Betta Tail Types
With bettas being available in so many tail types, it can be difficult identifying what you have. To help out with possibly identifying your betta’s tail type, I have put together a basic guide below!
(Please note that this guide only provides a basic look at types of bettas based on caudal spread. This is not meant to highlight other necessary physical attributes required to fit specific show-quality groups.)
[Photo: iantojonesthebetta]
Veiltail (VT)
The veiltail is the most common betta tail type seen in the hobby and is dominant in most pet stores. These bettas have long, sweeping fins and are called veiltails because of how their caudal fins resemble a wedding veil. Some veiltails have caudal fins that taper to a point at the end while others are more broad and almost rectangular in shape.
Click here for more veiltails!
[Photo: @iantojonesthebetta]
Crowntail (CT)
The crowntail is perhaps the second most common tail type available in most pet stores. The fin between the rays are reduced, giving crowntails a spidery appearance. Crowntails exist in both long-finned and short-finned, as well as single-ray or double-ray, varieties.
Click here for more crowntails!
[Photo: iantojonesthebetta]
Delta and Super Delta
When you purchase a “halfmoon” from a chain pet store, you are most likely going to end up with a delta. Delta bettas are bettas whose caudal fins does not reach a 180 degree spread. A super delta is a delta whose spread whose caudal fin has a spread that very nearly reaches 180 but not quite (usually landing somewhere between 170 and 179 degrees).
Click here for more deltas and super deltas!
[Photo: iantojonesthebetta]
Doubletail (DT)
The doubletail betta is a betta that has two caudal lobes. Doubletails come in both long-finned and short-finned varieties. For example, halfmoon doubletails or doubletail plakat. Halfmoon doubletails are sometimes called “fullmoons” but this is simply another marketing strategy.
Click here for more doubletails!
[Photo: actualarishok]
Halfmoon (HM)
The halfmoon is perhaps the most sought-after fish in the hobby. With its massive fins fully spread, a halfmoon betta is as majestic as they come. Halfmoon bettas most have caudal fins that extend a full 180 degrees with a straight edge. If the spread extends over 180 degrees, the tail type is known as over-halfmoon (OHM).
Click here for more halfmoons!
[Photo: iantojonesthebetta]
Plakat (PK)
The plakat is the short-finned variety of betta splendens. There are several types of plakats, such as the fighter plakat and show plakat. The fighter plakat typically has darker colours, less branching, a rounder caudal that doesn’t reach 180 degrees, and shorter, stockier bodies. However, the form varies depending on what sort of fighting style the breeder prefers. The show plakat, whose standards vary depending on organization, typically has more branching, a caudal spread of 180 degrees or more, and longer bodies. These show plakats are clearly bred for showing, not fighting.
Click here for more plakats!
[Photo: @iantojonesthebetta]
Dumbo/Elephant Ear (EE)
The dumbo isn’t a tail type but worth a mention. Dumbo or elephant ear bettas can have any tail type. What makes a dumbo a dumbo is its oversized, feathery pectoral fins. It’s not uncommon to see dumbos with one large fin and one small one.
Click here for more dumbos!
Less Common Tail Types
Combtail (or Half Sun)
The combtail/half sun is usually the result of breeding a veiltail and crowntail together. The edge of the fins tend to have a spiky appearance but are not as prominent as a crowntail’s crowning.
[No pictures available. See below if you’d like to submit a picture to be featured here.]
Spadetail
The spadetail is an uncommon tail type that has a caudal with a wide base tapering off into a point (therefore resembling a spade).
[No pictures available. See below if you’d like to submit a picture to be featured here.]
[Photo: @youbetta-believeit]
Rosetail
The rosetail has excessive branching and overlapping fins due to the attempt of breeding the “perfect” halfmoon. Unfortunately, this tail type is extremely prone to experiencing broken rays and genetic mutations, such as short ventral fins and poor scales.
[No pictures available. See below if you’d like to submit a picture to be featured here.]
Feathertail
The feathertail is similar to the rosetail but tends to have even more branching of the rays and a distinctive feathered or ruffled appearance around the fin edges. It is also prone to having similar health and physical issues as the rosetail.
[No pictures available. See below if you’d like to submit a picture to be featured here.]
Roundtail (or Singletail)
The roundtail or singletail is often compared to a plakat with a larger, rounder caudal that does not have the 180 degree spread. It may also be mistaken for a delta.
[No pictures available. See below if you’d like to submit a picture to be featured here.]
Want to see your betta potentially featured here? Please submit clear pictures of the betta’s full spread! If I use the image, I will credit you appropriately. I’ll also eventually be hoping to do more articles on colours and patterns, so will be happy to accept pictures of all kinds.
