Halfmoon

Halfmoon bettas are fancy Betta splendens bred for a caudal fin that opens to about 180 degrees when the fish flares, forming a clean semicircle. The spread, straight outer edge, and branching fin rays distinguish a true halfmoon from delta or super delta types. Halfmoons may be long-finned show fish or short-finned halfmoon plakats, and the form appears in many colors, including black, blue, butterfly, cambodian, cellophane, copper, dragon scale, bicolor, and marble-influenced patterns.

The broad tail that makes a halfmoon impressive also makes husbandry less forgiving. Long-finned males do best in warm, clean aquariums with low to moderate flow, smooth decor, and resting places near the surface. Ragged edges, fin biting, and blowouts can occur when heavy fins are stressed by current, poor water quality, or excessive flaring. Breeding halfmoons is a structural project as much as a color project: breeders look for balanced ray branching, strong backs, symmetrical spread, and fish that can swim well outside the show jar. Buyers should be wary of a fish that only looks good while flaring but clamps its fins or tires quickly afterward.

Colors: Alien, Bi-Color, Bicolor, Black, Blue, Butterfly, Cambodian, Cellophane, Copper, Crowntail, Delta, Double Tail, Dragon Scale, Dumbo, Elephant Ear, Feathertail, Galaxy, Galaxy Koi, Grizzle, Grizzled, Halfmoon, Koi, Marble, Masked, Metallic, Multi-Color, Multicolor, Mustard Gas, Nemo, Orange, Plakat, Red, Rosetail, Salamander, Samurai, Solid, Steel Blue, Super Delta, Turquoise, Veiltail, White, Wild Type, Yellow