Crowntail Betta
Betta splendens
About this strain
Crowntails are unmistakable: the webbing between fin rays is reduced by 2/3 or more, leaving dramatic spiky extensions that radiate outward like a crown or starburst. The rays themselves can be single, double, or cross-ray — cross-ray being the most elaborate and prized. Fin edges should be crisp and symmetrical; ragged tips are a red flag for poor genetics or early fin rot. Crowntails are slower to develop full finnage than other types, so young fish can look underwhelming. Buy from a reputable breeder rather than big-box stores to get clean ray structure.
Origin
Developed in the mid-1990s by Indonesian breeder Achmad Yusuf in Jakarta. The variety spread rapidly through the hobby and became a fixture in pet stores worldwide by the early 2000s.