Types of Betta Fish – A Guide on Colors, Tails & More
Finding information on uncommon or unique betta fish breeds can be a time-consuming task, not because there is a paucity of data, but it’s the exact opposite problem. There are so many different types of betta fish that it’s daunting for new fish keepers! Therefore, it helps to have a primer like this one to refer to when attempting to figure out the distinctions between bettas.
Bettas have been bred in Europe for over a century for their vibrant, complicated colors and tail configurations. When you mix in some of the newer Thai crosses, your selections for the cutest betta fish get a little dizzying. Below is a comprehensive list of bettas, divided down by species, colors, and tail types.
Types of Betta Fish- Physical Appearances
Banded | Round tail, small fins Goldish color Banded body, greenish splotches |
Brunei | Rounded tail and small fins Green border around anal and dorsal fins Body Color – gold, pink and/or white Green pectoral fins |
Edith’s | Round tail Short fins Female – orange with dark spots and white spots Male – brighter orange with dark spots and light spots. Light spots are greenish/blue |
Emerald | Round tail and large fins Bright green body with black web design Pectoral fins are reddish |
Foershi’s | Round tail and short fins Female – pink and orange with dark spots Male – orange with greenish spots on the body |
Mouthbrooding | Round tail and small fins (sometimes pointed tails) Colors vary greatly |
Painted | Round tail, small fins Gold in color with 3 stripes running horizontally down the body. Green border around fins |
Peaceful | Round tail, long pectoral fins Dark body with bluish marks The edge of the tail fin is red Bluish/Green stripes on the tail |
Pearly | Heart-shaped tail |
Betta Fish Colors
Single Colors
Cellophane | The skin has no pigmentation The fins are translucent The organs are flesh-colored/give the body its color |
Albino | Lacks all pigmentation, including the eyes, which appear to be red Very rare |
White Opaque | Pure white when young Develop varying degrees of reds as they age |
Yellow | Referred to as non-red Also carries one of the three iridescent colors |
Apricot or Peach | Yellow pastels |
Orange | Varies in hue Dark tangerine |
Red | Intense red Normal red, with some black pigments |
Steel Blue | Metallic blue One of the three iridescent colors |
Royal Blue | Another of the three iridescent colors Darker, with a purple tint |
Cornflower Blue | Darker head with cornflower blue body |
Lavender, Purple, Violet | Very rare |
Green | Another of the three iridescent colors Least fixed single color |
Turquoise | Blue/green |
Black | Resulting from two different genes Black Melano or Fertile (aka Lace |
Bi-colors
Cambodian | Flesh-colored body Fins are usually red Can also be blue and black |
Chocolate | The body is dark, black, or dark blue Fins are yellow |
Pastel | Different Variations White body Fins are green or blue |
Patterned
Butterfly | One half of the fin is one color and the other half is another. |
Marble | Body and fins have blotches of color over a light-colored background |
Piebald | Face is flesh-colored Body can be any color |
Multi-Colored Betta Fish
This is the type that most pet stores carry. There is no predicting the colors of their offspring.
Betta Tails
Another thing that distinguishes different Betta splendens from each other is the type of tails that they have. They are listed below.
Comb | Grooves at the end, not as pronounced as the Crown |
Crown | Distinguished spiky grooves at the end |
Delta | Elegant, very long finnage, rounded |
Double | Two lobes of equal size with the appearance of being split |
Fuse | Extremely rare fusion of the caudal, dorsal & anal fins |
Halfmoon | Very rare rounded tail that is stretched 180 degrees |
Heart | Partially fused twin caudal fin |
Round or Fan | Small to medium in size with pronounced rays that lead up to the end of the tail |
Short | Finnage that is small |
Single | Common one-lobed |
Veil | Most common |