Pink Betta Fish: Rare Varieties, Types & Colors [With Pictures]

So you’re scrolling through fish pics online and suddenly a pink betta shows up on your feed.

Your brain does a double-take. Pink? Like, actual cotton-candy pink?

Here’s the thing: pink bettas are basically the unicorns of the fish world. They’re ridiculously rare, super confusing, and half the time what people call “pink” isn’t even genetically pink at all.

Let me explain.

What Makes a Betta Fish Actually Pink?

True pink bettas don’t exist in nature.

Wild bettas are boring browns, greens, and grays that help them hide in rice paddies. The vibrant colors we see today come from over 600 years of selective breeding in Southeast Asia.

But pink? That’s a whole other level of complicated.

The Genetics Are Nuts

Bettas have four color layers working together like some kind of biological Photoshop:

Iridescent layer (top) – creates blue and green shimmers
Black layer – contains melanin and special genes like Cambodian
Red layer – controls red pigment distribution
Yellow layer – actually controls opaque/pastel genes, not yellow

Pink happens when you get the perfect storm of genes from multiple layers. There’s literally no single “pink gene.”

Breeders have to combine Cambodian genetics (pale body), reduced red pigments, opaque genes (for that pastel wash), and sometimes marble genes. Bettas have 451 million base pairs in their genome, which makes breeding specific colors like trying to win the lottery while blindfolded.

Types That Look Pink (But Aren’t Really)

Most “pink” bettas you see are impostors. Not in a bad way, they’re just genetically something else that happens to look pink.

Cambodian Bettas

These have pale pink or flesh-colored bodies with bright red fins.

They’re not classified as true pink bettas even though they look the part. Cambodian genetics are actually one of the ingredients breeders use to create real pink bettas, but by themselves, they’re their own thing.

Blue Cambodians exist too, but they’re crazy rare.

Cellophane Bettas

This one’s kind of gross but fascinating.

Cellophane bettas have zero pigmentation in their scales. They’re completely translucent. So why do they look pink? You’re literally seeing their organs and blood vessels through their skin.

They have black eyes, which is how you tell them apart from albinos (who have pink or red eyes).

Under certain tank lighting, cellophanes can also appear blue or green because of light refraction through the water. It’s like a living mood ring.

Albino Bettas

True albinos are almost mythically rare.

We’re talking no pigmentation anywhere – white/translucent body, pink or red eyes, zero UV protection. These fish are so uncommon that some people think they don’t exist at all.

Albinos often get mistaken for cellophane bettas, but the eyes give them away. Pink/red eyes = albino. Black eyes = cellophane.

The thing is, albino bettas are incredibly vulnerable. They can’t handle UV light, often go blind young, and usually have health problems. Breeders don’t deliberately create them for ethical reasons.

White Opaque Bettas

These can appear pinkish under full-spectrum lighting.

White opal bettas have iridescence that can make them look pastel pink, blue, or green depending on the light. Platinum bettas have a metallic sheen instead and look white or silver in any light.

Juvenile Red Bettas

Baby red bettas start out pale pink and darken to crimson as they mature.

If you bought a young betta from the store and it’s transforming colors, congrats – you didn’t get scammed, your fish is just growing up.

Old Bettas

Like people going gray, bettas fade as they age.

Your bright red fish might end up looking pink in its senior years. Bettas live 3-5 years on average, and color fading usually starts at the fins and spreads to the body.

Credit: https://www.reddit.com/user/RavishingRob/

True Pink Betta Varieties (The Real Deal)

Okay, so what about actual pink bettas?

They exist, but finding one is like finding a needle in a haystack made of other needles.

Pink Orchid Betta

This is probably the most famous true pink variety.

Pink Orchid bettas have vibrant pink coloration with flowing fins that resemble orchid petals. They’ve got intricate patterns and a unique personality – some owners have even trained them to do tricks.

You’ll see these at Petco sometimes, though availability varies wildly. Prices range from $15-30 for common varieties, but rare specimens can cost $100+.

Bubblegum Pink Betta

The name pretty much nails it.

These have a soft, sweet pink color like actual bubblegum. They’re part of the light red/pastel breeding lines that breeders have been working on for years.

Salmon Pink Betta

These have a pinkish hue with black scales and fins that genuinely look like salmon skin.

It’s a mesmerizing effect that makes your aquarium look like it contains tiny underwater salmon.

Rose Petal Betta

Rose petal bettas are one of the rarest color varieties out there.

As they age, their coloration can actually deepen, so you’re watching a living piece of art slowly transform over time.

Credit: https://www.reddit.com/user/AwayRecluse/

Pink Koi Betta

These blend pink with white and black in a marbled pattern.

What’s wild about Pink Koi bettas is the marble gene – it can turn pigment cells on and off throughout the fish’s life. Your betta might literally change colors as it gets older.

