Bettas are one of the most elegant, graceful, and colorful freshwater fish in the world. However, they werent always as pretty as today. About 80 years ago, Bettas were very different. Although many have the same instincts as their ancestors, if placed next to one another, youd think they were distant cousins. Bettas of the early 1900s were green or brownish in color and barely had the finnage or coloration of today.

          Your probably asking how these creatures made it big so fast and basically evolved from a frog to prince :). Wellhere goes. In 1949, a man named Theodor Cantor wrote an article on a fish(betta) he had seen. As he wrote the article, he listed the fish as Macropodus pugnax. It wasnt until 1909 that a man by the name of C. Tate Regan found a flaw in that article. The flaw did not appear in the information given, but it did appear in the type of fish he had written about. Cantor had mistaken his fish for another similar species. He had come across a new species and had no idea he was the first to document it. Consequently, the new Siam species had no name. After examining more, Regan named the new species. Having some prior knowledge of a legendary warrior-like tribe called Bettah, he felt the name suited their attitude. Sotheir final name became Betta splendens. However, it wasnt until 1927 that a new hue and larger finnage appeared. One of the first strains to arise was Betta cambodia. Although many thought this type was a new species, in reality, the cambodias were splendens with a cream colored body. Intense breeding with different hues have created some of the most beautiful bettas ever known to man. Today there are distinguished as cambodia, piebald, butterfly, melano, opaque, cellophane, marble, and more. There are also different types of tails. Most betta tails are classified as having a round, veil, comb, delta, single tail, double tail, fan tail, the most elusive crown tail, and rare halfmoon. Nine out of ten times, you will buy a veil tail from most, if not all pet stores. These, although very beautiful, are not preferred by many breeders. Some bettas can go from as little as $10 to as high as $100+. The most expensive are the true halfmoon and crown tail. Ive heard of people pay up to $200 per fish.