Betta Types Reference

Betta Gillfriend care rules: one betta per tank. Mirror or flare practice: one 2-minute session a day, with at least 2 rest days a week. Train: up to 10 minutes a week.

Domesticated Betta splendens come in a huge range of fin shapes, sizes, colours and patterns. Show standards (like the International Betta Congress, IBC, standards) define many of these precisely. Hobby and trade names don't always match the show definitions exactly. Here's a plain-language guide, plus the care notes that matter for each type.

Tip: Tap a link in the Breed card column to open that betta's card in the app (photos, care notes and fun profile). A dash means there's no card for that type yet. Wild species with cards: imbellis · smaragdina. Other colour cards: mustard-gas · black-orchid · thai-flag · alien.

Fin types (tail types)

Short-finned types

Type	What it looks like	Care notes	Breed card
Plakat (traditional)	Short, rounded or slightly pointed caudal fin; short fins overall; a sturdy, athletic body. The IBC says plakat tails should be no more than about one-third of body length. Closest to the original fighting bettas.	Strong swimmers, less prone to fin tears and fin biting. Often very active and enthusiastic flarers. Keep to the same flare limits as other bettas. Plakats can jump well, so use a lid.	plakat
Show plakat / halfmoon plakat	A plakat with a halfmoon-style "D" tail spread of 180° in miniature. The IBC calls the show plakat the most common plakat form bred today.	As for plakats.	hmpk
Giant plakat	A plakat line bred for a much larger body. The IBC standard requires a male giant's body (excluding tail) to be at least 6.0 cm and a female's at least 5.0 cm, with a stout, heavy build. A genome study describes giants as about three times the size of wild-type fish.	Bigger tank (we recommend 10+ gallons / 38+ L), more food, more waste (test water more often), wide-entrance hides, a secure lid. See Extra notes for giant bettas. Rip is a giant koi plakat!	giant · rip (giant koi plakat)
Doubletail plakat	A short-finned doubletail (two tail lobes).	As for plakats and doubletails.	doubletail

Long-finned types

Type	What it looks like	Care notes	Breed card
Veiltail	Long, flowing, drooping caudal fin that is asymmetrical. The IBC describes it as the original long-finned form. The most common "pet store" betta.	Heavy fins, so gentle flow, soft decor, resting spots near the surface. Watch for fin rot and fin biting.	veiltail
Delta / super delta	Tail fans out in a triangle (delta) shape. Super deltas spread nearly, but not quite, as far as a halfmoon. (Hobby names.)	Similar to halfmoons.	delta
Halfmoon	A caudal fin that spreads 180°, forming a crisp "D" shape when flared (IBC). Large dorsal and anal fins.	Beautiful but heavy-finned: especially prone to fin tears, fin biting and fatigue. Needs very gentle flow, smooth decor, leaf hammocks, and a calm tank.	halfmoon
Over-halfmoon / rosetail / feathertail	Hobby names for tails that spread more than 180°, often with heavy branching that gives a ruffled look.	The heaviest-finned types. Many keepers find them prone to fin problems and tiring easily. Gentle flow and plenty of rest spots are a must.	rosetail
Crowntail	Fins with reduced webbing between the rays, so the rays stick out like spikes or a crown. The IBC's crowntail standard requires at least 33% webbing reduction in males.	Ray tips can snag and break; use soft decor. Don't confuse natural ray extensions with fin rot (crowntail rays are even and evenly spaced).	crowntail
Combtail	A milder version of reduced webbing, with rays extending slightly beyond the fin, like a comb. (Hobby name.)	As for crowntails.	–
Doubletail	The caudal fin is split into two lobes all the way to the base (IBC), often with a larger dorsal fin and a shorter, chunkier body.	Doubletails may have a shorter body, and some keepers report they're more prone to swim bladder problems. Feed carefully to avoid bloat.	doubletail
Spadetail / roundtail	Long-finned tails that end in a point (spade) or a rounded edge (roundtail). (Hobby names; rarely seen.)	As for other long-finned types.	spadetail · roundtail

Other fin variations

Type	What it looks like	Care notes	Breed card
Large pectoral / "dumbo" / elephant ear	Very large, often white, pectoral fins that look like ears. The IBC standard asks for pectorals reaching about half of body length. Can be combined with any tail type.	Big pectorals take more effort to swim with. Gentle flow and resting spots.	dumbo

Colours and patterns

Any fin type can come in almost any colour or pattern. Some common ones:

Pattern	Description	Notes	Breed card
Koi	Patches of two or more base colours (e.g. red, white, black, yellow, orange) that resemble koi carp, often with some iridescence. The IBC standard describes "koi base" as two or more body base colours.	Koi patterns are polygenic (controlled by many genes), and like marbles, they can change over time. Rip may look different in a year! Gradual change is normal; sudden dulling or white or gold film is not.	koi
Marble	Irregular, blotchy patterns. The IBC guide describes marble as a mutation affecting the black colour layer that produces "many strange and varied effects", and notes patterns can change dramatically over a short time.	Normal colour changes, not illness.	marble
Butterfly	Distinct bands of colour on the fins: a solid body with a clear or pale outer edge.		butterfly
Solid colours	Red, blue, black, white, yellow, orange, and more	Melano (deep black) females are infertile (IBC).	–
Cellophane / clear	Very pale, translucent skin and fins, often with a pinkish body	Can look pale. Don't mistake it for stress or illness. Check other signs.	cellophane
Multicolour	Several colours not fitting another category		–
Dragon / metallic	Thick, heavily metallic scaling over the body (hobby name)	Some keepers report scale overgrowth near the eyes in heavily scaled lines. Monitor vision and eating.	dragon-scale
Galaxy / candy	Trade names for koi-like and marble-like patterns; galaxy fish often have sparkling iridescent spots	Like koi, controlled by many genes (2022 genome study)	galaxy

Wild bettas

There are many other species in the Betta genus (and wild-type Betta splendens). Some are bubble-nesters like B. splendens, and others are mouthbrooders that carry eggs in their mouths. Wild species often need very different water conditions (some need very soft, acidic water) and are more sensitive. The IBC standard has separate wild-type classes. Research the specific species carefully, and don't assume this guide's water settings suit them.

Sources

Care guide by Betta Gillfriend (Bespok Labs, BC, Canada). It is general information, not vet advice. If your betta is sick, ask an aquatic vet.