45 Different Types Of Betta Fish (With Pictures)
Aaron Boyd
Betta fish are one of the worlds most popular aquatic pets. They come in a variation of colors and patterns and fit with almost any type of tank setup.
These beautiful fish create an impressive view in your aquarium waters.
Betta are not difficult to care for. Really, they are an ideal choice of fish for new pet owners.
You’ll want to have some knowledge of these fish. And, you should prepare your tank and your home for your pet betta.
But, not only do you want to have the right supplies and know-how to care for them. You want to get the right type of betta fish for yourself.
In this article, I will go over 45 different types of betta fish. this way, you will definitely get a betta that is perfect for you!
Table of Contents
Different Types of Betta Fish
So exactly how varied are betta fish?
You can choose from a wide selection of different types of betta fish. Pet stores carry all kinds of these colorful fighting fish.
Bettas come in numerous shapes, sizes, and even species. In this article, I will mostly talk about betta splendens, the fighting fish.
These are more common and are usually found in local shops. But even among this one betta breed, there is a ton of variation.
Some different types of betta fish are bred from other bettas. Usually, fighting fish are bred with wild type of other types of betta.
I will briefly mention some of these breeds throughout the list. This way you can know as much as possible about the betta you plan on buying!
15 Tail Types Of Betta Fish
You don’t just want to know betta fish facts about fish care.
There are tons of things you might not know about your pets body. One interesting fact is that not all betta fishtails are alike.
In fact, there are dozen of tails that betta can exhibit. In this part of my guide, I will show you some of these!
Tails come in all kinds of patterns and sizes. This betta attribute is what makes these fish so highly sought after.
1. Crowntail
A lot of betta fish owners like this tail type. It’s not difficult to find and looks great!
The crowntail betta has an array of pointed fins that fan out around its body.
The tips of these fins resemble the pointed spikes of a crown. There is some webbing with this tail type. This structure keeps all the fins together.
Still, breeders of this betta try to get the webbing to stay minimal thought. Too much webbing and it won’t be classified as a crowntail.
2. Halfmoon
The next tail type is the Halfmoon. This is another popular tail choice for betta owners.
It’s one of the most coveted tail types for this fish.
Halfmoon betta tails create a beautiful fan shape around the fish. It resembles a Halfmoon!
These tails are large and often colorful!
3. Rose Tail
Rose tails are similar to Halfmoon tails, but they differ in a few ways. Both tails have a fan shape, but the rose is more wavy and overlaps on itself.
This creates a petal-like appearance that is quite beautiful!
Rose tails look nice but are large in comparison to a fish’s body. Sometimes this type of tail can make it hard to swim for a betta.
4. Feathertail
The feathertail is delicate and free-flowing. Feathertails move around even more than the rose tail.
There is a lot of branching with this tail type.
Your bettas tail will flow in the water and create a feather-like appearance.
5. Halfmoon Plakat
Halfmoon Plakats have the same characteristics as other Halfmoon bettas. Their fins and tails just tend to be on the smaller size.
A betta fish fact to know about plakats is that they are a little more aggressive than most betta.
Plakats are also hardier than betta with bigger fin types.
6. Comb Tail/HalfSun
Combtail types are not that different from the crown tail. The real difference lies in webbing.
With a combtail, you get more webbing and stability on the tail. Half sun type bettas can be confused as combtail bettas, but they are entirely different.
The half sun betta was bred with crowntail bettas, as well as, half-moon bettas.
This breeding creates a big tail that looks like the half-moon but is spiked at the ends to look like sun rays.
These fish look dazzling, especially if you can get them in warm colors.
7. Plakat
Again, plakat merely refers to a short-finned betta. Betta with this tail type will have shorter tails.
A lot of fighting fish were bred from this type.
When fish have shorter tails, they can fight better. Longer tails are more prone to injury and slow fish down.
8. Double tail
Bettas with this type of tail have two tails that spring from there bodies. These tails tend to be big and broad.
One tail grows below the body. The other tail grows behind the fish.
9. Big Ear/Dumbo
Big ear, or dumbo tails, refer to the fins of a betta.
The tail is normal-sized, but the fins at the side of the fish are extra large and look like giant ears.
They look like an elephants ears, so that’s where they get the name from.
10. Veil Tail
Veil tail bettas are the easiest kind of betta to find in a local shop.
They are flowy, pretty long and look like a veil outlining the shape of your fish.
