Betta fish come in a wide variety of colors, each not only offering unique ornamental value but also carrying distinct cultural meanings and breeding characteristics. Below is a detailed classification and overview of betta fish colors and their traits:
I. Classic Popular Color Systems
Red Series
- Flame Red: As vibrant as burning flames, symbolizing passion and vitality. Requires astaxanthin-rich feed to maintain its vivid hue.
- Chinese Red: Represents auspiciousness in traditional culture, with feng shui beliefs that it attracts wealth and good fortune—ideal for live-streaming setups.
Blue Series
- Metallic Blue: Features an electric-light texture, with stable genetics that resist fading, making it beginner-friendly.
- Starry Sky Blue: Scales refract light like a starry sky; requires Indian almond leaves to keep water slightly acidic.
White Series
- Pearl White: Pure as a moonlight fairy, but sensitive to water quality—needs weekly water changes.
- Snow Moon: A rare variety, with prime specimens costing over a thousand yuan, posing high breeding difficulty.
II. Special Mutant Color Systems
Two-Tone/Butterfly Wings
- Body and fins display contrasting colors (e.g., blue-white, red-black), offering strong artistic appeal.
- Cambodian coloration combines light pink and dark hues, unique and named after its regional origin.
Marbled Pattern
- Irregular spots cover the entire body, with patterns dynamically changing as the fish grows.
Neon Tri-Color
- Gradations of red, blue, and gold—with fewer than 200 individuals worldwide, it’s extremely rare.
III. Cultural Meanings and Breeding Tips
- Wealth-Bringing Colors: Red (fortune), yellow (wealth), blue (wisdom).
- Mixed Breeding Notes: Avoid housing aggressive red-series bettas with milder color varieties.
- Color Enhancement Tricks:
- Red series: Feed astaxanthin.
- Blue series: Use a black sand background to accentuate hues.
- White series: Maintain crystal-clear water to prevent discoloration.