Betta Fish Tail Types: Guide on the Most Common & Different Varieties
Betta fish are well known for their beautiful tails but do you know all the different betta fish tail types out there? Do you know what type of tail your betta fish has?
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Which tail type is my betta fish?
The following infographic was designed so you and your friends can identify which tail type your betta fish has – or maybe which one you want next!
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The Different Betta Fish Tail Types
Veiltail
The veiltail is by far the most common tail type for betta fish. To recognise it look for a long, flowing, downwards swooping tail.
Crowntail
Crowntail betta fish are a very popular choice. Named because of the spikey appearance of the fins – just like that on the top of a crown.
You will be able to recognize a crowntail due to the extended length of the fin’s rays and the small amount of webbing. If the webbing reaches further than 2/3 up the tail’s ray it is not a crowntail. Most breeders aim for the webbing to reach only half way.
Combtail
Combtail betta fish are similar to crowntails in that the tail’s rays are longer than the webbing. However combtails use this feature more subtly. The difference between the fin’s ray and the webbing is not so large.
Double Tail
A double tail betta will be recognize due to possessing two distinct tails which are separated to the base. Double tail betta fish also tend to have a larger dorsal fin.
Spadetail
Named because of the very clear spade like appearance of the caudal fin. The tail has a wide base which then narrows smoothly to a point.
Halfmoon
Halfmoon bettas are perhaps the most wanted type of betta fish. The halfmoon tail is large and when flared the caudal fin will fan a 180 degrees which causes the tail to create a half circle – and that is where the name comes from.
Over-Halfmoon
Over-Halfmoon betta fish have similar fins to halfmoon bettas. The difference is that when flared the caudal fin will fan over 180 degrees creating a shape that is larger than half a circle.
Delta
A delta tail starts narrow towards the body of the betta fish and widens towards the tip giving it a triangular shape.
The delta tail type is similar to a halfmoon fin however the tail does not reach 180 degrees
The difference between this tail type and the veiltail is that if you were to draw a line horizontally across the centre of a betta fish there would be an even amount of tail above and below the line (The veiltail would have most of the tail below the line).
Super Delta
The super delta tail type is very similar to the delta tail type however when it is flared it extends further. A super delta tail will flare between 120 to 160 degrees – it does not reach the 180 degrees of a halfmoon tail.
Half Sun
The Half Sun tail type is a combination of the crowntail and halfmoon. This results in a large tail with a spread of 180 degrees plus with slight crowning between the fins rays and webbing. The Half Sun is a very rare fin type.
Rosetail
The rosetail is a beautiful variation of the halfmoon tail type. The appearance differs from halfmoon tails due to excessive branching on the rays of the fins which causes overlapping on the fins giving a rose like aesthetic. Adding this betta to a dorm room will surely add to the interior.
Feathertail
The feathertail is very similar to the rosetail however there is even more excessive branching of the fin rays giving an extra ruffled appearance.
Plakat / Short Fin
Generally speaking the term Plakat betta is used to describe a short finned betta fish. The tail is short and round (sometimes going to a point) on the traditional Plakat.
Dumbo Ear / Elephant Ear
Ok, not quite a “tail type” however the dumbo ear or elephant ear betta fish has a fantastic aesthetic due to its fins. Dumbo ear bettas have extra-large pectoral fins which resulting in these fins looking like elephant ears. These fins can be a matching color to the betta’s body or contrasting.
Did you find the betta tail you were looking for?
Now you know how to identify which betta fish tail your betta fish has. What do you think of all these betta fish tail types? What did you think about the guide above? We would love to know in the comments.
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Last Updated: October 18, 2021
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Veiltale named sunset
Great name Vanessa!
Thanks for the comment.
An interesting article, thanks.
I have a crowntail almost like the one illustrated here, he’s full of character. I also have a veiltail, he is a beauiful flame red and very graceful. I have named them Spike and Flash. I did have a cute little elephant ear once but he died.
Wow your bettas sound beautiful! You’ve had a good mix of tail types
Thank you for your comments Val 🙂
I like the feather tail.
Feather and rosetail betta fish are sooo pretty!
My over 3 year old veil tail Herman died today R.I.P Hermaeus Mora I love you!
Aww sorry to hear that! RIP.
Thank you for the comment.
I have a delta called Atlantis
Great name!
I have a Delta with a dark red almost black body but his tail is is rose red with some white on the fins under his belly. Today I noticed that he had some dark blue on the tips of his tail as well. I named him Shark because when he was little his dorsal fin reminded me of a sharks. He is still pretty young and still has some growing to do so i can’t wait to see him in his full glory. ☺️