![]() There is always a lot of excitement when a new hereditary mutation is discovered, even if these betta varieties are more likely to develop health problems. The same goes for betta fish: breeders carefully collect and manage their population to produce a wide variety of colors, patterns, and tail configurations. ![]() We pamper them and then help them spread their mutation to the next generation. This is how animals like pug dogs and munchkin cats found their way into our living rooms. Sleek male bettas, with those shiny, flowing tails, probably wouldn’t survive in the wild today.īut humans love to collect animals with strange or unique appearances. Mutations in nature are usually a bad thing, because they are fatal (like a fish being born without a mouth) or because they make it difficult for a wild animal to survive and/or reproduce. These fish are often prone to other health problems, such as swim bladder disease, that may be related to their genetic mutation. The double tail and elephant ear betta fish are excellent examples. But sometimes something in the mix of genetic material goes wrong.Ī mutation or «deformity» can appear spontaneously in a line and unexpectedly alter the appearance of the offspring. These traits or physical characteristics can be inherited and passed on to the fish’s offspring. LUXURY betta fish are THE DESCENDANTS OF MUTANTS Since the 19th century, collectors and hobby breeders on the continent have selectively bred generations with increasingly diverse traits. The long, sleek tails and bold, bright colors that we think of when we hear “betta” were actually created by Europeans. ![]() They may be different varieties, but they are all the same species. Some varieties include the Red Veil Tail betta and the Bi-Colored Double Tail Betta, for example. The variety of your betta fish will depend on their colors, patterns, and/or tail configurations. We rarely use the term subspecies when talking about fancy betta fish and generally go for the variety, but the terms mean the same thing. This is how they have earned the nickname Siamese fighting fish. We know that they have been bred for their aggressive and fighting ability in their native regions for hundreds of years. If you have a betta fish, it is most likely a betta splendens as it is the most popular type of domesticated betta fish available worldwide.īetta splendens has a long and complicated history. The colorful and elegant type of betta that you will typically see available at pet stores and online aquarium stores is the betta splendens.īetta identifies the genus and splendens is the species, in the same way that your pet dog can be identified by the genus and Canis familiaris the species. These are the classification categories you are likely to recognize: genus, species, and subspecies or variety. At the low end, we start to reduce relationships into smaller, stricter categories. It’s a huge and complicated way for biologists to explain how different living organisms are related to each other.Īt one end of the scale, we have really broad categories like kingdom, phylum, and class. You may remember hearing about the scientific classification system in your high school biology class. PET BETTAS: WHAT SPECIES DO YOU HAVE?īefore we can dive into the topic of betta varieties, it helps to understand a bit of the science behind betta classifications. The situation is constantly evolving and there are so many different types of betta that it can be difficult to keep up. Breeders are constantly announcing new varieties, and types that were rare a few years ago can now be found in large pet stores. I hope to cover as many betta varieties as possible here, but the truth is, I’ll probably miss a few. The female bettas are also very pretty but they lack the elegant fins and aggressive attitude. ![]() Male betta fish are especially coveted by aquarists for their elaborate, flowing tails, unique patterns, and vivid colors. The ever-popular betta is pretty much the runway model of the freshwater fish trade. To avoid confusion, here is a detailed list of bettas, broken down by color, scale pattern, and tail type. When you add in some of the newer crossbreeds coming out of Thailand, your options for the prettiest betta fish get pretty dizzying. Europeans have been breeding bettas for their bright, intricate colors and tail configurations for over a hundred years. If you’re trying to work out the differences between bettas, it’s helpful to have a primer like this to refer to. Actually, it’s the opposite problem: there are so many varieties of bettas that it’s overwhelming for novice anglers! Not because there is a lack of information. Searching for information on rare or unique betta breeds can be a frustrating proposition. ![]()
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