Betta Fish (Betta splendens)

July 21, 2025

Betta Fish (Betta splendens)
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Overview

Minimum tank size: 5 Gallons
Temperature: 78-82 Fahrenheit
Temperament: Aggressive
pH: 6.5-7.5

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Setup

Tank:
5 Gallon minimum, 10 gallons recommend for plakats (Short fin bettas). 20 gallon minimum for betta sororities, 29-40 gallon recommended. Betta sororities should have a least 5 females, never add males. Avoid tall tanks as betta fish prefer diagonal swimming space. They should be provided with a heater and filter. Filterless tanks are possible but should only be attempted by expert keepers. Betta fish are jumpers and should have a lid on all times, have the water level lower, or a thick layer of heavy floating plants on the top.

Decor:
Provide at least 3 hiding spots, long fin bettas should provide at least 3 resting spots near the surface of the tank as well. For hardscape, driftwood and rocks can be used along with terracotta pots, seed pods, rock caves, or artificial decor as hides. Avoid decor with sharp point as your bettas fins may get ripped or they may scratch their body. Live plants are highly recommended as the make tank maintenance easy are provide mental stimulation for your fish. Silk plants can be used as a substitute to real plants, avoid plastic plants as they can rip fins.

Temperature:
78°-80°

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Feeding

Betta fish are obligate carnivores and should never be fed plant matter. Provide your betta with 6-8 pieces of food a day, this can be split into two meals to avoid bloating.

Recommended Foods:

Brine Shrimp, Blood Worms, Mysis Shrimp, Black Worms, High Quality Pellets or Flakes.

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Sexing

Sexing long fin bettas (Halfmoons) is relativity easy as only male have long flowing fins, most sexing difficulties are with short fin bettas (Plakats).

Males: Long ventral fins, large beard (Clearing seen when flaring, partially visible when not), thinner more stream line body shape, slightly longer fins.

Females: Short ventral fins, wider rounder body, egg spot (Males can have a false egg spot), slightly shorter fins.

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Color & Tail Types

Betta fish have been selectively bred to have a wide variety of colors and fin shapes, this will go over different variations to help you identify what your betta is along with possible common health issues with them.

Tail Types:

Left images are Male - Right Images are Females

Halfmoon | Long fined bettas with a 180-degree tail spread present when flaring
Common Issues: Mobility issues, Tail biting, & Finrot

Plakat | Short fin bettas, can also come as halfmoon plakat, meaning they have a 180-degree tail spread

Crowntail | Defined by their spiky tail fins, caused by reduced webbing between the fin rays. Can also come as plakat variety.
Common Issues: Mobility issues, Fin brakeage

Veiltail | Asymmetrical appearance with a long caudal fin, narrow dorsal and an anal in the form of a trapezoid.
Common Issues: Tail biting, Finrot, Fungal infections

Doubletail | Caudal fin split into 2 distinct sections, also come in, plakat, veiltail, & halfmoon varieties.
Common Issues: Swim bladder, Finrot, Mobility issues

Spadetail | A short fin betta that's caudal fin comes to a point, mostly seen is wild types in the splendens complex along with hybrids like aliens. (Note: Only bottom right image is a female)

Rosetail | Long finnage with lots of crinkles and waves causing the appearance of flower petals.
Common Issues: Finrot, Tail biting, Fungal & Bacterial infections, Shorter Lifespans

Deltatail | Long fin betta with a triangular caudal fin.
Common Issues: Finrot, More susceptible to diseases

Color Categories & Varieties
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Kois

Red Galaxy & Blue Galaxy Koi

Red Copper Koi

Nemo Koi

Nemo Galaxy Koi

Yellow Koi
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Marbles:

Blue Marble
Common Health Issues: Prone to tumors

Blue Avatar

Blue Rim
Common Health Issues: Prone to tumors

Red Hellboy

Yellow Hellboy

Red Fancy

Yellow Fancy

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Dragon Scales:
Common Health Issues: All types are prone to "Dimond eye" which is when their scales grow over their eye/s causing complete or partial blindness. Also prone to scale tumors.

Black Samuria

Red Samuria

Blue Samuria

Black Dragon

Yellow Dragon

Red Dragon

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Bi-Colors:

Blue Grizzle

Yellow Grizzle

Mascot

Yellow Copper

Blue Butterfly

Red/Salamander Butterfly

Black Orchid

Red Copper

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Soild Color:

Blue

Copper

Black

Platinum

Red

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Aliens:

Green Alien

Blue Alien

Copper/Purple Alien

Samuria Alien (All Colors)