Black Orchid Crowntail Male Betta (Betta splendens)

This Black Orchid Crowntail Male Betta (Betta splendens) is about as dramatic as a five gallon tank gets: a near-black body lit from within by blue and violet iridescence, carried on the long spiky rays that give the crowntail its name. Under a decent light the scales flash teal and the dark fins pick up a purple sheen, and against a planted tank the whole fish reads like ink with a spark in it. Hardy, personable, and a genuine centerpiece. Browse the rest of our freshwater livestock while you are here.

What you see is what you get. The photo shows the exact betta you will receive. Color and finnage keep developing as a young betta matures, and shades shift slightly with lighting and mood.

Care Guide

Bettas are a great beginner fish, but the myth that they thrive in tiny unheated bowls is just that, a myth. Give yours a small heated tank and it will reward you with bold color and a long, active life.

• Tank size: 5 gallons or larger, with a lid. Bettas are labyrinth fish that gulp air from the surface, and they are accomplished jumpers, so a cover is a must.
• Heat and flow: a steady 78 to 82°F with a heater, and gentle filtration. Strong current tires out a long-finned betta, so baffle the flow if needed.
• Water: pH 6.5 to 7.5, soft to moderate hardness. Crowntail rays show damage faster than any other tail type, so stable clean water and regular partial changes matter more here than usual.
• Setup: live or silk plants and smooth decor with hiding spots. Avoid sharp or rough ornaments that can snag those open rays, and skip plastic plants with hard edges.
• Diet: carnivore. Feed a quality staple like Xtreme Betta Floating Pellets and supplement with frozen or freeze-dried bloodworms, brine shrimp, and daphnia.
• Rest spots: bettas love to lounge near the surface. A leaf hammock or broad-leaved plant gives him somewhere to perch between trips up for air.

Specifications

Tank Mates & Compatibility

Male bettas are territorial and must be kept one to a tank. Never house two males together, and do not keep a male with females outside a controlled breeding setup. In a 10 gallon or larger planted tank a male betta can share space with peaceful, quick schooling fish such as Ember Tetra, small rasboras, and Pygmy Cory, plus nerite snails on cleanup duty. Skip fin nippers like tiger barbs, and anything flashy or long-finned he might mistake for a rival.

Shopping the betta rack? Compare the American Flag Crowntail for the same fin type in a very different palette, or the Mustard Gas Halfmoon for a broader, smoother tail.

Recommended Foods & Supplies

• Xtreme Betta Floating Pellets daily staple
• SFBB Freeze-Dried Bloodworms treat and conditioning food
• ZooMed Betta Bed Leaf Hammock resting spot near the surface
• Fritz Catappa Leaves for gentle tannins and fin conditioning
• Seachem Prime water conditioner for every water change
• Anubias Nana broad leaves to rest on

FAQ

What makes a crowntail different?
Reduced webbing between the fin rays, so the rays stick out past the edge like spikes on a crown. It is purely a finnage trait and does not change care, except that the exposed rays are more delicate than a solid tail and show damage sooner.

Is Black Orchid really black?
Close to it. The base is a very dark melano-influenced body with blue and violet iridescence layered over the top, so it looks near-black in low light and lights up teal and purple under a good lamp. Fully solid black bettas are rare, and most so-called black fish carry this iridescent wash.

Does he need a heater?
Yes. Room temperature is too cold for a betta in most homes, and a chilled betta gets lethargic, stops eating, and becomes prone to infection. A small adjustable heater holding 78 to 82°F is the single best thing you can buy him.

His fins look ragged. What happened?
Crowntail rays catch on things and tear more readily than other tails. Usually it is sharp decor, strong flow, or declining water quality. Fix the cause and clean water will regrow the fin over a few weeks.

Can I keep him in a bowl?
Please do not. An unheated, unfiltered bowl is the reason bettas have a reputation for short lives. In a heated, filtered five gallon tank a healthy betta commonly lives three years or more.