22
Photograph by Christine Tanner
12
It’s a wild, wild world!
CBS Fall Show Results & Photos
SHOWING 22 CBS Fall Show
Check out the photos and results from the 2013 CBS Fall IBC Show.
26 IBC Down Under
Victoria Betta puts on the first IBC show in Australia.
Betta Ocellata Photograph by Charlie Wijaya
COLUMNS 4 President’s Letter
An update on the state of the International Betta Congress.
6 Judging Board News
It’s takes dedication and hard work to put on an IBC show.
7 IBC Judges 8 Bettaese
Learn to see the world through your betta’s eyes.
9 Betta Bloopers
You never know what you might find in the “oval office.”
28 Convention Show Results 30 IBC Class Lists
BETTA CARE
IBC
10 Product Review
33 IBC Finance Report
Check out the amazing disc hatchery by Hobby.
Wild Bettas 12 Go Wild!
If you keep it simple and do your homework, it’s easy to enjoy keeping wild bettas.
16 Breeder Q&A
Wild betta breeders Dick Houston and Hermanus Haryanto discuss their programs.
Expenses and income of the IBC during 2012 to 2013.
34 IBC Chapters 35 IBC Code of Ethics 35 IBC New Members
10
Product review of disc BBS hatchery.
18 A Wild Life
Gerald Griffin reports what has happened in the world of wild bettas in the last 10 years.
Wild bettas, like the Betta unimaculata on the cover, are fun to keep and raise. Photograph by Richard Atwood
Photograph byLori Green
On the Cover
Volume 47, Issue 2
FLARE! is the official bimonthly publication of the International Betta Congress (IBC), a non-profit organization. The views and opinions contained within are not necessarily those of the editors and/or the officers and members of the IBC.
Last Christmas, I was given a small aquarium for my office. I decided to put a betta in it but I wanted a black one because I was trying to decorate my office using feng shui and I was told to have a black fish to absorb the bad energy of my environment (and I promise you, there was a lot of bad energy to be soaked up). Unable to find any black male bettas in the pet stores, I started searching online. That’s where I discovered the International Betta Congress. I found a black halfmoon male betta on aquabid.com and had him shipped in from a breeder up in the Northeast. When he arrived, he was the most beauitful betta I had ever laid eyes on. His color was a deep black and his fins were huge and flowing. I was hooked. Before long, I was importing some breeding pairs from Thailand and Indonesia and before long I had not only bettas at my office but also in my spare bedroom, the kitchen table, the hutch and anyplace else I could find space to set up a tank or jar. I went to my first show in March that was put on by SCUBA and that’s where I met Lone Star Betta President Lori Green. We quickly became friends and I have to say she has become one of my best friends. I also met her husband, Joe, Gerald and Kayla Griffin, and many others. I had a blast and couldn’t wait to start having my own fish to show. I attended the IBC Convention in Irving, Texas, and made even more fishy friends. Jeremy Waugh and I had been chatting some off and on already online but it was like finding a long-lost brother when we finally met face to face. I was thrilled when he asked me a few weeks later to take over as editor of FLARE! magazine. At the time, I was editor-in-chief of an equestrian lifestyle magazine and knew I could use my expertise to help out IBC and FLARE! I’m excited about working with the FLARE! committee to bring IBC members informative articles, interesting stories and much else to spotlight these beautiful fish that have stolen our hearts. Unfortunately, I no longer have that first black betta as there was too much evil energy in my workplace. But I have at least 200 others and some I have already sent to shows this year in the New Breeder category. If you have ideas, suggestions or even complaints about FLARE!, send me an email anytime to flareeditor@ibcbettas.org or tonya.garrison@ gmail.com. I look forward to hearing hearing from you.
Tonya Garrison editor
FLARE! Editor: Tonya Garrison FlareEditor@ibcbettas.org
FLARE! Submission Guidelines Articles:
Please submit all articles in electronic form. We can accept most popular software formats and fonts. Email to FlareEditor@ibcbettas.org. Photos and graphics are encouraged with your articles! Please remember to include the photo/graphic credits. Graphics and photo files may be submitted in any format; however uncompressed TIFF, JPEG or vector format is preferred, at the highest resolution/file size possible. If you need help with graphics files or your file is too large to email, please contact me for alternative submission info. FTP is available.
