Discover all Betta fish types: solid colors, koi, galaxy, marble, candy, dragon scale, halfmoon, crowntail & rare hybrids. Full visual and rarity guide.
Table of Contents
- Solid Color Bettas
- Color Pattern Bettas
- Scale & Texture Types
- Core Betta Fin Types
- Rare & Hybrid Types
- Special / Rare Category
- Faq
- Conclusion
Betta fish are one of the most diverse ornamental fish in the aquarium hobby, admired for their rich colors, unique patterns, and striking fin shapes. From solid shades like red and blue to artistic koi, candy, and marble patterns, each Betta carries its own identity and visual personality. Whether you're a beginner choosing your first pet Betta or a collector searching for rare show-grade varieties, understanding these categories helps you appreciate the beauty and genetics behind each fish. This guide breaks down color types, patterns, scale textures, and fin structures to help you identify, select, and enjoy the perfect Betta for your aquarium.
Solid Color Bettas
Solid Red Betta
The Solid Red Betta carries a deep, uniform crimson tone across its whole body and fins, creating a fiery visual impact that instantly draws attention. This fish becomes even more striking when it flares, with its red intensifying to a richer shade like burning embers. In darker aquariums, it appears powerful and dramatic, while under warm LEDs it glows like polished ruby. Solid Red Bettas are considered the standard for show quality because achieving pure, uninterrupted red without metallic interruptions is a sign of strong genetics and expert line breeding.
Solid Yellow Betta
The Solid Yellow Betta shines like a drop of sunlight underwater, with gentle golden tones that range from butter yellow to vibrant lemon. They are visually soothing and bring a cheerful presence to planted tanks. Because true yellow pigment is difficult to maintain genetically, clean, non-faded yellow individuals are harder to find and therefore valued by breeders. When placed against green plants or dark substrates, they glow with a beautiful contrast that feels natural yet rare.
Solid Blue Betta
With sapphire, navy, or royal tones, the Solid Blue Betta looks like a piece of the ocean moving through the water. Under proper lighting, its scales take on a metallic or velvet texture, making it one of the most elegant fish to watch. Solid Blues adapt visually to their environment: dark backdrops make them appear bolder and sharper, while pale backgrounds soften the color to a calm, cloudy blue. Their balance of beauty and stability makes them a favorite among new hobbyists and advanced aquascapers.
Solid Black Betta
The Solid Black Betta is a dramatic and mysterious fish that looks like a living silhouette. True black Bettas carry a velvety pigment that absorbs light, giving them a deep, matte appearance instead of shine. They are challenging to breed perfectly because unwanted bronze or metallic bleeds often appear in lower-quality lines. High-grade blacks are incredibly valuable, especially those with smooth body shape and large fins that look like smoke drifting through the water. In the right lighting, they feel like a luxury showpiece.
Solid White Betta
The Solid White Betta resembles a floating pearl, defined by soft tones and elegant fin movement rather than bright colors. It creates a calm, serene presence and performs beautifully in minimalistic or Zen-style aquariums. Because its appearance relies more on fin structure and posture than color, gentle flow and clean water amplify its beauty. When paired with pale décor, a white Betta looks angelic, while in dark settings it takes on a ghost-like elegance.
Color Pattern Bettas
Koi Betta
The Koi Betta features random, blotched patterns resembling miniature koi carp, with splashes of red, black, orange, yellow, and white scattered across its body. Because of marble genetics, Koi Bettas can change color as they grow, adding a surprise element. Hobbyists love them because each fish is unique—no two koi Bettas share the same pattern, making them feel like living artwork. A high-quality koi has clean patch transitions and strong pigment placement, almost like brush strokes on canvas.
Galaxy Betta
The Galaxy Betta is known for metallic speckles that scatter across its body like stars across a night sky. Blue, silver, and white dots shimmer under light, creating a cosmic effect that looks unreal inside the tank. Collectors often highlight these fish with LED backlights to enhance their reflective scales. A strong Galaxy Betta has dense speckling that feels like a full constellation rather than scattered glitter, and this fullness greatly increases its value.
Marble Betta
The Marble Betta is a fish that never stops changing. Its colors shift and rearrange over months, sometimes drastically, due to active marble genetics. A fish may begin as pale and slowly develop patches of black or bright colors as it ages. These transformations make every Marble Betta a journey rather than a finished piece - owners often document the changes like chapters in a story. They’re not for people who want perfection, but for those who enjoy evolution.
