Male Samurai Betta (Betta splendens)

Profile

The Samurai Betta is a colour and scale variety of Betta splendens, not a separate species. It is named for its heavy metallic dragon-scale plating, which gives the body an armour-like appearance and the head a masked look, reminiscent of a samurai's helmet. The pattern was selectively developed by Thai breeders in the 2010s and is most commonly seen on short-finned plakat fish with a dark black or red body and contrasting white, silver, or metallic scales. Samurai is a trade name rather than a recognised show classification, so two fish sold under the name may not look identical.

Merits

• Striking metallic dragon-scale plating with a distinctive armoured appearance

• Interactive and alert — often comes to the front of the tank to greet you

• Suitable for a relatively small, single-specimen display aquarium

• Medium-length plakat fins mean it is a stronger swimmer than long-finned varieties

• Available in several colour forms including black, red, and blue

Diet

A carnivore that does best on a varied diet. Offer quality betta pellets or flake as a staple, supplemented with frozen or freeze-dried bloodworms and brine shrimp. Feed small amounts once or twice daily and avoid overfeeding.