20/03/2022
Betta splendens is the formal name of the beautiful fish that used to be known as Siamese Fighting Fish. In centuries past, they were kept for their fighting nature. Now we keep them as pets for their beautiful looks and individual personalities. They are often commonly referred to simply as “betta” or “betta fish” [bet-uh].
The fish have been around for centuries and are highly prized as pets in Asia. In 1840, the King of Siam presented several of his prized fighting fish to a friend who in turn gave the fish to his friend, Theodore Cantor, a doctor in the Bengal Medical Service. It was not until 1909 that C. Tate Regan formally “identified” the fish and gave it the scientific name Betta splendens. In 1927 the first brightly hued, flowing-finned Siamese fighting fish were brought to the United States.
Bettas have evolved far beyond their original wild type appearance, and are now the primary type of show betta that is seen in pet stores. Sometimes called the”designer fish of the aquatic world”, bettas have been bred over time into many colors and tail types. They even have their own specialty shows where the best and most beautiful compete against each other using the IBC Exhibition Standards.
The first tail type we saw and still have around today is the Veil Tail, the long flowing tail that opens up like a wedding veil upon flaring (displaying their fins in full aggressive display). Through selective breeding we now also have long-finned Deltatails, Halfmoons, Crowntails, Doubletails, and short-finned Traditional Plakats (very similar in form to their wild ancestors of Betta imbellis and Betta mahachaiensis), Show Plakat, Shortfin Halfmoon, and crowntails and doubletails in short-finned versions. Other types you might see include large pectoral finned bettas, and giant bettas. New form types and colors are always being developed as people breed their fish.
https://www.ibcbettas.org/about-betta-splendens/