Betta Fish Price in India 2026 - Halfmoon, Plakat, Giant & More
Current betta (fighter fish) prices in India for every tail type: from ₹100 veiltails to ₹4,000 giant bettas, and what actually decides the price.
Betta fish (Betta splendens), known across India as fighter fish, are the most searched aquarium fish in the country for a reason: stunning colours, small tank requirements, and prices that start at pocket money. But betta prices in India range from ₹100 to over ₹4,000 depending on tail type, colour strain, and grade. This guide breaks down what each variety actually costs in 2026.
Betta Fish Price List India 2026
| Betta Type | Grade | Price Range (INR) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Veiltail (common) | Pet grade | ₹100 - ₹300 | Most widely available; long drooping tail |
| Crowntail | Pet grade | ₹150 - ₹400 | Spiky ray extensions on fins |
| Crowntail | Show grade | ₹400 - ₹900 | Even ray spread, strong colour |
| Halfmoon | Pet grade | ₹300 - ₹800 | 180-degree tail spread |
| Halfmoon | Show grade | ₹500 - ₹1,500 | Full spread, clean edges, premium colours |
| Plakat (short fin) | Pet grade | ₹250 - ₹700 | Hardy, active, closest to wild form |
| Halfmoon Plakat (HMPK) | Fancy strains | ₹500 - ₹2,000 | Koi, galaxy, nemo, copper strains |
| Dumbo Ear (elephant ear) | All grades | ₹400 - ₹1,200 | Oversized pectoral fins |
| Giant Betta | All grades | ₹1,500 - ₹4,000 | Grows 7-9 cm body; imported lines cost more |
| Female Betta | Pet grade | ₹80 - ₹250 | Can be kept in sororities with care |
Betta fish available now at Kolathur Fish Market
See all with live pricesThese are our current catalogue prices. The ranges in the guide are typical market prices across India.
What Decides a Betta's Price in India?
Tail Type and Finnage
Veiltails are mass-bred and cheapest. Halfmoons must show a full 180-degree caudal spread to earn the name, and clean, symmetrical finnage is what separates a ₹400 halfmoon from a ₹1,500 one. Plakats are judged on body shape and fin balance rather than fin length.
Colour Strain
Solid classics (red, blue, steel) sit at the bottom of the price ladder. Marble-based strains like koi, galaxy, and nemo, plus metallics like copper and gold, command 2-4x more because the patterns are unstable and good specimens are harder to produce. A well-marked koi plakat routinely sells for ₹800-2,000.
Origin: Local vs Imported
Thailand remains the global hub for show bettas. Imported Thai stock costs more (₹800-3,000) than locally bred fish, though Indian breeders in Chennai, Kolkata, and Bangalore now produce quality that rivals imports at half the price.
Betta Care Cost Basics
- Tank: a 15-20 litre tank (₹500-1,500) is ideal; bowls stunt bettas and shorten their lives
- Heater: 25 watt (₹300-600); bettas need 24-28°C, so a heater matters in North Indian winters
- Filter: gentle sponge filter (₹150-400); strong currents damage long fins
- Food: quality betta pellets (₹150-300 for months of feeding), plus occasional frozen bloodworms
- Monthly running cost: roughly ₹100-200 per fish including food and water conditioner
- One male per tank, always: males fight to serious injury, which is why they ship in individual cups
Where to Buy Betta Fish in India
Kolathur Fish Market in Chennai is one of India's largest betta hubs, with dozens of breeders supplying halfmoons, plakats, and fancy strains every week. KFM ships bettas pan-India in oxygen-packed bags with insulated boxes, and every fish is photographed before dispatch so you receive exactly the betta you picked.
💡Buying tip: Ask for a photo or video of the actual fish flaring before you pay. A healthy betta flares readily, has no clamped fins, and shows no white patches. Avoid fish sold from dirty, unheated cups at throwaway prices; treatment often costs more than a healthy fish.