Chapter Reports:
All Chapters are encouraged to submit news and chapter items. It is a great opportunity to attract new club members in your area. If you are a new chapter, we will also highlight you in the Welcome to the IBC section. Photos and graphics are encouraged with your articles! Please remember to include the photo/graphic credits. Graphics and photo files may be submitted in any format. However, uncompressed TIFF, JPEG or vector formats are preferred. Please submit the highest resolution and file size possible. If you need help with graphics files or your file is too large to email, please contact me for alternative submission info. FTP is available.
Show Information:
Show Chairs are responsible for submitting Show Information. Show Chairs are responsible for submitting Show Results. Please submit results in the electronic format approved by the Judging Board Registrar. Show Ads cannot exceed ½ pages in length. The IBC Convention ad cannot exceed two pages in length. If you need help creating an ad, please contact the editor at FlareEditor@IBCBettas.org
Art Submission:
Graphics and photo files may be submitted in any format. However, uncompressed TIFF, JPEG or vector formats are preferred. Please submit the highest resolution and file size possible. If you need help with graphics files or your file is too large to email, please contact me for alternative submission info. FTP is available.
Next deadline … NOVEMBER 30, 2013 COPYRIGHT NOTICE
All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, transmitted, distributed, sold, or publicly displayed in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, except for fair use, without the explicit permission of the International Betta Congress (IBC), Syracuse, NY, USA.
President’s Letter
state of the congress T Gerald Griffin IBC President
One of the most important things I have learned so far was to wait to make judgments and make sure you listen to all sides of the argument.
4 FLARE!
his is my favorite issue of FLARE!—the wild betta issue. Those who know me know that wild bettas are my passion and my life. This passion for the wilds started for me more than 30 years ago and I have been enthralled by them ever since. By the time the next FLARE! comes out, the IBC should have its new website up and running. This project being overseen by Sherolyn Craig should put all of the IBC resources in one place, which will help eliminate the confusion members have now trying to find things. There are also some improvements that sound quite promising, and I am anxious to see it up and running as I am sure you all are too. Also the IBC has launched a Facebook group, which is open to IBC and non-IBC members. In less than 24 hours, there were more than 200 people in the group contributing betta things. This appears to be a good move as it brings non-members together with IBC members so they can see what some of the benefits are to belonging to the IBC. With this, it should increase membership. I have been told by non-members the reason they do not join is because they see the IBC as an elitist organization. We have been working on breaking this perception and to show them we are a warm, welcoming organization. The only way we can fight this battle is to let them see what we are really like. As of now, Australia has had its first International Betta show and a second one will happen at the end of this month. It is great to see the rapid growth in the new Area 7. We have some really wonderful and excited members in Australia, and that area will continue to grow and to have many more shows. Kayla and I are hoping within the next couple of years to make one of their shows or convention. I am also excited to see the New Breeder category with competition. It is great to see new people break into showing and compete. This year is going to be a fight, which I consider a good thing. I remember last year counseling Kayla as she made her run, and would get frustrated when she did not win. I would tell her it’s a numbers game, and you have to keep plugging along and the wins will come. They did and she swept all categories. I will not predict that this year as we have a number of talented people going for the title. This is a great and exciting time for the IBC, and I look forward to serving as its leader. Yes, I have had my problems, and when I have them I think back and ask what would Joe do? One of the most important things I have learned so far was to wait to make judgments and make sure you listen to all sides of the argument. I also have a great group of friends on the E-Board who help me in these decisions. So with that, I will close So stay tuned ... same betta place, same betta channel!
FLARE! 5
Judging Board News
it takes you W
Larissa Williams JB Chair
It takes a lot to hold a betta show, and we’re very thankful to everybody who participates.
