Betta Splendens & Common Problems

Betta splendens are the stereotypical betta you will find in just about all pet stores. It's well known that they are commonly kept in cruel circumstances and have bad track records with health. This is due to the prevalence of inbreeding within the industry. As such they are all prone to several conditions.

Certain types and colours are more susceptible to certain problems than others but this does not mean they're the only ones. While pet store bettas are significantly more likely to suffer from disease and inbreeding know that many breeders can have the same results.

I have compiled a list of these issues in hopes to let people know what they may be in for when they get a betta. They come from reading many accounts on this site as well as other forums. Some information comes from posts by Jayce-Space and EelPatrickHarris on Tumblr- both experienced fish keepers who have done a lot of their own research. Know that not every betta will have or develop all of them but nearly all will experience at least one.

Tumors

• Can develop anywhere on the body
• Some will grow quicker than others
• Can sometimes be removed by specialty vets but this is rare, expensive, and extremely risky
• Not treatable

Swim Bladder Disorder

• Often caused by overfeeding and constipation
• can become chronic
• Treatable

Pop Eye

• Often caused by poor water quality
• Can be caused by internal infections
• Treatable

Fin Rot

• Often caused by poor water quality
• Treatable

Fin Biting

• Often caused by heavy fins resulting in hindered movement
• Can be caused by boredom or stress
• Treatable*

HALFMOON / FULLMOON / ROSE TAIL / FEATHER TAIL / OVER HALF MOON

• Larger fins can hinder movement. Not treatable
• Fins can be caught, cut, or torn on decor and filter intakes. Treatable
• Fin Rot. Treatable
• Fin Biting. Treatable*

CROWN TAIL

• Larger fins can hinder movement. Not treatable
• Fins can curl due to genetics or poor water conditions. Not treatable
• Fins can be caught, cut, or torn on decor and filter intakes. Treatable
• Fin Rot. Can be difficult to diagnose due ragged appearance. Treatable
• Fin Biting. Treatable*

PLAKAT

• Generally believed to be one of the healthiest.

SPADE

• Generally believed to be one of the healthiest.

DELTA

• Larger fins can hinder movement. Not treatable
• Fins can be caught, cut, or torn on decor or filter intakes. Treatable
• Fin Biting. Treatable*
• Generally believed to be one of the healthier large finned.

VEILTAIL

• Larger fins can hinder movement. Not treatable
• Fins can be caught, cut, or torn on decor or filter intakes. Treatable
• Fin Biting. Treatable*

DOUBLE TAIL

• Larger fins can hinder movement. Not treatable
• Twin tails can hinder movement. Not treatable
• Shorter body makes breeding difficult. Not treatable
• Swim Bladder. Shorter body increases bloating risk. Treatable
• Fin Biting. Treatable*

DUMBO

• Larger fins can hinder movement. When combined with halfmoon, double tail, etc movement can be minimal. Not treatable
• Fin Biting. Treatable*

GIANT / KING

• Stress. Needs larger space than other bettas and will become more stressed in small containers. Ideally need 5 gallons and up. Treatable

DRAGONSCALE / SAMURAI / MASKED

• Diamond Eye. Scales grow over eye and blind fish. Not treatable

BLUE

• Graphite Disease. Debated on whether its a strain of oodinum, columnaris, or fish TB. No known cure. Fatal within days.

RED

• Tumors. Not treatable

KOI / NEMO / GALAXY / MARBLE

• Tumors. Not treatable

*The damage can be healed and in some cases the action can be stopped. In others it can only be managed.

EDIT: For clarification as Dewclaw states in the replies- type refers to geno/phenotypes, not species.

 

And this is why I stick to wild Bettas.

 

Can I just add that when talking about different "types" of bettas it's just different geno/phenotypes - not different species, people seem to conflate the two.

 

Can I just add that when talking about different "types" of bettas it's just different geno/phenotypes - not different species, people seem to conflate the two.

great point, I've added that to the post.