The veil tail betta today is much reviled outside of the pet store trade. It is said that veil tails are common, that they are genetic mutts. They are the black sheep ancestor no one wants to talk about. But at one point in time, this was not so.
As you gaze at your lovely long finned bettes, your deltas through halfmoon, your fringed crowntail, remember that their history began in 1927, through a shipment of fish sent to Frank Locke in San Fransisco. He received a package of bettas and among the standard dark bodied offerings were a few light bodied fish with red fins.
Thinking they were a new species, he named them betta Cambodian. Even after it was realized that these fish were mutations of the known betta splendens, many still insisted on calling them by the name they were first known by. Today, we still call those light bodies, colored finned bi colors Cambodians. These fish were the start of a color explosion that has in the last 90 years produced almost every color imaginable.
Also in 1927, we have the earliest mention of the veil tail. In a German aquatic magazine came a tale of long finned bettas.. A part of it reads.. “Did you ever see a Veiltail Fighting Fish? Is there such a thing in existence? The reader will think this is nonsense as he reads the headlines. But my friend wished to enjoy my astonishment and wrote as follows: "As soon as you return from your vacation, you must call on me at once as I have received something which is very pretty, and which I know you have never seen." Upon visiting him I was greatly surprised, and am still surprised, when I observed this splendid animal with its wonderful fins and rich coloring as it swam about in the container at twilight.”
I am sure we can all relate to his feelings as he looked on those fish for the first time.
Now, some say that Frank Locke's bettas were also long finned fish, though most mention only the color mutation. I have now way of knowing for sure, but I am almost sure the long finned mutation came after, if only because all sources mention the color, and very few link the long finned mutation to Frank Locke's fish. Had his fish also been long finned, he would have been sure to have been credited with the long finned betta as well as the Cambodian.
Further in my research, I found the information that in 1928, in San Fransisco, there were two shipments from Bangkok. There were two types of fish on that shipment, though again, they were light and dark bodied, these fish had long fins. These fish were bred together, and interbred with short finned bettas, and with long finned stock received from Germany.. I can only assume from those fish talked about in the magazine article. This began the start of the veil tail in America.
As best as my research has been able to find, the long finned betta form was known to the East long before we in the West were aware of them. The long finned bettas were called Pla Kat Cheen, or Chinese biting fish. One Thai breeder recalls a story that said the Pla Kat Cheen was first introduced by a Chinese monk about a hundred years ago. However another Thai source points to a Chinese breeder.
It could well have been that the Pla Kat Cheen was introduced to Thailand via Chinese traders, but all historical sources deny this, which leaves the conclusion that while the long finned betta was developed in Thailand, there was something Chinese associated with it, even if was just that the fins fell and drapped like Chinese silk robes.
I have also found mention of the Pla Kat Kmer which by all accounts were light body, red finned fish that were also long finned fish from Cambodia. History becomes a bit sparse at this point, resuming in the 1950's with the Libby betta.
The Libby betta was a veil tail with extraordinary size and fin length. Though some say that they have had the precursors to the giant genes within them, others say it was Warren Young's, the developer of the Libby bettas meticulous water changes, and feeding schedule that gave the Libby betta it's size.
It was said that the Libby betta had two mutations for fin length, one, the original long fin mutation and another that increased the length of the unpaired fins to equal the length of the fishes body. I myself have seen a definite and marked difference in tail length on veil tails, and I do not think it is enough to say that one fish was better bred than another. More likely, the longer finned betta has a genetic command to grow it's fins longer. Perhaps a remnant of the Libby betta's genes in that fish was awakened, and activated.
My research found this interesting paragraph... "The Libby strain is subject to two problems which hinder it in competition. First is a condition which is referred to as "cranial hump," which is the doming of the top of the head. The second is a pronounced tendency for the rays of the dorsal portion of the tail fin to turn upward rather than follow the normal contour of the fin. Both of these conditions are hereditary and can be controlled by careful breeding."
