identifying a betta

[fumiko]

Hey, I just got my male betta, Bob, from a local pet store. They just called him a 'koi betta', but I'm really new to this so I have no idea what that even means... Can someone please help me figure out what kind of betta he is?

[fumiko]

Here's Bob!

[foxlyn]

He appears to be a mix of marble and koi plakat, with the body type of a traditional 'fighter' Betta.

[sSjey]

Bob's a real stunner.

Just a heads up, koi bettas often have the marble gene, so his coloring might shift as time goes on. Don't worry if that happens, it's quite normal.

[fumiko]

Thanks for identifying Bob's type, I was really curious to know. Appreciate the help, foxlyn

[fumiko]

He's a lovely fish, isn't he.

Just a heads up, since he's a koi betta, he's got the marble gene, and that means his coloring might change over time. No need to worry if it does, though.

Oh, and I hope he stays as handsome as he is now.

[coltin]

I agree with the others, he's a Canvas Koi Betta. So, his actual species is Betta splendens, which is your typical short-finned betta. The 'Koi' part refers to the coloring, which resembles that of a Koi carp, pretty cool.

[kingrise]

He seems to be a Male canvas Koi Betta Fish. @essjay made a valid point, regarding the "Marble" term - it's used to describe a type of finnage and physical appearance, but more notably, the special genes involved, known as Transposons or "jumping genes".

These genes are what set Marble bettas apart, and as @essjay mentioned, they can cause changes in patterning over time. I came across an article that explains this in more detail - it's worth a read: https://nippyfish.net/2009/06/11/marble ... ing-genes/

[FinFan]

I've had a similar experience with my betta, too - it was initially white with ice blue fins, but over time, it transformed into a stunning dark blue and green with hints of black.