Betta Color Patterns

Solid

Solid colors are exactly how they sound when the fish is just one color from nose to the tip of the tail. This is often seen mostly in Reds.

Solid colors are properly the most common Betta color, and as you most likely guessed from the name, they have one single color from the tip of their head right down to their fins. There are many solid colors available. Such as:

RED: Red is the most common along with blue, and is a very dominant color when breeding.

Red Half Moon Female

BLUE: Along with red, blue is the most common Betta color. It is also a very dominant color when breeding. There are three different shades of blue. These are Steel Blue, where the blue is cold and greyish in appearance, Royal Blue, where the blue is rich, deep and vibrant and Turquoise, where the fish can appear both green and blue in certain lights. A Baby Blue is also available, but not often seen. Blue Bettas often have a dark blue or black face. The color blue can show in red Bettas as “blue wash”.

Blue betta female

Yellow & Pineapple

Yellow Bettas usually carry the desirable red-loss gene that causes Bettas to not have redwash. They will often also carry and throw fry that are iridescent Blue and Green. Yellow varies from very pale yellow to rich buttery yellow. Pineapple refers to yellow Bettas with darker definitions around their scales on their body, giving them a slightly “dirty” appearance.

Orange

Not often seen, Orange Bettas are usually a rich tangerine color and can appear red in bad lighting.

Orange Dalmatian

Again, this is not often seen and can also be referred to as Apricot Spots. It is when the body is a pale orange as are the fins, but throughout the fins are much richer orange-red spots of varying size and shape.

Black

There are 3 classes of Black Bettas. The first being Melano which are generally infertile, fertile Blacks or Black Lace/Black Orchid, and copper Blacks (with iridescence).

Super black Betta

Copper Black betta

Purple

Pure purple Bettas are almost unheard of but those close to it have been seen including rich violets or blues with copper iridescence. Some purples may look blue or red in certain lights, and only show their true color under bright light.

from https://www.chiangmainews.co.th/page/archives/864726/

BI COLORS

Bi-color Betta’s have two different solid colors. Their body will be one color, and their fins will be another color. Now, I can’t cover everyone, because well, their is as many as every combination of all the solid colors imaginable.

Mustard Gas

This strange name refers to Bettas with a green, blue, or steel blue body and yellow or orange fins, it is a bicolor pattern.

Chocolate

Chocolate Bettas are so called as they do appear a rich brown in color, and will often have yellow coloration through the fins. Not often seen.

Copper

This is a highly iridescent strain of Betta that is proving to be very popular. It is silver or brown when under the weak light, but when under good lighting it will shimmer a copper color with purple or blue highlights. This color originates from wild-type Bettas who had a gold sheen to them. The copper gene has now been bred into various colors and new patterns are emerging all the time.

CAMBODIAN

Cambodian Betta’s come in three different shades: Red, blue and green. Cambodians have a fleshy color body and either a blue, red or green fins.

Butterfly

A Butterfly has a solid body color which extends into the base of the fins finishing with an abrupt strong edge with the rest of the fins being transparent or white and their fins are divided into two separate colors, which are ideally symmetrical. May also be referred to as variegated. They can come in any color combination. The butterfly is a marble trait.

Marble

The gene that creates marble patterning is becoming more common, it is usually a color such as blue or red on a pale base. A marble Betta has irregular patterns throughout the body and fins, that can change with age. It is a partially dominant gene meaning that if a solid Betta is crossed with a marble it is likely to get many fries in solid colors that carry the marble gene.

GRIZZLE

Grizzle Betta’s are uncommon and have either a pastel or opaque body with random flecks and spots of iridescent coloring. Each fin will also have grizzle patterning. The body and fins should have exactly two different iridescent colors. Grizzle Betta’s which show 50% iridescence and 50% pastel or opaque body is preferred.

DRAGON

A newish pattern that is becoming increasingly popular. Dragon Betta’s usually have a bright, strong base, such as red, with their scales highlighted in a pale iridescent color. Their scales seem to resemble that of a lizard – or dragon.

Piebald

A piebald colored fish has a pale flesh-colored face no matter what the body color is. The rest of the body should be fairly solid, some other butterfly patterning may be present. Piebald fish carry the Marble gene.

Multicolor

A multi Betta is that with 3 or more colors on the body that does not fit into any other pattern category.

Opaque

Opaque Bettas are a misty white in color with hazy eyes. The gene that makes Bettas this color also causes internal organ problems. A true pure opaque white is rare, and often there will be imperfections.

Albino

The Holy Grail of Bettas. Albino Bettas are very rare, only a few have been confirmed. They do not have long lifespans and will go blind fairly early on in life, making it near impossible to breed them.