Betta Fish Body Shape

A Betta’s streamlined body enables it to slip smoothly and effortlessly through the water. The tapered shape reduces friction, conserving the Betta’s energy as it quickly moves to catch its prey. Fish that have a more rounded shape, such as fancy Goldfish, swim more slowly and tire easily. Such fish often live in running water, where the current can aid their movements.

Fish that live in stagnant or slow-moving waters in their natural habitat develop a flattened, compressed body shape to facilitate gliding through stands of the upright reeds and plants that also favor such environments. The Discus (Symphysodon), which lives in quiet shallows along the Amazon River, provides a similar example. In fast-running water, a fish shaped like the Discus would get tossed about in the current like a leaf.