EHBBC Standard
 

EHBBC-Standard from 11/2003

Preface
This standard contains evaluation guidelines and is to be applied on Show Betta Championships. It refers to at present-day admitted breed goals for betta splendens high breed forms and is to be adapted in each case on change of these goals.

Generally

1. The standard applies to the evaluation of Betta Splendens.
2. In each case 1 fish (male or female) is evaluated.
3. Each fish is judged by minimum 3 independent judges, who arrange
    individually and not as a team. The fish must have a minimum body length of
    3,5 cm from the mouth to the tail root. (Exception is the Doubletail with 3 cm)
4. Only healthy fish are allowed to be shown on the exhibition.
5. All fins must be completely present. 

Classification

The fish must be announced by the breeders for the following classes of fins:

1. Halfmoon (HM)

2. Crowntail (CT)

3. Veiltail (VT)

4. Plakad (P)

5. Doubletail (DT)

6. Roundtail (RT)

7. Brush tail (PS)

For each of these categories the appropriate standard is to be used.

Evaluation details

1. • Vitality and General impression with 25 points
2.
• Fins entirely with 45 points divided in:
       a. Caudale with 20 points
       b. Dorsal with 10 points
       c. Anal with 10 points
       d. Ventrals with 5 points
3.
•
Colour with 30 points

That results in a possible total score of 100 points for each fish.

Additionally each judge has 3 points more to be able to make possibly smaller corrections to find the best fish of each class and at least of the show.

The females are to be evaluated after the same guidelines as the males, however with proportionally shorter fins.
To all classes apply the same arranging rules for vitality, general impression, and colour. For each class of fin form a separate standard is fixed. 

Price/diplomas

In each class the 1. - 3. Place will be praised with a diploma.

For every 1.Place will be an additionally trophy (Cup).

Otherwise each breeder will get the results for every fish he showed partitioned for fin, colour, vitality and generalimpression, on a total evaluation sheet, so that he knows, how his actual fish were evaluated.
Prices will be only assigned in every class, if 5 different breeders are announcing one fish each for the corresponding category. Otherwise those breeders will receive only the total evaluation sheet for the issued fish. With very rare variants, there is the possibility to get a special/honour price.

Judging rules

Generally

1. • Vitality and general impression
       Means the behaviour of the fish in activity, aggression and flaring against   
       other males has to be judged. Intended is that the fish, as soon as he sees
       his mirror image or another Betta, will expand his fins fully and spread his
       gills to impose and to threat the other one. The fish may show in no case
       longitudinal strip as stress colouring and withdraw itself to the other side of
       the tank. In addition the general impression, means the cooperating of
       body, fin and colour as well as the swimming behaviour of the fish has to be
       judged. Here it is important that the proportionality of the body represents a
       harmonious general impression to the fin volume and that the fish is not
       impaired in its swimming behaviour.

2. • Colour
        is divided into the following classes:

         1. • uni-coloured iridescent colours
                That means both, body and all fins must exhibit the same colour.
                The iridescent layer in the ideal case has to cover theentire body
                including the head.
              • royal blue: deep dark grain-flower-blue without other colour portions.
                The ventrals may have white or black peaks.
              •
steelblue: dark grey-blue without other colour portions.
                
The ventrals may have white or black peaks.
              • green: deep, full green without other colour portions.
                The ventrals may have white or black peaks.
              • turqoise: an even shining green-blue without other colour portions.
                The ventrals may have white or black peaks.
              • pastel: this colour is possible in several colour variants.
                It should be a soft uniform flowing iridescent colour over a light body
                and the fins, without dark or coloured marks.
              • white: even white colour over the body and the fins,
                with a light iridescent effect. The colour of the eyes is black.
              • gold: intense copper-golden to golden coloured body
                with same strong and surface covering colouring of the fins.
              • orange gold: Orange body basic colour with golden glow.
                The colour continues without recognizable interruption in the fins
                surface covering colour.
              •
platinum: Body basic colour silver/platinum, strongly iridescent
                and without dark inclusions or marks. The colour continues smoothly
                in the fins.

