20+ Betta Fish Types – Most Beautiful Betta Varieties

Betta fish are wonderful little fish which have won the hearts of many aquarium enthusiasts around the world. Many species are simply amazing, but the most popular ones, betta splendens, are undoubtedly splendid.

The main reason why people love them so much is related to their variety. Indeed, there are so many spectacular types of betta fish available, all featuring different color combinations as well as mesmerizing tail shapes.

If you are wondering which betta will suit your new aquarium at best, here comes a list of the most beautiful betta breeds.

Betta Fish Types by Tail Shape

Just like guppies, bettas are also categorized by their tail shape. Below you can read about the different tail shapes that betta fish can have:

– Crowntail

As the name itself implies, fish that feature such tail shapes may often resemble little kings or queens. Their tails are long and have a spikey appearance towards the ends. This is a relatively new betta breed, but it is one of the most popular choices among many owners, nonetheless.

Crowntail bettas can be found in basically all sorts of coloration, apart from males featuring somewhat brighter colors from their female companions. They can be quite aggressive.

– Veiltail

Veiltail betta fish surely make one of the most common choices when it comes to pets. Such a gene is extremely dominant and is super-easy to breed. Nevertheless, their appearance is mesmerizing.

Their long swooping tails are easy to recognize as they tend to elegantly flow downwards. Again, females are not that striking as they often have shorter tails. Veiltail bettas tend to be less aggressive.

– Spade Tail

Remarkably similar to veiltail bettas when observing their dorsal fins, spade tail variations differ thanks to their caudal fins. In fact, these tend to flare out and curve towards the end, forming a nice, pointed tail that reminds us of a spade. This too is not an aggressive breed.

– Double Tail

Double tail betta fish are easy to distinguish as they literally feature two separated tails. Specimens with such genes often tend to feature exceptionally long dorsal fins with extra rays.

This breed is simply spectacular to observe while swimming. However, thanks to their genetic mutation, they seem to be more prone to developing a swim bladder disease during their adulthood.

– Round Tail

Here comes a quite rare breed among pet betta fish. Round tail specimens feature somehow shorter tails, but they are fully rounded and have no straight edges.

– Delta & Super Delta

The tails of delta variations start narrow towards the body and then wide up, opening towards the ends. Terribly similar to the triangular shape of the Greek letter delta.

Those fish that are categorized as super deltas have an even wider tail when flared, from 120- to 160-degrees. Delta and super delta are popular not only because of their tail shapes but also because featuring individual temperaments.

– Halfmoon

Halfmoon betta fish is certainly one of the most astonishing types above all. Indeed, they feature extremely long tails which, when flared towards 180-degrees, really do form a shape of a halfmoon.

And when striking coloration is added, they make amazing results across many exhibitions. These pets can become quite aggressive over time, and they should never ever be released into the wild. Their tails are simply too long for them to survive across their natural habitats.

– Rosetail

This is basically a boosted variation of the halfmoon. Bettas that have rosetails are simply dazzling. Their tails extend over the 180-degrees and their ends are somehow branched, overlapping one over the other when being flared.

And they really make us think of rose petals. Quite fascinating! However, if you are a first-time betta keeper, this may not be the best choice for you. Indeed, these pets require extra care and attention.

– Combtail

Combtail bettas are descendants from crowntails by selective breeding. Their tails are quite similar, with the exception of their webbing being somehow longer towards the ends.

In fact, they have to cover two thirds of the tail length for being classified as combtails.

– Plakat

Plakat betta fish make a surprising exception to all other domestic betta types. Indeed, they feature remarkably short tails and fins. They are much stronger and more agile, making them really aggressive and frequent jumping performers.

This is actually the only betta type that resembles much to the original, wild Siamese fighting fish. Still, they can feature spectacular coloration.

– Halfmoon Plakat

As the name itself explains, halfmoon plakat bettas are basically a crossbreed between plakat and halfmoons. Therefore, they feature shorter tails but in the shape of half circles. They are becoming more and more popular as they look amazing but are much easier to care about.

– Other Types

There are several other different variations of bettas according to their tail type. These include the feathertail, the over halfmoon, and the half-sun.

Additionally, many people like including the elephant ear betta here, even if this one is not distinguished by its tail but rather by its pectoral fins, which are up to 5 times larger than in other betta splendens.

Betta Fish Types by Color Patterns

Betta fish can also be categorized by colors and patterns. Below are some of the most common betta fish types categorized by their colors and patterns:

– Marble

Betta fish with a marble coloration gene usually feature lighter body colors. On top of such light colors, they have amazing irregular bright patches, terribly similar to marble patterns. Marble betta fish are often able of changing their coloration over time, making you feel as you have a new fish.

And sometimes, the gene is activated only after several months. That is why many people often choose white or light-colored betta fish, hoping they will turn out to have the marble gene afterward.

– Multicolored

Multicolored bettas are super-fun and often feature more than 3 different colors. Such colors are dispersed into a completely unpredictable and irregular way and can be seen all over their bodies and fins.

– Cambodian

This peculiar betta type was immensely popular some years ago but is now more and more difficult to find among different breeders. Their bodies are colored in a basic white or a pale pink variation, while their fins are striking red. Bloodred, to be more precise.

However, during the last years, it is possible to find them in several different color combinations, but still following the same pattern.

– Butterfly

If you find a long-tailed type of betta containing the butterfly gene, you can be sure of adopting a wonderful fish of amazing coloration. Such as butterflies have.

They usually have bodies of solid colors, with such colors extending towards the beginnings of their tail and fins. And then there follows a clear and distinctive line.

After such a line, the ends of their tail and fins will be either white or cellophane. How amazing is that?

– Solid Colored

Solid colored bettas feature one color only, and it is usually extremely vibrant and enriched. Also, such color does not have to be equal all over their bodies. Mostly, reaching towards the fins, they will be slightly lighter as the pigments do not lie as deep here as they can nearby their muscles.

These Bettas come in a wide variety of colors, from gentle whites to striking purple. Solid colored bettas are one of the most popular choices among betta pets, and they are greatly appreciated in the breeding world.

– Bi-Colored

This is definitely one of the most common patterns which can be seen among betta pets. As the name explains very clearly, these bettas feature two colors only.

The true breeding enthusiasts will agree that such a category implies only those fish that have one body color combined with another fin and tail color. However, most shops today refer to bi-colored bettas whenever they have two colors, non-depending on their distribution anymore.

– Koi

Koi pattern is usually only found across bettas with shorter fins, such as the plakat betta. It is similar to the marble coloration pattern, but it is more recognizable because it really does imitate well the coloration of koi pond fish.

Professional breeders have spent many years to isolate the koi gene, with the main purpose of specifically making them resemble to Japanese koi fish.

– Dragon Scale

Last but not least, dragon scale bettas are one of the most recent variations. These have been developed by intentionally breeding the gene from wild bettas into betta splendens.

They have really thick scales which are super-easy to notice across their bodies. Remarkably similar to the skin of a real dragon.

And, more importantly, they often feature metallic coloration all over their body, which is quite fascinating actually. Especially if the fish has long fins and bright coloration.

– Other Pattern Types

Other popular types of bettas based on their coloration patterns include mask, grizzle, and piebald betta fish.

Wrapping Up

Domestic betta fish have mostly distinguished thanks to their tail shapes as well as their coloration patterns. And, when these get intermixed, can you even imagine how many different betta varieties can there be? Infinite. And they all look simply amazing!

Nonetheless, some of them are accompanied by extra care requirements, while others seem to be more aggressive when compared to others. That is why doing your research first before adopting your next betta pet is essential.