Metallic

Metallic betta is a domestic Betta splendens color effect produced by reflective iridophores and selective breeding for a hard shine on the body and fins. Depending on the line, the fish may read as copper, gold, platinum, steel blue, green, or a metallic overlay on red or black. Metallic is not a tail type; it can appear on plakats, halfmoons, crowntails, and other domestic forms. Related dragon-scale fish carry a thicker, plate-like layer, while many metallic bettas have a smoother sheen.

A metallic betta is kept in the same warm, filtered, low-current conditions as other domestic bettas. Neutral lighting helps buyers judge the color, since flash and blue aquarium LEDs can make sheen look stronger than it is. When a metallic fish also shows heavy dragon scaling, check that the scales are not creeping over the eyes. Breeders working with metallic lines often track the hidden base color, because the reflective layer can mask what the fish may pass to its offspring.

Colors: Alien, Bicolor, Butterfly, Cambodian, Cellophane, Copper, Crowntail, Delta, Double Tail, Dragon Scale, Dumbo, Elephant Ear, Galaxy Koi, Grizzle, Halfmoon, Koi, Marble, Metallic, Multicolor, Mustard Gas, Nemo, Plakat, Rosetail, Samurai, Solid, Super Delta, Veiltail, Wild Type