Candy Betta
The Candy Betta is bright, loud, and visually electric, with neon-like splashes of blues, reds, yellows, and pinks. These fish are bred for show and often appear in competitions for their high contrast and striking clarity. Under proper lighting, they look like they’ve been colored with candy gel or neon paint pens. The best Candy Bettas carry clean, defined lines between their colors rather than muddy blending, giving them that premium, collectible finish.
Fancy Betta
The Fancy Betta is a designer-grade fish created from selective breeding to achieve complex, unexpected patterns. Colors swirl, overlap, and stack in ways that feel completely artistic rather than natural. Unlike koi or candy lines, Fancy Bettas don’t follow rules; they appear like abstract paintings brought to life. Their value lies in individuality, personality, and shape balance, making them loved by hobbyists who want a showpiece with identity.
Paradise Betta
The Paradise Betta blends tropical colors like teal, yellow, orange, and pastel blue that create a vibrant, beach-like aesthetic. They move energetically and look especially beautiful in planted aquariums where their bright tones contrast against green leaves. Paradise Bettas feel lively, summery, and refreshing, and even a single fish can bring a tank to life visually.
Bi-Color Betta
The Bi-Color Betta displays two contrasting colors that clearly separate across the body and fins, creating a bold yet clean visual effect. Its simplicity and defined color split make it appealing to beginners who want uniqueness without overwhelming patterns. Common pairs like red-blue or black-yellow stand out beautifully, especially when placed in a tank that matches one of the two tones. This fish delivers confident elegance while keeping the design balanced and easy on the eyes.
Scale & Texture Types
Dragon Scale Betta
The Dragon Scale Betta is known for thick, armor-like scales that sit on the body like plating, reflecting light like gemstone enamel. They look powerful and mythical, almost like miniature aquatic dragons. Their color often includes metallic reds, blues, or silvers layered over pale under-scales. Dragon lines are highly sought after but require monitoring, as thick scale growth near the head can sometimes affect eye visibility with age.
Metallic Betta
The Metallic Betta appears polished like chrome or brushed steel, reflecting aquarium lighting with a futuristic sheen. Their finish can resemble aluminum, platinum, or liquid metal depending on the line. Metallic Bettas are popular in modern home aquariums because of how well they pair with LED strips and black backgrounds, giving the tank a premium, showroom-like feel.
Copper Betta
The Copper Betta glows like molten bronze or burnished gold. Their scales carry a deep shine that feels warm and luxurious, especially under low, directional lighting. High-quality coppers show smooth reflection, not patchy shine, and shift tone when the fish moves. These fish look like expensive collectibles and are often held in breeder auctions due to rarity in clean, even copper finish.
Core Betta Fin Types
Veiltail Betta
The Veiltail Betta has long, flowing fins that trail behind like silk. Their movement is slow and graceful, creating a soft, peaceful visual effect. This classic variety is very beginner-friendly and remains widely available due to stable genetics and calm temperament.
Crowntail Betta
The Crowntail Betta has sharp, spiked rays on the fins that resemble a crown or flame shape. The gaps between the rays create dramatic silhouettes, making this fish look confident, tough, and energetic. It’s a favorite for hobbyists who want a striking display with attitude.
Halfmoon Betta
The Halfmoon Betta is adored in competitions because its tail spreads to a perfect 180 degrees, forming a round half-circle like a Japanese fan. The symmetry, spread, and posture of a Halfmoon looking straight-on is one of the most impressive visuals in all of Betta keeping.
Plakat Betta
The Plakat Betta has short fins and a muscular body built for swimming, resembling wild ancestral Bettas. They move quickly, flare harder, and show personality actively. Plakats tend to be healthier fin-wise and are preferred by those who enjoy natural fish behavior.
Double Tail Betta
The Double Tail carries two distinct tail lobes that split cleanly from the base, creating a dramatic twin-fin structure. When swimming, the fins open like a fan, giving them a rare and luxurious presence. This line requires careful breeding to maintain symmetry and balanced body proportions.
Round Tail Betta
The Round Tail Betta has a soft circular tail without sharp edges or exaggerated shapes. It feels gentle, smooth, and calm, giving it a neat, balanced look. It’s a great choice for community or peaceful display setups.