6 FLARE!
e’ve started this show year out with a very strong set of shows: Area 1 had a very successful show in California, and by the time this issue of FLARE! comes out, Area 1 will have also had two more in Indiana and Texas. Area 2 had two shows in Italy and one in Croatia (their very first). Area 6 has had a show in the Philippines, one in Malaysia, and there’s another one scheduled for November 21-24 also in Malaysia. Area 7 also had their very first IBC-sanctioned shows in Melbourne and Brisbane. Congratulations to all the chapters that put on the shows, the entrants who sent their fish in and the winners. It takes a lot to hold a betta show, and we’re very thankful to everybody who participates. There are some really amazing fish out there, and we’re glad to see them and to recognize the breeders and participants. Thank you all! The second half of the show season is coming up. Chapter Chairs, if you’d like to hold a show in March through June of 2014, please email me at jbchair@ibcbettas.org to check if the date is available. I need to know chapter name, show chair, head judge, and location. After I reserve the date, the sanction fee then needs to be sent in to the IBC, which confirms that date and holds it exclusively for you. The pre-set dates are March 8 & 22, April 5 & 19, May 3, 17 & 31 and June 14. If you need to hold a show on a date that’s not one of the presets, please let me know why in the email (such as holding it in conjunction with another fish show). We will have to discuss if the date is only one week away from another show in your area. Chapter Chairs, also don’t forget about the IBC monetary incentives for holding shows, as explained in the last FLARE!. If you have any questions on them, please let me know. For those wondering, the reason we hold
shows in two week schedules is because Areas generally have many of the same entrants from show to show, and one week isn’t usually enough time for fish to go to a show, return and then go to another show, especially if they’re being mailed. If the fish are being mailed, they have to be shipped out in time for benching, so for a Saturday show, they have to be benched Friday, which means they have to be delivered usually by Thursday. For express, that means shipping on Wednesday, or Monday for 2- to 3-day mail. Then after the show, the fish are packed up on Sunday, usually mailed out on Monday, and get back to people either Tuesday for overnight or Thursday for 2- to 3-day mail. The fish also haven’t eaten anything at all this whole time. They need a few days of rest and food before they can go on to another show and do all that over again. Some people have enough good fish in their fish rooms that they send different fish to every show, or have an every-other-show set of show fish (the “A set” and the “B set”), but that’s not all breeders. Many breeders only have one set of show fish at all. So we set up the two-week schedule to ensure all breeders have an equal chance to enter the shows in their Area with good, healthy fish. Breeders should also remember that while chapters make every effort to care for your fish while they are at a show, that there are hazards in shipping that are out of the chapter’s hands. Be sure and double-bag your fish securely with enough water to buffer them from the shipment and air to breathe for several days, and package them in insulated shipping boxes with enough packing material that they’re not jostled around. To keep your lines the best they can be, breed your best fish at home and show your second best. Everybody else is doing the same, and your second-best will also be awesome. Thank you all again for holding the shows, coming to them, and for breeding your fish and sending them. It takes all of us to have wonderful betta shows.
IBC Judges
6
Martinus Johan Mosi
Indonesia
6
Onnys F. Sundaka
Indonesia
6
Hermanus Haryanto
Indonesia*
6
Hiroki Ishizu
Japan**
6
Bobby Chua
Malaysia
6
Emerson Sy
Philippines
6
Eric Tiu
Philippines
6
Gary Ching
Philippines
6
Mark Lester Hao
Philippines
6
David Poh Bun Chuan
Singapore
6
Dr. Hsu Li Chieh
Singapore
6
Edwin Lim
Singapore
6
Joseph Ong
Singapore
6
Robin Wong Chi Wah
Singapore
6
Thomas Lim
Singapore
6
Widy Kiswanto
Singapore
6
Jesda Attavichitchanyarak
Thailand
7
Jessica Leign
Australia***
7
Jodi Lea-Matheson
Australia***
7
Michael Chang
Australia***
7
Paul Yeo
Australia***
7
Todd Knight
Australia***
7
Vanessa Flett
Australia***
Area Judges Name
State/Country
1
Amit Pandya
US, California
1
Christine Tanner
US, California
1
Gilbert Limhengco
US, California
1
Larissa Williams
US, California
1
Linda Olson
US, Colorado
1
Phil Dorr
US, Colorado
1
Leo Buss
US, Connecticut
1
Rich Creighton
US, Connecticut
1
Amy Becerra
US, Florida
1
Connie Emery
US, Florida
1
Joe Becerra
US, Florida
1
Paul Ogles
US, Florida
1
Kendra Watson
US, Georgia
1
Kurt Bihlmayer
US, Illinois
1
Dan Young
US, Indiana
1
Gene Lucas
US, Iowa
1
Jeff Hiller
US, Kansas
1
Damian Garcia
US, Nevada
1
J. D. Ewtuch
US, New Jersey
1
Joe Cooper
US, New Mexico
1
Rich Christman
US, New York
1
Robert Plenge
US, New York
*For all areas certified
1
Carolyn Hanlon
US, Ohio
**certified areas 3 & 6
1
Gerald Griffin
US, Oklahoma
*** certified areas 6 & 7
1
Kayla Griffin
US, Oklahoma
1
Siegbert Illig
US, Pennsylvania
1
Eryn Rosenbaum
US, Texas
1
Igor Prpic
US, Texas
1
Walden Nida
US, Texas
1
Bob Dozier
US, Virginia
1
David Spector
US, Washington
