Here is a series of Pictures that show what it takes to make a real Halfmoon. At one time this was a article,but this is all I still have and I've lost who put it all together. I don't claim any of this as my work,but it came from a web site that is no longer up. The Author's name is Lee Teong Keong. This has been posted with his permission.

Here is the rest of the pictures since they all don't fit in one post.

RC,
I know I've seen this on the bettysplendens site, so it might have the author on there somewhere. Thanks for posting this here. I've read this before, but it is becoming easier to understand the more fish I see and the more people I talk to. I have a question. It says the earlier the caudal rays start to branch the stronger the caudal will be. (or at least that's my interpretation) At what age do you like to see a branch? I have 3 week olds(3 of them) that have yet to branch. What does that mean in regards to their potential? (You won't offend me, honest)
Over long anals. Can you ever fix this? If it is "fixable" is it worth the time and effort?

BettaSplendens used 3 of the pictures in an article that they wrote,but the whole article w/ picture came from an Overseas author before BettaSplendens used it. As far as when the branching starts depends totally on how fast your fish grow. If you can grow them as fast as Overseas breeders seem to be able to then maybe by three weeks you would see branching. My fish don't grow as fast so I'm looking for branching by a couple months. Long anal fins are fixable by picking the right fish to spawn, but you have to trust who you buy fish from because rumor has it cutting the anals to better match the standards has been done by some breeders.



RC

Ouch, I guess I'll ask around when it comes time to buy stock.

Betta Breeders aren't the only people I've heard do this. I've been told the same about fancy guppy breeders. It's pretty bad when it has to come to something like that.


RC

This is GREAT! I love those illustrations and pictures and I am sure members will using this as guide.
Let me pin this one up. ;)

Yes this is great :)

Thanks RC. This makes it very clear to everyone, either starting out or in the hobby for a while. Often words just don't translate well. Of course then again I was always one of those, "Words, words, words, OOH PICTURE!" type of readers. ^_^

Yeah, I have never known him to read anything other than picture books.

Oh cool. I can't believe I missed this before. This is some great info! Thanks RC.

This is WONDERFUL information! I'm still a bit of a newbie to bettas (less than a year with them), especially all the fancy forms. I've been wanting to buy a breeding pair of HMs, but have been hesitant ~ now I think I'll have a lot more confidence. Thank you for posting this! :D

Awesome!!! Very definitive, and a great guide to us newbies on what to look for in purchasing / producing / and judging HM's.
Thanks!!!