Wondering about the different types of Betta fish?
Betta (aka Siamese Fighting Fish) are some of the most stunning fish you can have in your aquarium, and they are incredibly popular. These fish not only look cool, they also have a lot of personality and they are relatively simple to look after.
Betta can build nests out of bubbles, and can even recognise their owners — just remember that male Betta are extremely territorial and can be very aggressive toward other fish!
Another remarkable fact about Betta is that they have gills which work together with a special organ called a labyrinth organ. This pairing allows them to extract oxygen from air as well as water — an incredibly useful survival strategy in the wild where they are often forced to survive in shallow puddles if their habitats evaporate during the dry season in their native South Asia.
What many people also don’t realise is that there are many different types of Betta fish, with differences in body shape, color, and patterns.
We’ve picked 12 of our all time favorites who definitely make it to our list of coolest types of Betta…
Contents
Coolest Types of Betta
Crowntail
What makes the Crowntail so spectacular is its astounding tail and fins which have a spiked edge reminiscent of a crown.
The tail has a teardrop shape with webbing between the rays that makes it stand out from other types of Betta. Such beautiful fins are also very delicate however, and extra care needs to be taken to avoid any fin damage or infections.
Tank water should be changed regularly to be as clean as possible, and the tank needs to give your Betta plenty of room to swim without crashing into the sides and potentially causing itself harm. Never allow uneaten food to rot in the tank or you risk making your betta unwell. It is advisable to not use any type of aeration system which causes a current as this may damage your Crowntail Betta’s fragile fins — instead opt for some suitable aquatic plants which will naturally help oxygenate the water.
Crowntail Bettas can live for up to 3 years, and can attain a length of around 2.5 inches when fully grown.
They are available in many colors, but the most common are deep blue and red shades.
Veiltail
A Veiltail Betta is characterized by its large, flowing tail which swoops downwards, and its long, asymmetrical caudal fin.
This type of Betta has always been popular due to its attractive appearance and myriad different bright color variations, with particularly vivid tail colors.
Compared to many other types of Betta, the Veiltail is easy to breed, and has a genetically dominant tail type.
The elegant, flowing tail of a Veiltail is delicate, so as with the Crowntail it is important to take extra care of this Betta type to avoid it becoming injured. Not only should the water in your Betta’s aquarium be kept clean by changing it regularly, it should also be filtered and heated to within 75°F to 80°F with a pH of 6 – 8 and hardness of 5-35 dGH. Choose a soft substrate for the tank such as fine gravel or sand, and create cave areas where your Betta can play and hide.
Delta
Delta Bettas come in either standard or super varieties, both of which have triangular shaped tails with straight caudal edges and rays that reach right to the end of the webbing.
They have an almost symmetrical appearance, with just as much tail at the top as at the bottom.
A Super Delta is different from a Standard Delta is the fact that it has a larger tail, and when flared it can fan between 120°-160°.
Delta Bettas come in a whole spectrum of flashy colors, but color can also be a good indicator for health, as Betta fish often change color when they’re unwell or stressed, giving you a useful heads up to when there may be something wrong so that you can act accordingly and in good time to make your Betta better.
Combtail
The first Betta we talked about in this article was the glorious Crowntail. A Combtail Betta is the result of cross breeding a Crowntail with another Betta variety to produce a fish with a similar tail to the Crowntail, but with a significantly greater length of webbing between the rays — further than half the length of their tail’s rays. The outcome is a truly spectacular fish with a spiked tail which looks a little like a comb.
As is the case with all other varieties of male Betta fish, male Combtails prefer to live alone, and placing other fish in your Betta’s aquarium is a risky business as if threatened a Betta will fight to the death.
If you do decide to introduce your Betta to some tank mates, you must ensure that the aquarium is big enough and choose docile community fish which prefer to occupy the bottom half of the tank such as Neon Tetras, or other animals such as shrimp.
Crowntail and Combtail Bettas are also extremely good jumpers, and have been known to leap out of open top aquariums where the water level is too high. For this reason it is best to choose a tank for your Betta which has a well fitted lid.
