Paleofish

You know with all the crossbreeding splendens with imbellis, smaragdina, mahachai the thai breeders did and with the crosses to make dragon and copper. Do we really have B.splendens anymore? It seems to me that the "betta splendens" that are so common are just hybrids of different betta species.

What are your guys thoughts on this?

TFA101

I would have to disagree on that. There are still natural betta splendens in the wild that contributed to creating the colorful hybrids we have today, but I would have to say I'm with you on this one, the colorful bettas we've come to know had to have been created somehow, and crossbreeding different species seems to be the only possible way to get to where we are today with our bettas.

Paleofish

The pure wild splendens are pretty hard to find and I think it's safe to say there aren't too many in captivity.

But being the domestic bettas are hybrids, They really should not be called B.splendens anymore. I was talking with another member and We both thought maybe the name Betta domestica would fit them good.