11. Giant
Bettas with giant tails are, as you can imagine. are pretty big.
Their tails are super-sized and their bodies are bigger than normal.
12. Delta
Delta tails look unique on the betta. They aren’t as big as Halfmoon tails but they also fan over your betta.
Delta tails are slimmer near the fish’s body but spread out the further it goes. The delta tail has a pleasing triangle shape that compliments your bettas form!
It looks like the Greek letter delta. This is also how this tail type got its name!
There are some versions of this tail that can be even bigger. They are known as super delta tails.
13. Long Tail
It isn’t too difficult to explain this next tail type in bettas.
The long tail betta has a tail that is longer than most betta.
Their tails trail after them in their tank and can look quite nice in their various colors.
14. Spade Tail
Spade tail bettas tend to have shorter tails, but they have a pleasing shape. They are shaped like spades on playing cards.
These tails are smooth and pointed.
15. Round Tail/ Fan Tail
Round tails and fan tails on betta are another option to consider. This is essentially a delta tail.
The difference is that this type of tail is more rounded than the delta. It is also a little wider than the delta.
20 Color Types Of Betta fish
You might not know this, but male bettas are actually more colorful than female bettas. This is why a lot of fish owners have a tendency to purchase male bettas.
The colors of a male betta are meant to protect it in the wild. More intense colors will scare off predatory fish.
If that doesn’t work, at the very least, it keeps the attention off the betta’s mate and children.
In this part of the guide, I will show you common and uncommon color options for bettas. There are over twenty colors in my list.
I don’t have every color on this list, but I have included most of the popular fish colors available.
This way you can see plenty of different types of betta fish.
1. Pink
Pink betta fishes are not supersaturated with color.
Many of them have a translucent look to them. Some bettas of this color can get really pink though.
Bettas that are fully pink, usually have some other colors mixed in with their scales. White and pink often mix together.
If you like pink colored fish, there are tons of options to choose from in this betta.
2. Gold
Gold bettas are a newer addition to the betta community. They have a metallic shine that is comparable to jewelry.
This type of betta can get pricey. But if you want something special, this color of betta is truly unique.
Some gold betta can be more on the yellow side. But you can get ones that really look like they are coated in gold.
3. Red
Red is a pretty typical color for bettas. In fact, most bettas come in this color. Some betta can be bred fully red.
But usually, they have some other colors mixed in.
If your betta is sick or underfed this color can fade. It’s good to look at your betta’s color and see if there are changes every now and then.
4. Yellow
Yellow betta are not hard to find. These fish range from pale to bright.
There are some light yellow bettas and other more highlighter like bettas.
Usually, you can find yellow bettas that are fully one color and unmixed with other hues.
5. Blue
You can get all kinds of blue betta from a pet store. Blues bettas come in a number of hues and shades.
Steel-blue bettas and one popular shade. They have a bit of a grey tinge to them.
Royal blue is also popular. This is a super vivid blue color that really stands out.
6. Orange
Orange betta can range in colors. A lot of breeders like these betta to match the color of a tangerine.
But you can get them in lighter or darker shades of orange.
Orange bettas are also bred with other colors. You can find them spotted with purple and blues. These are easier to find than fully orange betta.
Orange bettas aren’t as rare as some colors, but they aren’t the most common type of betta.
7. White
Not every fish owner will be into this color. Some might think they are too pale and colorless, but they do create an interesting aesthetic.
If you get a good tail type to accompany this betta it will look awesome in your tank.
A lot of fish have shades of white on them. And many female bettas have white scale to lower the intensity of their color.
8. Violet
Violet is not a common color in betta fish. Actually, it is quite rare for this fish.
A lot of bettas can have purple splotches or colors overlap to make purple.
Still, most bettas don’t have an all purple body.
Violet bettas can be slightly more expensive as a result. But these color fish look amazing in your tank.
They come in all different kinds of shade of purple!
9. Green
You won’t find a fully green betta that easily. They are pretty rare with this type of fish. And usually, green betta comes in a turquoise shade.
Other colors are usually built on top of the green. This creates a murkier color.
If you search enough you can find a truly green betta. But this will cost you a lot of money.
10. Silver
Silver is another metallic color to be on the lookout for.
Silver bettas are really stunning and stand out amongst all the different types of betta fish.
This is another rare fish type. So be prepared to spend some money on this colored fish.
