Male Bettas

This is a male betta. There are many different color variations. I have a male one that is darker colored, with lavender and red on it. His name is Joe (my sister named him). When full grown, male bettas have large, colorful fins like this. Their other name is Siamese Fighting Fish. They get this name because they will fight other male bettas to defend their territory are especially colorful, will puff out their fins even larger, and lift up their gill covers when they see another male betta, probably because this will help to intimidate their rival. If you place a mirror next to their tank, they will do a showy display like the one above.