So My question so you spawn two HM's and out of the spawn you get your usual small percent of true HM's , but what about the rest of the spawn, if you spawn them will a certain percent be HM in there spawn or will it be zero since the male was not a HM just from HM parents? so basically can superdeltas with HM parents produce HM offspring if Spawned together?
Now, this is my opinion and someone else may come along and contradict me or correct me. Which is fine.
I believe that yes, they can produce HM offspring. If you begin with really good, true HM parents. Now I'm going to tell you a secret that I firmly believe in; I think the female is as important, if not more so, than the male. Of course you need a good male, but so many people but the emphasis on the males' finnage and think he can makeup for a mediocre female and it simply does not work. Good branching maybe more important than full spread too. You can take a pair with good branching and get true HMs. But come on, it's in the genes, just because a betta isn't the pheno type and he does carry the geno, it's got to come through eventually.
Ok, a very unscientific answer I know. I work by the seat of my pants most of the time and I have a gift of insight that helps me. I'm a very unique type of person and everything I am able to accomplish cannot be explained scientifically.
So there... :nananana
I agree
HM is not just nature, it is nurture as well.
That is why there is no HM genes.
BUT there ARE genes for increased branching, for increased spread, and for straight edges.
Those, combined with the right conditions is what makes the HM.
As with everything, bettas are individuals when it comes to their needs, and the conditions that help make their spawn siblings a full true Hm, may have been just a bit lacking with them, hence the small number of TRUE Hms.
Those HM bred super deltas have the genetic framework to produce HMs.
They have the genes that increase branching, spread, and straight edges. But not expressed as strongly as the true HM siblings
If paired correctly, they can and will produce Hms..
What Sherry said is right.. I remember reading something along the lines that the female gives finnage, and the male gives color, and thinking what tripe is this, haven't these people had genetics 101??
BUT in all fairness, picking a mediocer female WILL give you lesser fish in the finnage department
Which is why your females should be carefully selected.
The things I look for in a female is this. Deep body, even anal fins, minimum 4 rays, straight edged dorsals, good tail spread.
These are genetic traits that can be passed on to offspring, just as well as skinny bodies, pointy anals, rounded tails, and stepped dorsals.
So while the finnage isn't from the female alone, you'll get a higher percentage of good fish using a better quality female than you will with her lesser sister.
Thanks Guys, thats what I was thinking, and I agree Common sense will tell you both Bettas are equally important in producing finnage and form. And I know water is also improtant in getting them to get to HM, Thanks You both have answered my question :flower
You are most welcome Cody.
*bows*