BettaScott

Hello everyone!

Im relatively new to FishLore, but not new to caring for bettas. Recently I purchased a Black Orchid at the same time my good friend purchased a nice light yellow colored crowntail for herself here. He of course is the 3rd fish down. (Hes unnamed atm...suggestions are welcome!) Ive quite fallen in love with the Black Orchid coloring pattern, but have noticed that the orchids are all either black/metallic blue, or black/steel blue. Has anyone seen any other color variations of this pattern, such as black/green, or black/red? Is it possible? Ive started doing some rather heavy internet research to see about the possibilities of breeding, as I dont plan on getting into this without being heavily prepared! Im quite keen to see if other variations exist, or can be produced.

I do have the ability to contact the seller of this fish, to see about getting genetic background (ie, who were the parents, were there any oddities with them, etc) if that will help out. Im quite interested in starting out with keeping the crowntail line, and mixing any other color with the black (no preferance). Any suggestions?

Any help is GREATLY appreciated! Thank you

(PS - I do have some basic knowledge of genetics, with dominant and recessive genes and such, but am not too familiar with this in regards to bettas/fish. My Orchid is but about 3 mos old, so I have a little bit of time to gather knowledge.)

Allie

http://www.ultimatebettas.com/
http://z15.invisionfree.com/BettaBre...ex.php?act=idx

Chief_waterchanger

http://www.fishlore.com/fishforum/fi...g-project.html

Welcome to Fishlore.

I hope this helps a bit.

sirdarksol

Welcome to Fishlore!
Some excellent links above.
Here's another one: http://www.fishlore.com/Articles/BreedingBettas.htm

I'm guessing that, if you've done your research, you've seen all of the information in this link before, but take a look, just in case you haven't. This one doesn't go into the genetics of breeding bettas, it goes into the actual breeding part (definitely important information. You wouldn't want either betta to end up severely hurt or dead from the experience, and, since you may be sinking quite a bit of money into the Orchid's partner, you'll want the greatest chance of success.)

Pandora

Here's a couple of really good articles about the different types of black, and what goes into making a black orchid.

http://www.bettysplendens.com/articl...?articleid=895

http://www.bettysplendens.com/articl...articleid=1040

http://www.bettysplendens.com/articl...?articleid=961

It's not a strain I've ever worked, but there are definitely many different genes involved, one to make a black fish (sounds like it can be either a black lace, or a melano black, both of which are recessive to normal dark), one to determine amount if iridescence (spread iridocytes... heavy iridescence is dominant), one to determine colour of iridescence (steel blue, royal blue, or turquoise, which are codominant... steel and turq are homozygous and royal is the heterozygote). Metallic factor can also play into it, modifying the iridescence to give metallic steel (steel with 1 metallic allese), copper (steel with 2 metallic alleles), metallic blue (royal with 1 metallic), teal (royal with 2 metallic), metallic turquoise (turq with 1 metallic) or green (turquoise with 2 metallic).

So you should be able to get a black orchid with any of the iridescent or metallic colours. Red wouldn't really appear in the same pattern, but it seems it is possible (and apperently called a black devil lol... I have to say the names still really confuse me, especially since they keep coming up with new ones!)

Anyway, I hope that helps a bit. There's so much involved in betta genetics, I've been breeding them for 5 years now, and I still have a ton to learn, especiall since new varieties keep popping up!

dr.fluffanutter

I cannot contribute to the breeding help, so I shall make name suggestions!

Hmmmm.... Faust or Savard, I think. :nods: