The Shortfin Bettas

Common Health Problems Found in Shortfin Betta Varieties.

Jonny the King betta

Unlike our Longfinned betta friends from the last post with their multiple types, there’s really only a single shortfin betta category hat most shortfin bettas fall under— the humble plakat.

Pictured in order: A black mamba plakat, two koi plakats, a dragonscale plakat, a platinum plakat, a fancy marble King plakat, a blue-rim marble plakat, a King betta, and a fancy marble plakat.

Plakat bettas are characterized by shorter, more natural fin shapes and stout, thicker fin webbing. This fin shape makes them faster and more agile than longfin bettas. It also can lead to tank jumps so make sure to jump-proof the tanks or use lids because shortfin bettas can be troublesome acrobats that will jump if given half the chance.

Their shorter fins make them far less susceptible to conditions like finrot, though when they do pick up fin infections they tend to be deeper-rooted and far more stubborn to treat. The fins are fairly resistant to fungal infections as well, though the ends of the ventrals seem to be an exception to this rule, especially in detritus-filled tanks or tanks with natural leaflitter floors.

Benny, the Rubra betta

One of the more noticeable variations in fin conditions between shortfins and longfins is the huge difference in cases of finbiting and fin damage. Plakats shorter fins mean they don’t tend to finbite, though in rare cases it can happen. And the sturdier fins don’t pick up damage from the environment easily so nicks and tears are rare and mostly minor. All in all, a baseline plakat is a fairly bomb-proof betta and a great choice for beginning fishkeepers.

Pros:

• Less chance of finbiting

• Less risk of fin damage

• A more active, agile betta

• Most of the really long-lived bettas I’ve seen have been plakats

Cons:

• Tankjumping

• Fin infections tend to be extremely stubborn and difficult to treat

• Fungus loves those trailing ventral fins for some reason.

• Most plakats belong to betta lines that come with inherent health issues separate from their tail type.

Unlike earlier with the longfins, most plakat bettas are not simple plakats but belong to certain betta lines within the umbrella term ‘plakat’. From koi to candy marbles, plakats come in all colors, sizes, and kinds. Since baseline plakats are seemingly sturdy, most of the issues I find with these shortfin bettas tend to stem from what betta line they belong to rather than what fin type they are. This trend can muddy the data because I consider most plakat lines full of problems and these betta lines can include longfin varieties within the same type. It’s a complete reversal from what is found within longfin betta types. For simplicity’s sake, in this article I’m sticking to the shortfinned bettas only and will deep-dive into individual betta lines in further articles.

Pictured: Assortment of Rubra females

It’s a simple article for today since Substack limits how much I can cram into a single post and pictures take up a lot of that space, but now we can start getting into the good stuff.

Next: Wildtypes, Kings, Metallics, and more!