2
Josip Kevari
Austria
2
Charles Baille
France
2
Florent Philipot
France
2
Yvan Perre`
France
2
Manuela Baerwald
Germany
2
Patrick Hans
Germany
2
Joachim Menz
Germany*
2
Peter Baerwald
Germany*
2
Claire Pavia
Switzerland*
2
Jean-Michel Jeannerat
Switzerland*
2
Rajiv Masillamoni
Switzerland*
2
Sabrina Dichne
Switzerland*
6
Ferdinand Dominikus
Idnonesia
6
Jeanine Heisye (Eto) Atmadjaja
Indonesia
6
Joty Atmadjaja
Indonesia
IBC Apprentices Area
Apprentice Name
State/Country
1
Jonathan Limhemgco
US, California
1
Gianne Souza
US, California
1
Joe Green
US, Texas
1
Lori Green
US, Texas
1
Rick Mallett
US, Florida
1
Cecilia Mallett
US, Florida
1
Stacy Fenhaus (nĂŠe Deaton)
US, Arizona
1
Sherolyn Craig
US, Texas
2
Eugenio Fornasiero
Italy
2
Alberto Montalbetti
Italy
2
James King
Czech
2
Sven Wagner
Germany
6
Elmer Manansala
Philippines
6
Sahal Abdul
Indonesia
6
Jimmy Nallas
Indonesia
6
Piwi Huang
Indonesia
FLARE! 7
Bettaese
by Linda Olson
betta psychology 102 How to get a spawn out of an overly aggressive male? We should realize that bettas are by nature territorial. In fact, this may well be the origin of this unwanted aggression. The first time I tried this was with an outstanding blackyellow HM male I had raised, and had taken to a show in California. A couple of the local members brought me a black-yellow DT female, and said they liked my male so much, they wanted me to take her home and spawn her to him. Their parting words were, “Be good to her. She’s one of our favorite little wet pets.” I didn’t tell them he’d already killed two females, but I did resolve to solve this problem and pull off a successful spawn. I reasoned that because he seemed not to understand when to stop protecting his territory and when to start accepting a mate, I would turn the tables. First, I put their jars next to each other to get them interested in each other, as I usually do. Then I set up the spawning tank, putting HER in it with him in his jar next to it so he could see her in there swimming around for a couple of days. Then I put a hurricane lamp chimney in the tank and put HIM in it so he could continue to watch her. This established in his mind that this was HER territory and he was the interloper, giving HER the psychological edge. Then I put a huge bubblenest in the tank from other jars and lifted out the chimney. Within about 12 hours, they had spawned with no injury to either partner. I have tried this a number of times since with similar success. You just have to learn to think like a betta.
How do you raise well-adjusted youngsters? I have long preferred to set up my fry-raising tanks with undergavel filters. I talk to so many beginning hobbyists about fry-raising frustrations, and the biggest is “how can I suck the junk off the bottom and do my water changes without sucking up all the babies?” Easy. Use an undergravel filter. Not only does the gravel bed pull all the gross stuff under the filter plates where it will not bother the fish, but you can just shoo away all the kids from one spot on the gravel, put your aquarium vacuum through the gravel onto the filter plate and start the siphon. Then while siphoning, you can slide it up and down and back and forth to cover the entire area of the
8 FLARE!
bottom without ever pulling it out of the gravel—and never sucking up one baby. This way you can keep the water crystal clean, do as many water changes as you like without the frustration of sucking out and injuring or losing any of the fry. Now this has some other advantages as well. A tank set up with plants, rocks and driftwood is much more attractive then a bare tank with moldy scum on the bottom—to both people and fish. Then, when these little (very territorial) little betta children start to grow up, they can do what their nature demands and set up territories. They can tell the rest of the crew, “From this leaf to that rock is my territory,” and they will get along with each other much better than they would in a bare tank with no such data points. Raised this way, they start fighting much later then they would if kept in a bare tank, which is a great advantage to the person raising them.
When you can’t change a behavior, how can you still solve a problem? There are some behaviors in some fish that seem to be beyond the reach of betta psychology to change. One of these is lousy parenting. Some males seem to be natural fathers and will raise a spawn perfectly every time. Others will eat the eggs out of the nest, or sometimes will wait until they hatch and eat them then. I have rarely even had males that would eat the eggs as they fell, never putting any in the nest. Sometimes this will happen to the first spawn and then they will settle down and do it right. Still some males are incorrigible, and yet we still might REALLY want young from them. That’s where “foster fathers” come in. If you take a couple of your super-dad males, and set them up at the same time as a problem dad, when the bad father spawns you can take his eggs and give them to the foster father, who will accept them and raise them with his own. It helps if they are completely different color types, so you can tell who is who as they grow up. It helps immeasurably in solving betta-related problems if we can stop to reason how these little creatures see the world. Once we can do that, we can understand what we can do to persuade them to do what we want them to do.