What was so interesting was the mention of competition. This shows that contrary to popular belief, the veil tail betta was indeed shown at one point in time.
The other thing I found interesting was the mention of the rays of the tail fin to turn upward. I cannot help but to wonder if that well could have been one of the starting points for the delta, and hence, the super delta, and the half moon forms of the long finned betta, though common history says in the 60's the delta tail was created by, Edward Schmidt Focke of Germany from Thai fish.
There may be truth to that, as his fish were not as long finned as the Libby betta, though todays long finned show fish are, which makes the likelihood of the Libby bettas genes being added to the primordial HM stew, especially as the Libby betta had characteristics that were complementary to the delta tail betta, while increasing tail length to some extent. The show standards today call for a fish whose tail is at least one half the length of the fishes body, but many fish have tails that are nearly the length of their bodies, possibly indicating Libby betta heritage.
In 1967, the International Betta Congress, or IBC was formed. Even prior to this point, the move was toward a more symmetrical form of betta, but this may have been the death knell for the veil tail as an accepted form. That and the rising popularity of the betta as a pet, combined with the commercialization of the veil tail was the end of the veil tails respectability as a tail form.
Because no one now breeds the veil tail for show in the US, and the majority of the veils sold in the US are Thai bred with no selectivity other than the hope of getting the greatest variety in one spawn, the veil is looked on as being a mutt bred fish. And yet there are top breeders who secretly and not so secretly add veils to their line, increasing their fishes hardiness, and strength, as many half moon lines are suffering from inbreeding. In fact, all half moons likely trace back to one single male, R39, and the breeding program of CHENMASWIL, so an interjection of some fresh blood may be why these fish are known to be a bit more hardy than other lines.
Though it has been a long road, spanning at least 90 years, and likely more, the veil tail is still a fish that brings pleasure to many. The veil is one of the top selling fish in the US, also being one of the top imported fish. It is often a gateway fish, bringing many people into the world of the show form fish. It's minimal needs make it a very popular pet, and it's hardiness is renowned.
Instead of reviling the veil tail, celebrate it, because it is with the simple and lowly veil tail, that many, many great things began.
That was amazing! You did an awesome job Belle. It gave great information that I had no clue about!
Thank you so much! I can't wait for the other members on here to read it. :D
Yes. She is quite the writer isn't she. Very well done Belle! Thank you so much.
:D
Ace writing there Belle :WOW:
Very very cool, So interesting. :clap :clap :clap :clap :clap well done
wow that was inspirational made me want to go out there and get myself a veiltail just because of the history that it started...way to go belle :thankssign
I want to thank everyone for your kind words.
I had lost my original piece of work and my bibliography in a black out, right before this was due, and I was worried that I would not be able to pull it off.
Going on memory, I started working on it about 9:30 in the evening, and finished it up right before it was posted, which was about 2:30 in the morning.
I had been quite afraid that I had made a mess of things, and seeing your praises makes me know that my efforts were not unnoticed, and that I did not do the horrible job I thought I did.
I feel like I crammed for a test and got an A, so thank you all. :hug:
Bravo!!! :::applauds::: Finally, I've found someone who has something GOOD to say about VeilTail Bettas. Thank You Bella, for you have now re-energized my faith in the Betta people community. :thankssign :T :flower
Ok, so why don't they have their own show class?...
I mean... really!
You'd think the original would get a little respect.
Honestly, I've been on other betta sites and just get picked on for my love and admiration for the VT's.
They are seriously a beautiful and good natured fish. And TOUGH!!!
I'd like to see a HM or a CT or even a Plakat put up with the abuse that a lot of people treat their VT's to (well not really like to see, just a figure of speech)... they can't deal with it like the VT's can... and that my friend is because the VT's have a stronger genetic makeup and are just plain tougher...
Sooooo, :taunt to all the anti-VT people out there.... they can kiss my rear.
dito :knowwhat Thumbsup :clapclap