11. Chocolate
Chocolate bettas are not an established betta type, but more and more people want this color of betta.
These bettas have a nice warm brown tone that looks like a chocolate bar.
Usually, you have yellow or black mixed at the edges of these fish.
12. Black
Black bettas have more versatility than you would think. Usually, they are found with other dark colors mixed into their scales.
There are three different types of black betta. There are other less popular versions of these fish as well.
Some black betta can be translucent or metallic too.
13. Clear/Cellophane
Many female bettas fall into this category of color. Clear and cellophane betta are not colorful, but they do look unique.
Sometimes, if the fish is translucent enough, you can see some of their organs.
Not all of these betta will be this way though. Many clear bettas have a delicate and refined look to them.
14. Copper
Copper is another metallic betta type to be on the lookout for. This color is not as brilliant or shining as gold and silver but it still looks cool!
Copper bettas are mixed with wild bettas and other bettas to create a metallic sheen. Often you find copper mixed with other colors.
Red and other warm colors look good with copper. But black and many other patterns can adorn this type of fish.
There are a ton of shades and hues of copper!
15. Mustard
Mustard bettas are a mishmash of colors. They are two-toned fish and usually come in blue and yellow tones.
You can also find the mustard in green and orange as well. But this is a little rarer.
Sometimes the blue of the betta can be so dark that it is mistaken for a chocolate betta.
Overall, this is a good looking fish.
16. Opaque/Pastel
Opaque bettas usually have a white or light-colored body. A lot of them are white but not all opaque bettas are colorless.
Royal blue bettas are actually considered to be opaque bettas. Green bettas are in this category as well.
Opaque bettas can actually have quite a bit of pigment even if they are white. The color is pretty uniform.
Pastel bettas, on the other hand, have more faded colors. Sometimes they can get confused as the same, but they are different.
Light colors are thinly spread out on pastel bettas. They can even be a little translucent.
17. Turquoise
If you like blue bettas, but want a color with a little more flair, turquoise bettas are another great pet option.
These fish pops against your tank decorations and background.
Turquoise betta fish are fairly popular and come in several shades. You can get them one toned, or with other colors.
The choice is up to you!
18. Albino
Albino bettas are similar to pastel and clear bettas in that they lack color. This is a translucent betta that lacks pigment due to a genetic mutation.
You might confuse this with other betta types. One difference you might see between this type of fish and other similar types is eye color.
Like other albino animals, the albino betta has pink eyes. These are interesting and hard to find fish.
You won’t see these in a regular pet shop!
19. Orange Dalmation
Orange dalmatian bettas provide tanks with a splash of colors. They have spots like dalmatian dogs.
But they are not black and white.
Instead, their bodies are usually light orange. They are spotted with darker shades of orange and have a fun and spunky look.
These bettas use to be harder to find, but they are more common nowadays. You can get these types of betta for a reasonable price.
20. Wild Type
The last betta color I will talk about is the wild type. Wild type colored bettas have more natural and muted tones.
Wild type bettas are found in nature and are not bred for specific colors.
Usually, you can find these fish in shades of red and brown. In rare cases, a male betta might have a smattering of blue or green.
It depends on where the fish is found.
Wild bettas are a little different from typical fighting fish. They are less aggressive and less flashy fish. Still, watch over them like you would any other betta.
They aren’t entirely harmless.
10 Pattern Types Of Betta Fish
Many different types of betta fish exist. You can no only distinguish them by color but by pattern.
As I talked about before, male bettas tend to have more color on them than females.
But did you also know that male bettas have more intricate designs and patterns?
I will introduce you to some stunning betta patterns in this next part!
These aren’t all of the patterns available to you. In fact, many new fish patterns are bred each year.
Still, I will try and cover the main betta patterns available. You should be able to choose a suitable betta by the end!
1. Bi-colored
Bi-colored betta patterns are pretty common in the betta breeding world. These fish will usually have two distinct colors.
Bettas will have a single color on their body.
The other color will fill in its tail and fins. Some bettas have a muddier appearance. It might be harder to distinguish between colors.
An authentic bi-colored betta will have a clear divide between color hues. Colors should not layer each other or overlap.
You can choose between light bicolored and dark bicolored fish.
Light bettas will have a lighter body color and a dark or light fin color to contrast it.
Darker bettas with bi-coloring will have a dark body and light or dark tones on the fins.