Rosetail Pink Betta

The tail pattern looks like a rose when fully spread.

These bettas are known for being active and curious, making them super entertaining to watch.

Common Tail Types for Pink Bettas

Pink genetics can show up in pretty much any tail type, but these are the most common:

Halfmoon – tail spreads 180 degrees like a half-moon
Plakat – shorter fins, more muscular, less prone to fin damage
Delta Tail – triangle-shaped tail that doesn’t quite reach 180 degrees
Rosetail – extreme branching creates a ruffled rose appearance
Veiltail – long, flowing tail that drapes downward

The Price Reality Check

Here’s where things get expensive.

Common bettas cost $2-10 at big box stores. Specialty breeds like Halfmoon or Plakat range from $20-100+ for show-quality fish.

True pink bettas? We’re talking hundreds to potentially thousands of dollars because they’re so difficult to breed consistently.

Online sellers sometimes use pink stock photos or enhanced lighting to make fish look pinker than they are. If a breeder can’t provide actual photos of their specific fish, run away.

Credit: https://www.reddit.com/user/Anivet4/

Why Pink Bettas Are So Rare

Remember how I said there’s no pink gene?

Breeders have to combine multiple recessive genes from different color layers. It’s like trying to solve a Rubik’s cube where the stickers keep changing.

A pink male + pink female doesn’t guarantee pink babies. The genetics are that messy.

Female bettas can lay 700-1,300 eggs per spawn, but only a few survive to adulthood. And there’s no guarantee those survivors will have the color combo you want.

Plus, you’d need multiple generations of line breeding and inbreeding to stabilize the color. That brings risks of deformities and health problems that responsible breeders have to manage.

Some forum users have reported trying for several generations just to get close to their ideal pink.

What Reddit and Fish Forums Say

The betta community is pretty honest about pink fish.

One breeder on a forum admitted that the “perfect pink” they saw online was actually a white betta photographed under red lighting. But they still wanted to breed for that exact look anyway.

Other aquarists mention that hot pink or Barbie-pink bettas don’t naturally exist. Most pinks are either:

Cellophane/clear bettas appearing pink from their flesh
Salamander bettas (pale body + vibrant fins creating pink contrast)
Marble gene bettas that develop pink patches over time

True solid purple is considered the holy grail – some hobbyists doubt it exists at all.

How to Care for Pink Bettas

Good news: pink bettas aren’t harder to care for than any other betta.

Minimum 5-gallon tank (seriously, those betta bowls are torture chambers)
Heater – keep water at 78-82°F because they’re tropical fish
Filter – gentle current, bettas hate strong flow
Plants and hiding spots – they like to explore and rest

Diet

Bettas are carnivores.

They eat insects, bloodworms, brine shrimp, and quality pellets. Feed small amounts 1-2 times daily – overfeeding fouls the water fast.

Some owners report that color-enhancing food helps maintain vibrant pink tones.

Tank Mates

Male bettas will fight other males to the death. Hence the name “Siamese Fighting Fish.”

Keep males alone or with peaceful species that don’t have bright colors or flowing fins (bettas see those as threats).

Females can sometimes live in sororities, but it’s risky.

Color Maintenance

Lighting matters. Full-spectrum lighting keeps colors vibrant and prevents orange bettas from looking red.

Stress, poor water quality, and bad diet can all fade colors. Keep the tank clean, parameters stable, and your betta stress-free.

Credit: https://www.reddit.com/user/BeautyMeli/

Where to Find Pink Bettas

Local fish stores – Check regularly, pink varieties pop up randomly
Online breeders – Thailand-based breeders on platforms like AquaBid, eBay, and specialized sites
Petco/PetSmart – Sometimes stock Pink Orchid bettas
Specialty breeders – Search forums and Facebook groups for reputable sources

Red Flags When Buying

Seller won’t provide actual photos of the specific fish
Colors look impossibly vibrant (probably edited)
Using obvious stock photos
No reviews or verification
Prices that seem too good to be true

Thailand has 30+ years of breeding expertise, and many top breeders are based there. Just make sure you’re working with legit sellers who prioritize fish health.

The Bottom Line

Pink bettas are gorgeous, rare, and complicated.

Most of what gets sold as “pink” is cellophane, Cambodian, or white bettas that happen to look pink under certain conditions. True genetic pink bettas exist but are incredibly difficult to breed and expensive to buy.

If you fall in love with one, do your homework. Make sure you’re getting what you think you’re getting, and be prepared to provide excellent care for a fish that’s basically a tiny aquatic work of art.

And honestly? Even if your “pink” betta turns out to be a cellophane, Cambodian, or aging red fish, it’s still a beautiful creature worth appreciating.

Just maybe don’t tell your friends it cost you $500.

Pink Betta Fish: Rare Varieties, Types & Colors [With Pictures]