- Sku: 8426560
- Vendor: Squeaky's Aquatics
WYSIWYG Halfmoon Butterfly Male Betta (Betta splendens)
This Halfmoon Butterfly Male Betta (Betta splendens) is a true show-style fish. Butterfly is a two-tone pattern: the body color flows out into the fins and then stops at a crisp pale band along the outer edge, so when he flares the finnage looks ringed, like a butterfly wing. Pair that with a halfmoon tail, which spreads a full 180 degrees into a clean half circle, and every flare turns into a display. Bettas are beginner friendly, full of personality, and make a striking centerpiece for a small heated tank. Browse the rest of our live freshwater fish and freshwater supplies to set his tank up right.
Why WYSIWYG Matters on a Butterfly Betta
Butterfly is a pattern, not a color, so two fish sold under the same name can look nothing alike. The body and inner fin color can be red, blue, black, yellow, or a mix, the pale band can be wide or thin, and the line between the two can be razor sharp or soft and bleeding. The halfmoon spread also differs fish to fish. A stock photo simply cannot show you which combination you are getting. The photo on this page is him, in our tank, as he looks right now. Butterfly patterns are also not fully fixed. Many butterfly lines carry some marble influence, so the band can widen, narrow, or pick up color as he matures, and his colors may look a little different under your lighting than under ours.
Care Guide
- Tank size: 5 gallons minimum for one male, 10 gallons is better. Larger water volume stays stable, and stability is what keeps heavy halfmoon fins healthy.
- Temperature: 78 to 82°F with a heater. Bettas are tropical, and cool water leads to clamped fins, a poor appetite, and illness.
- Low flow. A halfmoon's big tail makes him a slow, deliberate swimmer. Use a gentle sponge filter or baffle the outlet so he is not pushed around.
- Smooth decor only. Heavy fins tear on sharp plastic and rough rock. Choose live plants, silk plants like the ZooMed Betta Plant Salvia, and smooth wood.
- Air gap and a lid. Bettas breathe air at the surface through a labyrinth organ, and they jump. Cover the tank and leave room under the lid.
- Water parameters: pH 6.5 to 7.5, soft to moderately hard. Change about 25% weekly and treat new water with Seachem Prime.
- Feeding: carnivore. A betta pellet such as Seachem NutriDiet Betta with Probiotics as the staple, with frozen or freeze-dried bloodworms, brine shrimp, and daphnia for variety.
- Rest spots: long-finned bettas tire easily and love to lounge near the surface. A leaf hammock or broad plant leaves give him a place to perch.
- One male per tank. Two males will fight until one is dead.
Specifications
| Scientific name | Betta splendens |
| This listing | WYSIWYG, one specific male, quantity of one |
| Variety | Butterfly, two-tone fins with a pale outer band |
| Fin type | Halfmoon, 180 degree caudal spread |
| Sex | Male |
| Care level | Beginner |
| Temperament | Semi-aggressive, one male per tank |
| Max size | About 2.5 to 3 inches |
| Minimum tank | 5 gallons, 10 preferred |
| Temperature | 78 to 82°F |
| pH | 6.5 to 7.5 |
| Flow | Low, long fins tire in current |
| Diet | Carnivore |
| Lifespan | 3 to 5 years with good care |
| Origin | Captive bred, typically on Thai betta farms |
| Pickup | In-store pickup at Squeaky's Aquatics |
Compatibility
A single male betta can be the centerpiece of a peaceful community tank of 10 gallons or more, provided nothing in there is tempted by that big tail. Good choices are calm bottom dwellers and cleanup crew such as the Panda Cory, Pygmy Cory, Otocinclus, and nerite snails.
Avoid fin nippers like tiger barbs and serpae tetras, skip long-finned colorful fish such as fancy guppies that he may take for rivals, and never add a second betta of either sex outside a supervised breeding setup. Temperament varies by individual, so have a backup plan. With a tail this showy, many keepers give him his own planted 5 or 10 gallon where the full halfmoon spread gets all the attention.
Recommended Foods & Supplies
- Seachem NutriDiet Betta with Probiotics or Hikari Betta Bio-Gold as the daily staple
- SFBB Freeze-Dried Bloodworms or frozen bloodworms as a treat
- Seachem Prime to dechlorinate every water change
- ZooMed Betta Bed Leaf Hammock and ZooMed Betta Plant Salvia for soft resting spots
- Hikari Dark Rock Cave and ZooMed Betta Mopani Wood for cover
- Fritz Catappa Leaves for gentle tannins and fin condition
FAQ
Is the photo really this fish?
Yes. That is him in one of our tanks, photographed as he is now. That is what WYSIWYG means. There is one of him, so when he sells the page comes down instead of being restocked with a different betta.
What is the butterfly pattern?
Butterfly bettas have two-tone fins. The body color runs partway into the fins, then stops at a pale or clear outer band, creating a ringed effect that is most dramatic when the fish flares.
Will the butterfly band stay the same?
Not always. Many butterfly lines carry some marble influence, so the band can shift, widen, or pick up color as he ages. Some fish hold their pattern for life, others slowly change. It does not affect his health.
What does halfmoon mean?
His tail can spread to a full 180 degrees when he flares, forming a clean half circle. He will not hold it open all the time, so expect the full show at feeding time or when he spots his reflection.
Does he really need a heater and a filter?
Yes to both. Unheated bowls are why bettas have a reputation for short lives. A cycled 5 gallon with a heater and gentle filtration is the real minimum, and in that setup a betta commonly lives three years or more.
Can he live with another betta?
No. Two males will fight to the death, and males and females should only be put together by experienced breeders under supervision. One male per tank, every time.
Have a question?
WYSIWYG Halfmoon Butterfly Male Betta (Betta splendens)
