why are Bettas so colorful???

[conaair]

Why are Bettas so colorful? Are they died different colors our are they naturally so colorful????

[bettalvr]

They are naturally very colorful fish! Many have very vibrant colors too. Not only colors but patterns too, which can greatly add to their beauty. For me, color genetics takes some time to learn as there are many facets to the betta.

[DeathCradle]

One of my friends told me, the most expensive Betta,
He saw was in Brisbane (in QLD Australia)

It was a Halfmoon
Black one side, White on the other side (pure colours each side??)

[Fivestar68]

Originally Posted by DeathCradle

One of my friends told me, the most expensive Betta,
He saw was in Brisbane (in QLD Australia)

It was a Halfmoon
Black one side, White on the other side (pure colours each side??)

I would love to see a photo of that Betta. I am very intrigued

[BettaLu&Meg]

Betta are colorfull due to their genes and genotypes.

[bettalvr]

I must edit my post because original wild bettas were not as colorful as we see today. In my original post I think I tried to combine 2 thoughts into one sentence and it came out incorrect. LOL Selective breeding has brought about the vibrant colors seen now. Quite a complex (to me anyway!) study of genes, but it is definitely worth reading/studying. There are some great sites to see the history of the colors, different colors, etc.

[BettaLu&Meg]

No there not, Wild type Bettas exhibit four color pigments; Black, Red, Yellow, and Iridescents (metallic Blues and Greens). The arrangement of these colors creates a Betta with the well known pattern that we call Multicolor. The Yellow color is so much less dense than all other colors and is, by nature, such a light color that it can be safely ignored in a discussion of Betta color genetics. But do not confuse this wild type Yellow with the Yellow that we find in our domestic "Non-red" Yellows and Bicolors. The bright Yellow color that we see on our domestic Bettas is actually Red pigment that has been altered by genetic mutation. I will write about the known genetic mutations that affect Black, Red, and Metallic pigmentation in Bettas eventually. Each normal color can be genetically manipulated in five basic ways. It can be reduced, absent, altered, extended, or patterned.

[bettalvr]

My point exactly, what we have selectively bred to produce these colors makes for many more color variations, patterns, etc. Crossing of the genes (as you put it, genetic manipulation) has produced more colors, different colors, etc. Thanks for the extra input!

[BettaLu&Meg]

yup yup i hope you didn't take it as a disagreement! i was agree with you when i read the "no its not", and said to myself.... that sounds mean. Sorry bettalvr hope you didn't take it that way

[bettalvr]

Nope, no problem! I didn't think it sounded mean! My experience, people often think that the colors we have today are what they have always been and don't realize bettas started off with only a few colors.