Spadetail Betta

Looks how to spot one

Scales and fins

The Spadetail Betta has a compact, streamlined body with a tail fin that narrows toward the end and then widens slightly, resembling a spade from a deck of cards. The tail is shorter and less flowing than halfmoon or rosetail varieties, giving the fish a more hydrodynamic shape. Colours vary widely, from solid reds, blues, and purples to multicoloured patterns, with males typically more vivid than females.13

Personality what they are like

Spadetail Bettas are curious, lively, and often interactive with their owners. They are territorial, especially males, and will flare their gills and spread their fins when they see a rival. They are more energetic and exploratory than heavily finned varieties, often patrolling their tank and investigating new objects. They can be kept alone or with peaceful tank mates, but males should never be housed together.12

Daily activity how busy a day looks

Spadetail Bettas need daily opportunities to swim, explore, and rest. They are more active than heavily finned bettas and benefit from a tank of at least 20 litres, with 30 litres or more preferred. Provide gentle water flow, resting spots near the surface, and enrichment such as live plants, floating plants, and occasional rearrangement of decor. They do not need a large exercise area but enjoy a well-planted tank with room to patrol.13

Grooming and care the hands-on bits

Spadetail Bettas are relatively easy to care for. They need a heated, filtered aquarium with stable water quality, a temperature of 24-30°C, pH 6-8, and gentle flow. Regular water changes are essential. They are carnivores and should be fed a varied diet of high-quality betta pellets, supplemented with live, frozen, or freeze-dried foods like bloodworms, brine shrimp, and daphnia. Avoid overfeeding, as they are prone to constipation.13

Home where they are happiest

Spadetail Bettas are tropical freshwater fish that need a tank of at least 20 litres, with 30-60 litres preferred for a single fish. Provide live plants like Anubias, Java fern, and Cryptocoryne, plus floating plants to diffuse light and create cover. Include driftwood, smooth stones, and caves for shelter. Water temperature should be 24-30°C, pH 6-8, and hardness 1-15 dGH. They are not venomous, protected, or illegal to keep in most places, but check local regulations as they are a domesticated variety.13

Food basics what goes in the bowl

Spadetail Bettas are carnivorous. In the wild, they eat insect larvae, small crustaceans, and zooplankton. In captivity, feed a staple of high-quality betta pellets, with live, frozen, or freeze-dried foods like bloodworms, brine shrimp, daphnia, and mosquito larvae two to three times a week. Feed two to four pellets per meal, twice daily, and ensure all food is consumed within two minutes.13

Company who they like around

Spadetail Bettas are territorial and males should never be housed together, as they will fight, sometimes to the death. They can be kept alone or with peaceful tank mates like small invertebrates or nano fish, but only in a tank of 40 litres or more with plenty of hiding places. They are not a schooling fish and do not need companions. They can recognise their keeper and may interact with them.12

The story where it all began

The Spadetail Betta is a selectively bred domestic variety of Betta splendens, not a separate species. Its wild ancestor is native to the shallow, slow-moving waters of Southeast Asia, including Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam. Betta splendens has been bred for over a century, initially for aggression in Thailand, where fish fights were popular. Later, breeders focused on colour and fin shape, creating the many tail types seen today, including the spadetail. The spadetail's tail narrows toward the end and then widens slightly, resembling a spade from a deck of cards. This variety is prized for its more streamlined fin, which makes it a more active and agile swimmer than heavily finned types like halfmoons or rosetails. The spadetail does not occur in the wild; it is a product of selective breeding for the ornamental hobby.145

Recognised by the official bits

International Betta Congress

Recognised as a tail type variety of Betta splendens, distinguished by a spade-shaped caudal fin.6