WYSIWYG Red Cap Fancy Copper Male Betta (Betta splendens)

This Red Cap Fancy Copper Male Betta (Betta splendens) has a solid bright red head, the "red cap," sitting on a body of shimmering silver-white metallic scales. His tail and dorsal fin are deep red broken up by bold white streaks and patches, and his pectoral and ventral fins are red to match the cap. "Fancy" is the trade word for a marble-type pattern, and "copper" refers to the heavy metallic scaling that gives the body its shine. Like most domestic bettas he is hardy and a good first fish, as long as he gets a heated, filtered tank. Browse the rest of our live freshwater fish and freshwater supplies to set his tank up right.

Why WYSIWYG Matters on a Fancy Betta

No two fancy bettas look alike, so a stock photo tells you almost nothing. The photo on this listing is him in our store, as he looks right now. Fancy bettas come from the marble family, which carries a jumping gene that keeps switching pigment on and off for the fish's whole life. His red and white areas can spread, shrink or shift over the coming months, and the cap may grow or break up. That change is part of the fun of a marble type. If you want a pattern that stays put, a solid color betta is the safer pick. Treat the photo as an honest starting point, not a frozen guarantee.

Care Guide

• Tank size: 5 gallons minimum, 10 gallons is better. Cups and bowls are survival, not living; in a heated, filtered, cycled tank a betta explores, builds bubble nests and shows his best color.
• Temperature: 78 to 82°F, and a heater is not optional. Cold water makes a betta sluggish and open to disease, and a steady temperature matters more than hitting a perfect number.
• Gentle flow. Bettas are not strong swimmers. Baffle the filter outlet or use a sponge filter so he is not pushed around the tank.
• Leave an air gap and use a lid. Bettas breathe air at the surface with their labyrinth organ, and they can jump.
• Water parameters: pH 6.5 to 7.5, soft to moderately hard. Do a partial water change every week with a betta-safe conditioner such as Seachem Betta Basics.
• Feeding: carnivore. Use a betta pellet like Hikari Betta Bio-Gold as the staple, with frozen or freeze-dried bloodworms two or three times a week. Feed small portions; overfeeding is the most common way bettas get bloated.
• Decor: give him resting spots near the surface, like a ZooMed Betta Bed Leaf Hammock or Floating Lounge, and skip anything with sharp edges that could tear fins.
• One male per tank. Non-negotiable. Two male bettas in the same water will fight until one of them is dead.

Specifications

Compatibility

He can live in a community tank of 10 gallons or more if you pick the right neighbors: nothing that nips, nothing flashy enough to look like a rival, and nothing small enough to swallow. Small, calm fish that stay out of his way work best, such as a school of Ember Tetras or Kubotai Rasboras, Pygmy Corys or Black Kuhli Loaches on the bottom, or Otocinclus for algae. In a 5 gallon he is happiest alone, with a Racetrack Nerite Snail at most.

Avoid fin nippers like tiger barbs and serpae tetras, long-finned or brightly colored fish like fancy guppies, and gouramis, which are close relatives and often fight with bettas. Never add a second betta. Temperament varies a lot by individual, so watch the tank closely for the first week and have a backup plan if he turns out to be a bully.

Recommended Foods & Supplies

• Fluval Bug Bites Betta Formula or Hikari Betta Bio-Gold as the daily staple
• Frozen bloodworms or Fluval freeze-dried bloodworms as a treat
• Seachem Betta Basics or Fritz Betta Water for water changes
• Sicce Jolly 10W Pre-Set Heater for a 5 gallon, or the 20W for a 10 gallon
• ZooMed Betta Floating Lounge and a Hikari Dark Rock Cave for resting spots
• Fritz Catappa Leaves and ZooMed Mopani Wood for tannins and cover

FAQ

Is the photo really this fish?
Yes. That is him in our store, 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.

Will he keep this exact pattern?
Probably not exactly. Fancy bettas carry the marble gene, so the red and white areas can grow, fade or move around over months, and some fish change a lot. Many keep the red head and metallic body, but no one can promise a marble betta's pattern.

Does he really need a heater and a filter?
Yes. Bettas are tropical fish and do best at 78 to 82°F, which most homes do not hold on their own. A gentle filter keeps waste from building up between water changes and helps protect his fins from rot.

Why is he flaring at his reflection?
He sees another male and puts on a display. A little flaring is normal and even healthy exercise, but constant flaring is stressful. If he does it all day, cut the glare with a background, a moved lamp, or plants near the glass.

Can he live with another betta?
No. Two males will fight, often to the death, and a female in the same tank outside a supervised breeding setup usually ends with torn fins. Keep him as the only betta in his tank.