         2. • in-coloured non-iridescent colours
                Means: bodies and fins are also same colour, but without the
                iridescent layer on the body.
              • red: a strong dark red without other colour portions.
                The body may be a little darker than the fins.
              • super red: a strong red, evenly over body
                and fins without other colour portions.
              • black: strong deep black, without iridescent sheds.
                The fins may have blue basis rays.
              • yellow: a strong sunflower-yellow without other colour inclusions.
              • cello: light body and fin colour without any dark or coloured marks.
              •
opaque: complete white colour over body and fins, whereby a white
                 powdered lining on the body is desirable.
                 The eyes should be black with a white border. No other colour or cello
                 portions should be present.

         3. • Two-coloured
                this class is for fish with different colour on body and fin, whereby
                normally the body carry the first colour and
                the fins carry the second colour, but also for fish with a second colour
                on body and fins.
              • cambodian: light body colour with clearly zoned coloured fins in another
                colour. Here are different colours
                possible for the fins, for example red, blue, green, but no other
                colour spots are allowed to arise in it.
           
              •
lemon green: green yellow iridescent body basic colour, and deep yellow
                colour in all fins.
 
             • chocolat: uniformly yellow colour on body and fins, whereby (pineapple)
                the edges of scales are dark-brown
                coloured; an light brownish colouring of the fins is permitted.
              • chocolat blue: same as chocolat but with an iridescent blue layer on the
                body.
              • chocolat green: same as chocolat but with an iridescent green layer on
                the body.
              • chocolat purple: same as chocolat but with an iridescent purple layer on
                the body.
              •
marbled: here it usually concerns of fish with light colour, who have a
                second colour grizzled in irregular spots
                all over body and fins. Grizzled is there the finer variant and looks,
                as if the fish has been "airbrushed ".
                The same applies to fish with dark colours, which we see today still 
                relatively rarely.

        4. • two-coloured with recognizable sample
              • mustard gas: bluish green iridescent colour on the body, just like in   
                the edge zones of the fins. Otherwise gold-yellow colour in all fins.
              • Purple gas: instead of bluish green, violet body and fin edge
                zone colour.

              •
butterfly: Body and at the body adjacent part of the fins is in one colour
                and the remaining fins in another colour. Important here is the
                clear demarcation of the colours in the fins, without processes. In the
                ideal case the boundary line between the colours will be in half of the
                fin length, in all fins.
              • butterfly (star): Variant: the fin rays run evenly in the body colour into
                the fin ends (star shaped into the
                outside colour).
              •
butterfly (ring): Variant: The two colours show themselves in even
                distributed rings in all fins.

        5. • multi-coloured with recognizable sample:
              • butterfly: At least three different band-shaped arranged colours with
                clear demarcations to each other in all fins. In the ideal case evenly
                distributed in three areas.
 
            • marbled: as described under multi colour, however with at least 3
                colours.
           
•
copper gold: body basic colour, black/dark-brown mottled with clear golden marks.
               The fins are black/gold with clearly defined radial red inclusions.

        6. • multi colour
               Here are innumerable combinations, so that it is up to each judge,
               to judge the cooperation of the colours in his opinion.

