In addition to coming in a variety of tail types, fin varieties and color strains, the Siamese fighting fish, or betta splendens, can display a number of dazzlingly beautiful and exotic patterns. People whobreed, show and sell bettas often refer to the color patterns of bettas in specific terms, which may be confusing to those who are new or unfamiliar to the hobby.
The common terms that refer to betta patterns are as follows:
Solid Betta Pattern
Show-quality bettas that display only a single color should have no iridescence, irregularities, or discoloration. It can be difficult to breed fish that perfectly match this description, and bettas are disqualified from this category if they have sheens, iridescence, or color breaks that differ from the stated solid color.
Classic Bi-Color Betta Pattern
Bi-colored bettas can display many different types of color patterns, but a so-called classic bicolor fish shows a distinct and clear pattern. Its body is of one color, while its fins--
anal, dorsal, and caudal-- are all a completely different shade. The fins and body can be any of the standard, accepted betta colors. The coloration should be clearly delineated; fin colors should not overlap into the body or vice-versa.
Cambodian Betta Pattern
One very common sub-type of the classic bi-color betta is the Cambodian, which is a very popular addition at betta shows and is seen as a desirable trait among breeders. Cambodian bettas have a pinkish-white or salmon-colored body, with highly pigmented fins (usually red). It is also called "pla kat khmer" among betta fanciers.
Mustard Gas Betta Pattern
Another sub-type of the classic bicolor, mustard gas bettas generally have
steel-blue bodies with gold or yellow
fins. Some betta breeders expand the definition to include bettas with royal blue bodies or turquoise bodies, but the classic definition is often inclusive of blue-and-gold bettas only. The mustard gas color type is also sometimes applies to butterfly bettas exhibiting the defining colors (see below).
Butterfly Betta Pattern
Another very popular feature at betta shows, the butterfly pattern is quite beautiful and may be difficult to breed. Butterfly bettas have
body colors that partially blend into the color of the fins, which is ideally a transparent or
cellophane color. Additionally, the betta has distinct, dark, oval-shaped markings on the
tail and fins, separated from the body dramatically by the pale zone.
Tricolor Butterfly Pattern
Created by crossing choice Cambodian bettas with classic butterflies, tricolor butterfly bettas have three, rather than two, colors, and can present with a variety of stunning patterns and shapes. One form of the tricolor butterfly betta, called the Tutweiler
crowntail, is seen as a Holy Grail among betta enthusiasts, but it is very hard to breed.
Classic Marble Pattern
A classic marble betta, also known as a piebald, has a dark body with a pinkish, white, or salmon-colored head. Classic piebalds have no red, green, blue, or steel blue genes that express themselves in the fish's color; they are deliberately bred to eliminate sheen and
coloration. They are beautiful in their own right, but may "look sick" the the eye of someone unfamiliar with the strain.
Colored Marble Pattern
Colored marble bettas have the same pattern as classic marble bettas, but with the addition of colors and sheen, including and of the
colorations accepted within betta shows. The
fins and body should show a very sharp, highly delineated combination of dark and light colors, and its head should be the same salmon-white color as in the classic marble betta.
Irregular Multicolor Bettas
Bettas with no predictable, obvious pattern are considered to be generically multicolored. Often, pet-store varieties of betta display these traits, which may result in
blue bettas with red sheens and purplish spots. Wild-type bettas and
king bettas which may show a mixture of almost every color imaginable, fall into this category. While many amateur betta enthusiasts find these beautiful, they are deeply frowned-upon in betta shows.
Some tricolor and multicolored bettas, such as those seen in some marble and tricolor butterfly patterns, are still considered to be okay, and even desirable, to breeders. However, many that show no noticable or predictable pattern are considered to be "mutts", bred without any specific goals or selection.
