I have two bettas. I have to disagree I think yours is a female the females have shorter finnage then the males. Males have long flowing finnage check out the one in my avatar that's Merlin my crowntail betta. I have seen females in the small bowls in my LFS as well as the males. The males definitely have to be kept separate or they will fight you really have to know what you are doing if you want to put a male and female in a tank together as well since they can fight too unless they are ready to breed. Female bettas you can put together I have seen them in tanks at my LFS. Yours is a beauty very pretty betta. To be on the safe side keep the fish by itself watch to see if the finnage gets any longer and flowing if it does then you have a male but the fish looks like a female to me. Good luck!
omg, my crowntail is named merlin! how funny is that?
The males bettas my petco has been getting in have been having shorter fins so I'd agree, its a male