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How to distinguish between types of betta
There are many types of betta, but there are several ways to classify them. Let's check what kind of distinguishing points there are.
original and improved varieties
There are two types of bettas: wild bettas, which are naturally occurring species, and improved bettas, which are artificially crossed. Many of the improved varieties are very flashy, and contests are held. On the other hand, the original variety is not as flashy as the improved variety, but it has a unique astringent taste and has been loved by enthusiasts for many years.
Fin shape and length
Bettas are divided into various types based on the shape of their fins. There are crown tails (comb tails) with jagged fins like combs, double tails with tail fins that are divided into upper and lower halves, plaguts with short fins like females, and dumbos with large pectoral fins.
how to open fins
There are several types of betta depending on the angle at which the fins open. Among show bettas, those whose caudal fins open 180 degrees are called half moons, and those that do not open 180 degrees are called super deltas.
Fin/body color
They are classified according to the color of their fins and body. There are a variety of types, from simple monochromatic colors to types with a metallic shine called copper and dragon, and types with multiple colors in a pattern called marble.
body size
There is also a giant type of betta that grows extremely large. The giant plagut is the most famous, with a maximum body length of 10 cm or more, and is very powerful.
Difference between male and female
Male and female bettas look very different. Regardless of species, female bettas generally have shorter fins and smaller bodies than males. At first glance, Betta females look like male Pragat, but they have the same characteristics as males in terms of fin shape and body color.
11 popular improved solids
Introducing the popular improved betta that is relatively well distributed and easy to obtain. If you add color variations to these, it will be quite a variety. Seeds with long fins are susceptible to damage due to poor water quality and disease, so care must be taken when breeding.
traditional betta
This is the most popular type of betta, and is sold as prizes at game arcades and at home centers. It is also known as "Normal Beta" and is reasonably priced at 200-500 yen. However, special colors such as platinum are a little more expensive.
Plagat (Plakat)
They have shorter fins than other types of betta. In Thailand, there is a competition where bettas fight to compete for strength, and it is said that Pragat was created in pursuit of strength. Most of them are priced between 500 and 2000 yen.
double tail
It is a type whose tail fin separates up and down from the middle. The tail fins that look like hearts are very cute, and the price is around 500-1000 yen, which is why they are so popular.
half moon
A type of show betta whose caudal fin opens 180 degrees. Daily flaring training is essential to maintain large fins. They range from several thousand yen to tens of thousands of yen.
full moon
A type created by multiplying a double tail with a half moon. The presence of the fins has increased even more than the half moon, and it is characterized by its appearance. The price varies from several thousand yen to several tens of thousands of yen depending on the effect compared to other types.
super delta
A betta with a caudal fin that opens less than 180 degrees. It is cheaper than half moon and full moon, and the market price is about 1000 to 5000 yen.
crown tail (comb tail)
It is a type with long soft fins. The name comes from the fact that when the fins are open, they look like a crown or a comb. It can be purchased relatively inexpensively, with prices ranging from 500 to 2,000 yen.
king tail
A strange type that crosses at the tip of the fin by branching the soft rays of the fin in the middle of the crown tail. The fins look big and are very powerful. It is a species that has been distributed relatively recently, and the price is not stable yet.
dumbo
This type has larger pectoral fins than normal solid fish. There is elegance like a princess, and there is high popularity. The price is a little expensive at 3000-5000 yen.
giant
Normal bettas only grow to a maximum of about 5 cm, but giants grow to over 6 cm, and even larger ones can grow to nearly 10 cm. The giant of Pragat was the main one, but recently half-moon giants have also been distributed. Prices range from 5,000 to 10,000 yen, which is expensive.
carp betta
It is a betta with a color like Nishikigoi that has been attracting attention recently. There are various types of carp-colored Betta such as Plagat, Half Moon, and Super Delta. The price is greatly influenced by how the color is entered, but around 5000 yen seems to be the market price.
3 types of popular wild betta
Wild bettas have a calm beauty that is different from improved bettas. There are not many species that are well distributed, and there are some species that are unique to wild individuals, but when domesticated, they become very attractive.
betta inveris
It is a standard type that has been well known for a long time in wild betta. It is a very beautiful species with a shiny blue body color and a red color on the edge of the fin. It seems that there are several production areas, and there are differences in coloring and color for each production area. They are often sold in pairs, and the market price is around 3,000 to 6,000 yen per pair.
betta smaragdina
Distributed in the northwestern part of Thailand and Laos, it is a wild betta characterized by fins and bodies that are mainly blue, with little red. They are easy to breed and are sometimes sold as male-female pairs. The price is 1000-3000 yen, so it is easy to buy.
betta unimaculata
A wild betta that inhabits the island of Kalimantan in Indonesia. It is characterized by a long, slender thunderfish-like form that sets it apart from other wild bettas. It reaches a maximum length of 15 cm. The price is expensive at about 10,000 yen for a pair.
What is the difference between a full moon and a half moon for bettas?
Betta full moons and half moons represent a type of color pattern in the tropical fish Betta. A full moon is a pattern in which more than half of the fish's body is covered in bright colors, and a half moon is a pattern in which less than half of the fish's body is covered in color. Full Moon is said to have a more beautiful and flashy appearance.
What is the difference between a betta and a show betta?
Betta and show betta are a type of Betta breed, which is the same type of tropical fish, but there are differences in appearance and characteristics.
Bettas are wild species and come in blue, green, red, yellow, white and black. They also have long tail fins and are brightly colored.
On the other hand, the show betta is a breed created by selective breeding, and has a more flashy body color and tail fin shape, and has a complicated pattern. Show bettas are often used in competitions at exhibitions, etc., and the purpose is to compete for beautiful appearance.
Simply put, Bettas are the natural form and Show Bettas are the artificially improved Betta breed.
It's also fun to collect various types of betta!
There are various kinds of betta, and it is an attractive fish that some people specialize in collecting and breeding betta. Because they are small fish, they do not have a long lifespan, but there are many species that are easy to breed. If you haven't had a betta yet, why don't you try breeding and collecting bettas that interest you?
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