[header] How to identify different betta fish [title] Examine the short length a betta fish's tail. [step] Betta fish have a variety of tail types. One simple way to identify a betta fish is by the length of its tail. 
Short tails are common in wild type bettas, as well as bettas that are bred to fight. [substeps] Short-finned bettas, which are also called plakats, are sometimes bred to have d-shaped tails.