9 Differences Between Male Vs Female Crowntail Bettas

While it can be challenging to sex some fish species, it’s very easy to notice the difference between male vs female crowntail bettas at a first glance. 

However, these differences go beyond the obvious. Even some more experienced aquarists don’t know all the things that set the two apart. 

Whether you’d want to know if your crowntail is a boy or a girl or you just want to determine what fish works better for your setup, here’s all you need to know about male vs female crowntail bettas!

Appearance 

The first and most notable differences everyone sees are the physical ones. This is usually the detrimental factor why someone would choose a specific gender of a betta fish. 

When it comes to male vs female crowntail betta appearance, I won’t say outright which one is more beautiful. This is something that is entirely up to you to decide, as beauty is subjective. 

However, I will list some notable dissimilarities to help you make a choice.

Males Have Longer Fins

The first and most notable difference lies in the size of the betta’s fins. 

Crowntails are sought-after for their long, spiked tails. This is what truly makes them stand out from other fish. 

After just a quick glance, it’s easy to see that males have much longer and more beautiful fins. In fact, tails of male crowntails can be up to four times larger than tails of a female! 

The length difference doesn’t stop at the tail. The pelvic fins of a male crowntail are much thicker and longer than those found on females.

In fact, the size difference between male and female betta is mostly due to the length of the tail.

Females Are Striped

Did you know that female crowntails get stripes? No, they won’t have it all the time, but at certain moments, these stripes will appear.

Female crowntails will get vertical stripes during the mating season. This is something that doesn’t happen to males. 

You can use these stripes as an indication that it might be safe to combine your male and female fish for breeding purposes. 

Males Are More Vibrant

Most of the time, male crowntail bettas have more vivid colors compared to females. However, this isn’t a rule. Some females can also be very vibrant. 

As crowntail bettas are rather colorful fish either way, most people won’t notice a big difference.

Still, if you look into the tail size and the color shade, you’ll probably get a very good idea on whether a crowntail is male or a female, even at a very young age.

Females Show an Egg Spot

Female bettas lay eggs while male bettas don’t. This is something everyone probably knows.

As such, female crowntail bettas display something that is known as an egg spot between their anal and ventral fin. An egg spot looks similar to a grain of salt or a small white pimple on the crowntail’s belly. 

This spot is actually an ovipositor, an egg-laying organ that only females have. 

Looking for an egg spot is the most certain way in which you can differentiate between a male and female crowntail betta. No male crowntail can ever have one.

Males Have Elongated Bodies

Generally speaking, male and female crowntails have bodies of the same size. As I’ve mentioned, their fins are the reason behind the length difference, and not their bodies.

However, this doesn’t mean that their bodies have the same shape. Quite the opposite.

Males tend to have thinner, more elongated bodies. Compared to them, females are rounder and thicker.

Still, this is a fairly subtle difference and it’s probably not something you’ll notice without closely comparing the two.

Behavior

While physical changes are fairly easy to spot, you have to own both betta fish for a while to notice the subtle differences in their behavior. 

Sure, these might be less obvious than changes in size and color, but they shouldn’t be overlooked – especially as these might help you determine which crowntail betta works better for you and your setup.

Here’s what you need to know:

Males Are More Aggressive

All crowntail betta fish are aggressive. They are territorial and dominant and it can be a challenge finding proper tank mates for them. 

However, while females might be kept in communities and sororities, males should always be kept as single fish. They are too aggressive for any company, no matter the tank size or any other efforts you might make. 

In fact, males are so violent that they have a shorter life expectancy! They are more likely to fight to death, which is why they usually live shorter.

This doesn’t mean that females aren’t aggressive – they most certainly are. However, you might have some success in keeping them with other fish. With males, these chances are close to zero.

Females Flare Differently

If you’ve ever owned betta fish, you’ve probably seen them flare. This is when they puff up their gills and try to look scary because they feel threatened. 

Males and females don’t flare in the same way. While males have a prominent beard during flaring, females cannot puff their gills the same amount. 

Also, females are more likely to bow their head down during flaring, while males won’t do that. Their presence is scary enough just with the size of their gills. 

Males Blow a Bubble Nest

Betta fish are aphrophils. This means that you might see your male crowntail betta blow bubbles near the water surface during the mating season.

These bubble nests are constructed to keep fish fry safe, and the larger the male fish, the larger the nest will be.

Male crowntails don’t have to be in the presence of females to create a bubble nest. How often a male will blow bubbles entirely depends on the crowntail’s personality and the water quality. A bubble-blowing male betta is a happy betta!

Females Swim Faster

Finally, while male’s fins might look stunning, they are not made for swimming. Male fish lose agility and speed due to their large tails. 

Because of this, female bettas are better swimmers. 

However, no crowntails are considered good swimmers. These fish prefer to stay near the water surface, as they weren’t made for deep swimming. Still, females do have a slight advantage in this field.

Which One Is Better?

Now that you’ve read all this, you might be wondering, which fish is better when it comes to male vs crowntail betta. 

There is no right answer to this question. It all comes down to your expectancy and setup.

If you’re okay with keeping a single fish in a tank and want it to be the most beautiful fish ever, then male crowntail bettas are a better choice. Their long tails and fins leave everyone breathless!

On the other hand, if you’re willing to have a gorgeous fish you can add to your community tank, females are a proper choice for you.Either way, crowntail bettas are some of the most beautiful fish you can find. If you are ready to tackle their temperament, you’ll have a pet that will be the center of everyone’s attention.