A popular breed of bi-colored betta is the chocolate betta. Their bodies look chocolate-colored and their other appendages are in shades of yellow.
2. Butterfly
Butterfly betta patterns can be easily spotted by buyers.
This is a popular choice for fish owners as the design looks quite pleasing to the eyes.
Butterfly type bettas usually exhibit a solid color throughout its body. The color fades and turns white or translucent as you get the edges of the betta.
This makes the fins and tail of the fish look delicate and dainty like a butterfly.
3. Cambodian
Cambodian patterned bettas are a variation of bi-colored betta. These fish are bred for two colors. These bettas have vivid red fins.
Their bodies are a solid neutral color. An ideal specimen will have a white body. But other light or pale colors are seen as well.
Over the years, this fish has become harder and harder to find. Cambodian bettas are not bred as much as they were in the past.
4. Dragon
Dragon bettas are a new type of pattern in this fish breed. They look great in tanks and have a metallic tone to them, unlike other patterned fish.
All kinds of colors can be found in this type of betta. Usually, neutral or bright colors are bred on the fins and tail.
The body has a metallic color that looks almost armor-like. So they can be classified as a type of bi-colored betta.
In addition, the scales on these fish are on the thick side. They really stand out on you betta!
Wild bettas are commonly bred with captured betta to create this pattern type.
The good thing about these fish is that they aren’t too hard to find and are relatively cheap.
5. Marble
Marble pattern on a betta also creates a bold look for bettas. Marble bettas combine a number of colors to create a splash of color.
Some marble betta even have up to three colors. These colors are spread across the fish and are usually on top of a base color.
Usually, a fish is white or light-colored with blotches of color layered on top.An example of this pattern can be found in koi colored betta.
These are newer betta that can also be purchased!
Red, orange, and black are bred on top of a white-colored fish. The marbling pattern makes betta look like koi fish!
The cool thing about any marbling pattern is that it can change over time. As the betta grows the marbling of colors can change as well.
I definitely recommend a betta fish with marbling if you want something new in your tank.
6. Mask
Mask patterned bettas are a little unusual. Typical bettas have a darker face, even if they are single toned in color.
With this pattern type, the face stays the same color hue as the whole betta body. In white-colored fish, this can look pretty striking.
On the whole, though, this pattern is usually found in copper colored betta. Blue betta also exhibits this patter.
You can find this in different colored betta though.
7. Multicolored
While some bettas only have two colors, multicolored betta have three or more.
If you are looking for a super colorful fish, this pattern will suit you and your tank.
Multicolored bettas have a variety of shades on them. How these colors are placed, can’t really be defined.
The manifest in a number of ways. As a result, most multicolored betta don’t fall into typical pattern categories.
You can get all kinds of patterns with this type of betta.
8. Piebald
Piebald patterning on bettas is not conventional-looking. It’s a mismatch of colors and design.
Piebald betta have a light face color. Usually, you’ll see white, light pink, or some other translucent color.
In contrast, the rest of the betta is colored in a much darker color or set of colors. You can have marbling on this fish.
Butterfly patterns are also common to see as well. Overall, this is a distinct looking betta!
9. Solid
Solid pattered bettas are the most self-explanatory fish design. These betta only have one color throughout their body, fins, and tail.
The color on the fish might be darker in some areas. But it mostly stays consistent.
Still, there are tons of colors to choose from in this category. I mentioned many of them in the previous section.
Solid bettas don’t offer the most exciting patterns. But there is some variation with this different type of betta fish.
You can get transparent types, metallic types, and other interesting hued bettas for your tank!
10. Wild Type
The last pattern type for this different type of betta fish list is the wild type. I talked about these briefly in the color section.
Wild type betta tend to have straightforward colors and designs. Again, they are not bred but taken out of nature.
They aren’t as exciting to look at in comparison to the more exotic betta. But they still have their own unique look!
The patterns you get won’t all be the same. Some wild type betta are solidly colored. Others are bi-colored.
It just depends on where you get the betta from. Wild bettas look good in tanks, just don’t expect ornate fish patterns from this category.
Conclusion
Betta fish are housed as pets in tanks all over the world. These spunky little fish are guaranteed to liven up your home.
In this article, I went over 45 different types of betta fish.
Not everyone knows about the different varieties and types of betta you can choose from.
Bettas have a large depth of colors and patterns and differences. So you can find a fish that will match any tank setup!
