Mahachai Smaragdina Imbellis Splendens differences

[Samuel Phan]

Hi Guys,

Mahachai Smaragdina Male X Copper Imbellis Female

Any clue what will be the outcome of this?

Dun think Copper Imbellis is a wild plakat, but more like an imbellis that have been crossed to plakats and such to arrive at today's glamour.

On the other hand, Smaragdina esp Mahachai have alot of Irids (Green) in them ...

??? Any clue?

What is the un-desirable traits in Imbellis esp Copper that one should be looking out for? Red-wash? Green based? Black based? Red Ventral? Body form? Is there any standard at all?

With Best Regards,
Sam

[Dr Hsu]

I thought Betta mahachai is a newly discovered species, thus not smargdina. From my experience, the copper color is recessive to the regular blue/green so you should get a green fish. Haven't really looked at mahachai so don't know what to say but I would believe the imbellis trait of color on the head etc will pass on to some extent (origin of spread iridescence?)

Copper imbellis is not a wild plakat - it is a wild imbellis. Atison has caught both regular and copper imbellis in one scoop in the wild, although there is speculation from one source that it may not be pure imbellis but contaminated with splendens (escapees or otherwise)....but then again, Dr Gene Lucas believes that splendens and imbellis are the same species.....!

As for what is desirable, really up to you. there is no standard. Personally, I will go for as much of the copper/gold/silver iridescence as possible. The fish is basically an imbellis so base color is red. I like fish that have the red so dark that it looks black, giving the copper/gold/silver a good contrasting background (of course preferbly there's none of black/red color!) BTW I believe copper, gold and silver are all basically the same thing, just the range of shades that makes it look the color that it's described as - perhaps due to the background color.

[Dr Hsu]

I thought Betta mahachai is a newly discovered species, thus not smargdina. From my experience, the copper color is recessive to the regular blue/green so you should get a green fish. Haven't really looked at mahachai so don't know what to say but I would believe the imbellis trait of color on the head etc will pass on to some extent (origin of spread iridescence?)

Copper imbellis is not a wild plakat - it is a wild imbellis. Atison has caught both regular and copper imbellis in one scoop in the wild, although there is speculation from one source that it may not be pure imbellis but contaminated with splendens (escapees or otherwise)....but then again, Dr Gene Lucas believes that splendens and imbellis are the same species.....!

As for what is desirable, really up to you. there is no standard. Personally, I will go for as much of the copper/gold/silver iridescence as possible. The fish is basically an imbellis so base color is red. I like fish that have the red so dark that it looks black, giving the copper/gold/silver a good contrasting background (of course preferbly there's none of black/red color!) BTW I believe copper, gold and silver are all basically the same thing, just the range of shades that makes it look the color that it's described as - perhaps due to the background color.

[Samuel Phan]

Thanks Li Chieh ...

But was indicated in one of the Thai website that Mahachai is indeed a smaragdina that are caught in the wild. It is name after their place of origin.

see: http://www.geocoties.com/siamimbellis

With Best Regards,
Sam

[Samuel Phan]

Thanks Li Chieh ...

But was indicated in one of the Thai website that Mahachai is indeed a smaragdina that are caught in the wild. It is name after their place of origin.

see: http://www.geocoties.com/siamimbellis

With Best Regards,
Sam

[Dr Hsu]

Samuel,

See this website:

http://www.ibc-smp.org/species/mahachai.html

and

http://www.ibc-smp.org/articles/B_sp_Mahachai.html

Probably need some Masters'/PhD student to count fin rays and gill arches to tell us if indeed this is a new species:)

[Dr Hsu]

Samuel,

See this website:

http://www.ibc-smp.org/species/mahachai.html

and

http://www.ibc-smp.org/articles/B_sp_Mahachai.html

Probably need some Masters'/PhD student to count fin rays and gill arches to tell us if indeed this is a new species:)

[Foo Hong]

Go to Atisons website....a lots of new pics on wilds n plakats since.

[Foo Hong]

Go to Atisons website....a lots of new pics on wilds n plakats since.

[Samuel Phan]

I have attempted the cross ... saw the pair doing the wrap dance .. but no eggs came out. Will let them try for another day before terminating the program.

[Samuel Phan]

I have attempted the cross ... saw the pair doing the wrap dance .. but no eggs came out. Will let them try for another day before terminating the program.

[Samuel Phan]

Good news ... the pair have spawned ... male was experienced enough to squeeze every single egg from the female and now she looks so thin and frail.

Anyway ... hope that the spawn will thrown out some fishes that have the typical Imbellis body with the copper scales and with a green head (from Mahachai)

Wish me luck ...

Btw the Copper Imbellis Female is from Kenny
Smaragdina Male from myself.

With Best Regards,
Sam

[Samuel Phan]

Good news ... the pair have spawned ... male was experienced enough to squeeze every single egg from the female and now she looks so thin and frail.

Anyway ... hope that the spawn will thrown out some fishes that have the typical Imbellis body with the copper scales and with a green head (from Mahachai)

Wish me luck ...

Btw the Copper Imbellis Female is from Kenny
Smaragdina Male from myself.

With Best Regards,
Sam

[Samuel Phan]

Just for info ...

http://www.ibc-smp.org/articles/B_comparison_chart.jpg

With the above comparison made ... I believe that a Mahachai is probably more towards a Smaragdina than a Imbellis.

[Samuel Phan]

Just for info ...

http://www.ibc-smp.org/articles/B_comparison_chart.jpg

With the above comparison made ... I believe that a Mahachai is probably more towards a Smaragdina than a Imbellis.

[Myron Tay]

Write-up on Betta Mahachai:

http://www.fbas.co.uk/SIAMESE.html

[paul kusmin]

personally, i'm not sure if we should be encouraging the crossbreeding of wild species like mahachai. i know what nonn at siamensis thinks and tend to agree with him about the threat of losing these unique species altogether.