3. •Fins classes
       Fundamental all fins should be complete and not be rotated, means, they should not show any curling.
       Fish, which do not correspond to this principle, will be disqualified.
        1. • Standard Halfmoon (HM)
            • Dorsal (dorsal fin)
               The dorsal fin should full with a broad base and as much as possible
               branching of the rays. The fin should be full-blown in a good
               proportionally area and not run out in individual rays.
               Ideal is from the beginning in the centre of the back of the fish, rising
               a little forward (to the head), then parallel to the body and from the
               end of the beginning on in a soft elbow dropping, whereby the angle
               between the plumb bob of broadest setting to the fish backs and the
               rear conclusion of the fin 90° at least is to amount to.
            • Caudale (caudal fin)
               The caudal fin should be very broad in the basis and should be able
               to be spread at least 180° (half moon form), many rays are desired.
               From the total angle should refer in each case half to the upper and
               half to the lower part of the fin. The first and last ray should run
               straight, without curvature, and form a straight edge. They should not
               be bent as the edge of the fin is reached. The only allowed exception
               is an easy curvature of the outside rays outward in case of an
               Overhalfmoon. The rays should form an even semi-circle and should
               not have any spikes or intentions. An easily corrugated fin border is
               permitted. The fin volume is to be stretched completely (not too many
               rays and/or too much skin between the rays, no pleating) when the
               fish flairs.
            • Anal (anal fin)
               The anal fin should be full and broad with many rays leaving the
               body. The lower border of the fin is to run parallel to the body. The fin
               is allowed to tower above the Caudale (caudal fin) maximum Ό in the
               length. Ideally it has the same length as the Caudale. Many rays and
               branches are desired, so that the anal fin in the ideal case looks like
               an anvil.
            •
Ventrals (ventral fins)
               Both ventral fins should be present and should be full and equal or
               longer than the anal fin. They should be straight and not curled or
               bent. They should be in their entire length as broadly as
               possible.
               The females are to be evaluated after the same guidelines as the
               males, however with proportionally shorter fins.

        2. • Standard Crowntail (CT)
             1.
• There are the same rules to be used as for the halfmoon, only the
                    fin ends, as clear point of distinction, are separately to be
                    described and evaluated. The special characteristic of CT is the
                    extended fin rays, which had to appear evenly in all fins.
                    The extended rays in the dorsal fin, the anal fin and in the
                    ventral fin should not exceed 30% of the total fins. The rays
                    shouldcome out clear, straight and even from the actual
                    fin. Combtail are not judged as CT. Bettas, which look dishevelled
                    or plucked, should not be presented. They are unwanted and
                    contradict and harm the picture of a Crowntail Betta.
                    This applies also to any curling of the rays and ventral fins. In a
                    very easy case, it will cause only a deduction of points, but in a
                    worse case it will cause the disqualification of the fish.
                    This ray weakness is to be eliminated by selection.

                    There the following variants of the caudal fin:
                 • singleray
                    The rays should not exceed 30% of the total fins. The part of the
                    basis fin should be 70% of the total fin.
                 • doubleray
                    Here it is desired that the rays are grown together in pairs when
                    they come out of the closed basis part of the fins. The partitioning
                    should be 70% Basiscaudale, 15% to the grown together pairs of
                    rays and 15% to the ending rays (single rays, not grown together).
                 • fourray
                    In this case 4 rays are grown together coming out of the
                    Basiscaudale, whereby the proportional partitioning is the same as
                    with doubleray.
            
•
crossray
                    A crossover of the free standing final rays is desired either within a
                    grown together pair or with the corresponding rays of
                    2 neighbouring pairs of rays, which are lying next to each other.
                    In order to keep a harmonious general view for these over
                    crossing, the partitioning changes here; in 75%
                    Basiscaudale, 15% grown together groups of rays and 10% final
                    rays.

            2. • Variant Balloon
                    It apply to the same rules as CT, with the only difference that there
                    is more fin tissue between the rays present, which is not taut, but
                    blowing like a balloon.

                   The females are to be evaluated after the same guidelines as the
                   males, however with proportionally shorter fins.

        3. • Standard Veiltail (VT)
               • Dorsal (dorsal fin)
                  The Dorsal is narrower in its basis and has not as many rays as the
                  other fin variants. The fin should run in a sickle-shaped manner and
                  not exceed over Ύ of the body length of the fish. It should not run
                  out in individual rays. Overlapping of the Dorsal over the fish body is
                  not desired.
               • Caudale (caudal fin)
                  The caudal fin should be full with a broad base, but long stretched.
                  It should at least have the same length as the body of the fish. The
                  rays come out of the tail root steeply rising in the upper part of the
                  fin and then after reaching its highest point at 20% of the entire fin
                  length drop down in an even elbow.
                  Within the lower part of the fin the rays come out almost straight
                  from the tail root with an easy upward arranged curvature and then
                  drop down parallel to the other fin rays. Thus results in a light
                  sickle-shaped long stretched optics. The Caudale must be able to be
                  carried easily by the fish in its entire length. The ends of the rays
                  and should not have any spikes or intentions. An easily corrugated
                  fin border is permitted. The fin volume is to be stretched completely
                  (not too many rays and/or too much skin between the rays, no
                  pleating) when the fish flairs.
               • Anal (anal fin)
                  The anal fin should set up at the highest point of the body and
                  amount to at least one body length and run out in its deepest end
                  pointedly. The form is to resemble a parallelogram.
               •
Ventrals (ventral fins)
                  The ventral fins had to be present with the same and should look
                  like a turned knife blade. They should have at least 1/3 of the
                  body length.