Double Tail
It will probably come as no surprise to know that the Double Tail Betta is so named because of its unusual dual tail which is made up of two distinct parts separated at the base. Double Tails also have larger than average dorsal fins.
When it comes to caring for your Double Tail Betta, it shares the same care requirements as other Betta varieties. Remember to house only one male Betta in an aquarium at a time, however, the smaller, short finned females may be housed together with caution. If breeding your Bettas, males and females can be temporarily housed together. until the female lays her eggs, after which the eggs are placed inside a bubble nest and tended by the male, hatching out in around 24 hours.
Half Moon
One of the most highly prized Betta varieties, the Half Moon Betta boasts a large, 180° fan shaped tail, and oversized anal and dorsal fins.
The sheer size of the Half Moon Betta’s tail makes it one of the varieties the most prone to fin and tail damage, so owners of this variety should be extra vigilant to ensure no injuries are incurred due to nibbling by other fish or snagging on tank decoration.
When a Half Moon Betta has a tail with an angle greater than 180°, it is known as an Over Halfmoon.
Half Sun
A fine fusion of a Half Moon and a Crowntail, the Half Sun Betta has a 180° tail as dramatically large and semi circular as the former, but spiced up in appearance with slightly spiked edges like the latter, and which looks similar to the rays of the sun.
This is one of the rarest Betta types, and is very difficult to breed.
In the wild Betta feed on insect larvae, crustaceans and aquatic insects, so to keep your Betta in the best possible health you can feed specially designed Betta food along with brine shrimp or blood worms twice a week to keep a good balance.
Adding Indian almond leaves to the tank is a good way to introduce plenty of beneficial natural acids for your Betta into the water.
Rose Tail
Another breathtakingly beautiful variant of the Half Moon Betta, the Rosetail has an elegant, floaty tail and fins which resemble the petals of a rose.
However, whilst undeniably pretty, the excessive branching of the rays which creates this gorgeous petal effect has some downsides.
Their fins and tails are very heavy and the fish can’t swim for long periods of time, often being lethargic and preferring to rest. It is also thought that this Betta variety may have a weaker immune system.
Plakat
Plakat Betta resemble most closely their wild cousins, from which all Betta varieties originate. They have short, rounded fins and tail, and elongated ventral fins, as well as a sharply pointed anal fin.
Plakat Betta are the most robust and aggressive of the domestic Betta varieties, and have been specially developed to be larger and stronger, with fins that are less susceptible to injury and powerful jaws.
If you’re looking for a hardier Betta, the Plakat Betta is an excellent choice, and has been bred in some stunning color combinations to rival those of its more flamboyantly finned relatives.
Dumbo
Also sometimes called Elephant Ear Bettas, Dumbo bettas possess oversized pectoral fins which look a little like the ears of an elephant. Although their name may suggest otherwise these Betta have a wonderfully graceful appearance.
Due to the extended flowing fins of the Dumbo Betta, you should think carefully when decided what aquascape to place in your aquarium.
Choose smooth rocks or other objects, and live plants which are soft and won’t cause damage to delicate fins and cause infections.
Betta fish are known to flare their gills to impress or frighten other fish. In the case of the Dumbo Betta, it will display horizontal bars that become pale if the fish becomes agitated..
Feathertail
Like the Rosetail Betta, the Feather is another variant of the Half Moon Betta, and boasts even more feathery, floaty fins with excessive branching of the rays which give a ruffled appearance.
This exceptionally beautiful Betta variety is also extremely delicate, so appropriate care must be taken to ensure they stay happy and in tip top condition.
Spadetail
Aptly named for its appearance which resembles that of the spade symbol in a pack of cards, the Spadetail Betta’s tail is neatly formed, being wide at the base and sharply pointed at the tip.
Its fins are relatively straight with the caudal and anal fins being long and also meeting in a sharp point.
Spadetail Bettas have become less common in recent years due to the rise in popularity of fancier varieties, but they remain a spectacular and fun fish to keep.
Which do you think is the coolest type of Betta fish?
