Betta Identification Guide

The Betta or Siamese fighting fish (Betta splendens) is a small, showy freshwater fish prized for its flowing fins and vivid color.

Key identification features

• Small, elongated body, usually 5-7 cm excluding fins.
• Long, flowing fins in males, often larger than the body itself.
• Intense coloration — reds, blues, purples, and metallics, frequently iridescent.
• An upturned mouth and the ability to breathe air at the surface (a labyrinth organ).

Recognizing fin types

• Veiltail: long, downward-drooping tail.
• Halfmoon: tail spreads to a full 180-degree fan.
• Crowntail: fin rays extend past the webbing like spikes.
• Plakat: short-finned, closest to the wild form.

Females are smaller with much shorter fins and less intense color.

Where you'll see one

Bettas are aquarium fish native to the slow, shallow waters of Southeast Asia. A small, jewel-colored fish with dramatic flowing fins gulping air at the surface is almost certainly a Betta.