                  The females are to be evaluated after the same guidelines as the
                  males, however with proportionally shorter fins.

        4. • Standard Plakad (P)
              •
Dorsal (dorsal fin)
                  The dorsal fin should full with a broad base and as much as possible
                  branching of the rays. The fin should be full-blown in a good
                  proportionally area and not run out in individual rays.
                  Ideal is from the beginning in the centre of the back of the fish,
                  rising a little forward (to the head),then parallel to the body and
                  from the end of the beginning on in a soft elbow dropping,
                  whereby the angle between the plumb bob of broadest setting to the
                  fish backs and the rear conclusion of the fin 90° at least is to
                  amount to. Overlapping of the dorsal fin over the fish body or the
                  caudal fin is not desired. The width of the dorsal fin at their highest
                  point should not exceed the width of the anal fin in their broadest
                  place.
               • Caudale (caudal fin)
                  The caudal fin should be very broad in the basis and should be able
                  to be spread at least 180° (half moon form), many rays are desired.
                  From the total angle should refer in each case half to the upper and
                  half to the lower part of the fin. The first and last ray should run
                  straight, without curvature, and form a straight edge. They should
                  not be bent as the edge of the fin is reached. The only allowed
                  exception is an easy curvature of the outside rays outward in case of
                  an Overhalfmoon. The rays should form an even semi-circle and
                  should not have any spikes or intentions. An easily corrugated fin
                  border is permitted. The fin volume is to be stretched completely
                  (not too many rays and/or too much skin between the rays, no
                  pleating) when the fish flairs. The length of the caudal fin should
                  correspond with the width of the basic approach of the dorsal fin and
                  not exceed in the upper border over the width of the dorsal fin. The
                  lower part of the caudal fin should end at half of the anal fin.
               • Anal (anal fin)
                  The anal fin should be full and broad with many rays leaving the
                  body. The anal fin should set up at the highest point of the body
                  and run then easily sloping up to the body end. The broadest place
                  of the anal fin should be divided by the caudal fin on half height,
                  when the fish flairs.
               •
Ventrals (ventral fins)
                  Both ventral fins should be present and should be full and equal or
                  longer than the anal fin. They should be straight and not curled or
                  bent. They should be in their entire length as broadly as possible.
                  Additionally to the fins also the form of the body is important for the
                  plakad. Therefore it is desired, that the body shows a burly and
                  compact impression. Important is a gentle rising line from the
                  muzzle to the beginning of the dorsal fin (1.third of the fish’s body)
                  and then slowly running out (less steeply) up to the end of the body.

             • Variant Plakat Crowntail
                   This variant will be judged like halfmoon plakad, however the fins
                   must show a clear Ct-development.

             • Variant Plakat Giant
                   This variant will be judged like halfmoon plakad, however giants will
                   only be judged if they have a minimum body size of 6 cm, males,
                   and 5 cm females.

                   The females are to be evaluated after the same guidelines as the
                   males, however with proportionally shorter fins.

