white over time.
Dragon Betta Fish
This betta is also known as the bumblebee betta or dragon scale betta. This pattern is famous for its bright metallic coloration, which experts created using selective breeding.
These Bettas have bright full-body coloration, and their scales look like that of a dragon, hence the name.
Their body is usually bright red, with copper-colored iridescent scales across the main body, which gives them a unique characteristic.
Marble Betta Fish
This is another betta pattern that shows variations in colors and features. Like the butterfly one, the Marble Betta also develops color over time.
Their body is often covered in solid or pale colors with blotchy or irregular patterns in bright red or blue. The tails and fins usually have marble-like patterns with pale colors.
Marble Betta is also famous for changing colors. Some days, it is one color, while other days, it is a different color. The ability to change color gradually fades as it ages.
Koi Betta Fish
Koi Betta fish are another variation of marble Betta not commonly found in the wild. They are created through selective breeding to preserve their amazing characteristics and make them resemble Koi pond fish.
They aren’t available in different colors, but their brightness and richness can vary from breed to breed.
Summary
Bettas are small and hardy fish, and a 5-gallon tank capacity is more than enough for them. There are many breeds of Bettas, all famous for their distinct and striking features and coloration.
Their variations and characteristics are carefully studied, and selected breeding has been done over the years for magnificent results. This is why over a hundred variations in Betta (types of betta fish) are available today.
Each of them has uniqueness and attractiveness. However, you will not find this variation and bright coloration of Betta in the wild. Betta or Siamese fish are also bred as fighting fish because of their aggressive nature.
What is Bettas’s most striking feature? And which type and color of Betta do you like the most? Let us know in the comment section below.