Super Delta Betta
Super Delta Bettas have wide, triangular tail spreads that don’t reach full Halfmoon but still look grand and dramatic. They offer the beauty of a large tail without the fragility, making them a practical choice for keepers who want to display looks with easier care.
Rare & Hybrid Types
Rosetail Betta
Rosetail Bettas have layered fins that ripple like rose petals, creating an extravagant, ruffled shape. Their beauty is unmatched under gentle flow, though their delicate fin structure means they need softer conditions than other types. They’re considered luxury show fish rather than everyday swimmers.
Feather Tail Betta
Feather Tails have soft, feather-like fin edges that move like lace in the water. Their motion is elegant, making the fish look like it’s floating. Because their fins are sensitive, tank setup should avoid strong currents to prevent tearing.
Half Sun Betta
This hybrid mixes Halfmoon spread with Crowntail edges, creating fins shaped like sun rays. It’s bold, bright, and architectural in silhouette, making it perfect for show setups where dramatic outlines matter.
Dumbo Ear Betta
Dumbo Ear Bettas have large pectoral fins that look like elephant ears and make the fish appear expressive and emotional as it swims. Their movements almost resemble waving or greeting, giving them a charm unlike any other Betta type.
Spade Tail Betta
Spade Tails carry a pointed tail that ends in a smooth spade shape, like the symbol on a playing card. They are simple yet uncommon, making them appreciated by collectors who want rarity without extreme maintenance.
Comb Tail Betta
The Comb Tail features slight spikes like a softened Crowntail, offering a balance between drama and durability. It’s appealing to those who want something unique but not as fragile as more extreme fin shapes.
Special / Rare Category
Samurai Betta
Samurai Bettas have armor-like silver and black scalation that resembles historical warrior plating. Their strong contrasts and structured body texture give them a commanding presence, making them feel like miniature living warriors in a tank.
Alien Betta
Alien Bettas are sci-fi-like hybrids with neon scaling, unusual patterning, and sometimes reptile-like metallic striping. Their appearance looks engineered rather than natural, making them one of the most exotic and conversation-starting varieties in the Betta world.
Glo Betta
Glo Bettas glow under LED or UV lighting with fluorescent tones that appear almost neon. They fit especially well in modern or futuristic tank themes, and their glowing effect becomes intense during nighttime viewing.
Faq
1. Which Betta fish type is best for beginners?
Veiltail, Plakat, and Super Delta Bettas are best for beginners because they are
hardy, easy to maintain, and less prone to fin damage.
2. What tank size is recommended for a Betta fish?
A minimum of 5 gallons (20 liters) is recommended. Larger tanks help with stable water conditions and better swimming space.
3. Can Betta fish live with other fish?
Yes, but only with peaceful species. Avoid fin-nippers, aggressive fish, and other male Bettas. Research tank mates before adding them.
4. How long do Betta fish live?
With proper care, Bettas typically live 3 - 5 years, and sometimes longer in ideal aquarium conditions.
5. What is the ideal water temperature for Bettas?
Bettas prefer 25°C - 28°C (77°F - 82°F). Cold water weakens immunity and can cause color fading or lethargy.
6. Why is my Betta losing color or turning pale?
This may be due to stress, poor water quality, cold temperature, or illness. Improving tank conditions usually helps restore color.
7. Do Betta fish need a filter?
Yes. Bettas need a gentle-flow filter to maintain clean water. Strong currents should be avoided, especially for long-finned types.
8. How often should I feed my Betta?
Feed once or twice daily in small amounts. Overfeeding can cause bloating and dirty water.
9. Can Bettas change color over time?
Yes. Patterns like Koi, Marble, and Galaxy can naturally shift colors due to genetic changes as they grow.
10. Which Bettas are considered rare or premium?
Samurai, Alien, Rosetail, Copper, and high-grade Koi Bettas are rare and popular among collectors because of unique genetics and limited availability.
Conclusion
Betta fish are more than just colorful aquarium pets - they are living artwork shaped by genetics, selective breeding, and passionate hobbyists around the world. From bold solid tones to stunning patterned varieties like koi, galaxy, and candy, every type offers a different visual and emotional experience. Whether you prefer elegant Halfmoons, powerful Plakats, or rare hybrids like Samurai and Alien Bettas, the key to owning a beautiful Betta lies in proper care, clean water conditions, gentle lighting, and a calm environment. With the right knowledge and attention, your Betta can thrive, glow, and become the true centerpiece of your tank.
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