        5. • Standard Doubletail (DT)
               • Dorsal (dorsal fin)
                  The dorsal fin of a DT sets after a third of the fish body and ends in
                  the ideal case at the tail root. It has at least the double number of
                  rays as a normal dorsal fin. The fin should be full-blown in
                  a good proportionally area and not run out in individual rays. Ideal
                  is from the beginning,rising a little forward (to the head), then
                  parallel to the body. It should be a mirror image of the anal fin.
               • Caudale (caudal fin)
                  The characteristic of the DT shows up in the Caudale. This fin has
                  based on a broad tail root the double volume as a normal HM
                  Caudale and is divided in the centre. A spreading on at least 180° is
                  desired. The groove or split of the fin should be exactly centric
                  and minimum be nicked on at least one third of the length of the
                  caudal fin. Many rays and branching are desired. The first and last
                  ray of both lobes of the caudal fin should run straight, without
                  curvature, and form a straight edge. They should not be bent as the
                  edge of the fin is reached. The rays should form an even semi-circle
                  and should not have any spikes or intentions. An easily corrugated
                  fin border is permitted. The fin volume is to be stretched completely
                  (not too many rays and/or too much skin between the rays,
                  no pleating) when the fish flairs: the lobes should not overlap each
                  other.
              • Anal (anal fin)
                 The anal fin should be full and broad with many rays leaving the
                  body and start opposite the dorsal fin.
                  The lower border of the fin is to run parallel to the body. The fin is
                  allowed to tower above the Caudale (caudal fin) maximum Ό in the
                  length. Ideally it has the same length as the Caudale.
                  Many rays and branches are desired, so that the anal fin in the ideal
                  case looks like an anvil. In the ideal case it is mirroring the dorsal
                  fin.
 
             •
Ventrals (ventral fins)
                 Both ventral fins should be present and should be full and equal or
                 longer than the anal fin.
                 They should be straight and not curled or bent. They should be in
                 their entire length as broadly as possible.

             • DT Crowntail
                This variant will be judged like Doubletail, however all fins must show
                a clear Ct-development.

                The females are to be evaluated after the same guidelines as the
                males, however with proportionally shorter fins.

       6. • Standard Roundtail (RT)
             • Dorsal (dorsal fin)
                The dorsal fin should be more round in contrary to the other variants.
                That means it also begins at the centre of the fish body and rises
                then slowly up to its broadest place and then drops down again
                following in a soft elbow. It should not be long drawn out at its end.
                Overlapping of the dorsal fin over the fish body or the caudal fin is
                not desired. The fin should be full-blown in a good proportionally area
                and not run out in individual rays.
             • Caudale (caudal fin)
                The caudal fin should be very broad in the basis and should be able
                to be spread at least 180° (half moon form), many rays are desired.
                From the total angle should refer in each case half to the upper and
                half to the lower part of the fin. In contrast to the halbmoon the first
                and last fin rays should show a soft even curvature, that the fin forms
                a circle. The fin should not have any spikes or intentions.
                An easily corrugated fin border is permitted. The fin volume is to be
                stretched completely (not too many rays and/or too much skin
                between the rays, no pleating) when the fish flairs.
             • Anal (anal fin)
                The anal fin should be full and broad with many rays leaving the
                body. The lower border of the fin is to run parallel to the body. The fin
                is allowed to tower above the Caudale (caudal fin) maximum Ό in the
                length. Ideally it has the same length as the Caudale. Many rays and
                branches are desired. The anal fin should in the ideal case also be
                rounded at its lowest point.
             •
Ventrals (ventral fins)
                Both ventral fins should be present and should be full and equal or
                longer than the anal fin. They should be straight and not curled or
                bent. They should be in their entire length as broadly as possible.

                The females are to be evaluated after the same guidelines as the
                males, however with proportionally shorter fins.

       7. • Standard Brush tail (PS)
                The brush tail differs in the Caudale and occurs with the fin forms
                Roundtail and Veiltail. In both cases the rays of the caudal fin
                should end clear tip. That means the internal fin rays are longer than
                the outside and all rays meet at the end in a point. Also the dorsal fin
                and the anal fin run out at the end pointedly. The ventral fins should
                be not so broad, but rather slim and pointed.

                The females are to be evaluated after the same guidelines as the
                males, however with proportionally shorter fins.

 

Dortmund, the 14.12.2003