Types of Betta Fish – A Guide on Colors, Tails & More

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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.

Contents

Types of Betta Fish- Physical Appearances

BandedRound tail, small fins Goldish color
Banded body, greenish splotches
BruneiRounded tail and small fins
Green border around anal and dorsal fins
Body Color – gold, pink and/or white
Green pectoral fins
Edith’sRound 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
EmeraldRound tail and large fins
Bright green body with black web design
Pectoral fins are reddish
Foershi’sRound 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
PaintedRound tail, small fins
Gold in color with 3 stripes running horizontally down the body.
Green border around fins
PeacefulRound tail, long pectoral fins
Dark body with bluish marks
The edge of the tail fin is red
Bluish/Green stripes on the tail
PearlyHeart-shaped tail

Betta Fish Colors

Single Colors

CellophaneThe skin has no pigmentation
The fins are translucent
The organs are flesh-colored/give the body its color
AlbinoLacks all pigmentation, including the eyes, which appear to be red
Very rare
White OpaquePure white when young
Develop varying degrees of reds as they age
YellowReferred to as non-red
Also carries one of the three iridescent colors
Apricot or PeachYellow pastels
OrangeVaries in hue
Dark tangerine
RedIntense red
Normal red, with some black pigments
Steel BlueMetallic blue
One of the three iridescent colors
Royal BlueAnother of the three iridescent colors
Darker, with a purple tint
Cornflower BlueDarker head with cornflower blue body
Lavender, Purple, VioletVery rare
GreenAnother of the three iridescent colors
Least fixed single color
TurquoiseBlue/green
BlackResulting from two different genes
Black Melano or Fertile (aka Lace

Bi-colors

CambodianFlesh-colored body
Fins are usually red
Can also be blue and black
ChocolateThe body is dark, black, or dark blue
Fins are yellow
PastelDifferent Variations
White body
Fins are green or blue

Patterned

ButterflyOne half of the fin is one color and the other half is another.
MarbleBody and fins have blotches of color over a light-colored background
PiebaldFace 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.

CombGrooves at the end, not as pronounced as the Crown
CrownDistinguished spiky grooves at the end
DeltaElegant, very long finnage, rounded
DoubleTwo lobes of equal size with the appearance of being split
FuseExtremely rare fusion of the caudal, dorsal & anal fins
HalfmoonVery rare rounded tail that is stretched 180 degrees
HeartPartially fused twin caudal fin
Round or FanSmall to medium in size with pronounced rays that lead up to the end of the tail
ShortFinnage that is small
SingleCommon one-lobed
VeilMost common

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