Betta Bloopers
by Cecilia Bailey Mallett
the oval office F
eeding my bettas has always included a variety of foods such as brine shrimp, dry pellets and blood worms. Every morning I start my usual routine by feeding my adult bettas and tanks of small fry. The betta menu for the day was bloodworms and brine shrimp followed by the tedious job of numerous water changes. After consuming two cups of coffee, nature called and I found my self in the oval office on numerous occasions throughout that day while attending to my fish. At one time before flushing the bowl, I noticed something wiggling on the surface of the water. What I saw was so startling that I was compelled to collect the unidentified specimen in a cup with water and then called my youngest sister to explain the unusual moment. She said, “You really need to call your doctor right away,” and she even said that she would take me to the hospital. She also said, “This is very serious, girl,” and for me not to take this lightly. After hanging up the phone with her, I phoned my physician right away and spoke with her about my experience and my unusual specimen of concern. My physician began asking me a multitude of questions and I gave her a full description of the specimen details that I had collected. With a very concerned voice, she told me to bring the specimen to the hospital to the labor and delivery floor (which she was working in on that particular day) and she would have the lab check it out. So I took the specimen to her and then waited for an answer. She took me in a private room and explained to me that she had no idea what it was and that I should continue to monitor and inspect my oval office every time from now on before flushing. She also asked me if I had a gastroenterology physician and if maybe I should follow up with one. I returned home with a real concern now about the unexplained mystery specimen and also with the thought of having to call my gastroenterology doctor for an appointment. Later that evening I disrobed from my clothing to take a shower and stepped inside the shower stall. As I leaned down to turn on the water, I noticed the same specimen that I had collected earlier and gave to the hospital resembled the same exact thing (minus the wiggle), which was now clinging to my bare thigh. I picked it up with my finger and examined it fully. After a full and close inspection, I then knew what this unidentified specimen was and my bathroom walls echoed with a loud sound of laughter. The unidentified specimen was a blood worm!! It must have been on my clothing when I had to visit the oval office earlier and had fallen off my clothing and landed into the toilet bowl.
FLARE! 9
Product Review
by Lori Green
the amazing disc hatchery by Hobby I t all started with Convention 2013 when I was asked to do a seminar on Live Foods/First Foods. I used the old Coke-bottle hatcheries, but hated the way I always had unhatched eggs or egg shells in with the newly hatched baby brine shrimp. I also didn’t like the mess it made on my good sofa table that had made its way into my fishroom. I knew eventually the salt would start eating away at the finish on my table. Daily, I was wiping the salt residue from where droplets of water would pop out when the bubbles from the air pump pop. I had seen the disc hatcheries in the IBC Store, but at $24 or so, I just couldn’t afford it. But after I broke one of the Coke-bottle hatcheries, I got to thinking about the disc hatchery. At Convention, Cecilia was unpacking the IBC Store and was setting it up. She allowed me to use one of the disc hatcheries as a demo. The plan was to set one up so that I would have hatching baby brine shrimp, but we ran out of time. I just opened the box and took the hatchery out and read the directions just so I could at least understand “how” it worked. I decided I would just buy the dish hatchery from the store and try it at home after convention ... and once I did, I fell in love with it. It is so easy to use! Hot water, salt, baby brine shrimp eggs and no air pump required. The only kicker is that you do need a source of light to draw the hatched BBS to the center. Natural sunlight works great for this. How easy you ask? When the disc is completely broken down, it contains four parts: the dish itself, a white ringed insert, the lid, and a strainer cup. Inside the dish is a fill line. What
10 FLARE!
I do is to fill the dish with HOT water, then pour that into a drinking glass that is big enough to hold all of the water. I add my salt to that, and stir it until the salt is dissolved. I pour the water into the dish and add the ring insert. I add a scoop of brine shrimp eggs to the outer edge of the dish, put the lid on the dish, and add the strainer cup into the center of the lid opening. Within 24 hours, I usually have newly hatched brine shrimp. For harvesting, lift the strainer cup and allow as much water to drip as needed. Sometimes I have so many
hatch that I use a turkey baster to get any out of the center before I add the cup back in. I love this hatchery so much that I bought a second one. I have had so much trouble trying to separate eggs, eggshells and newly hatched BBS that these dish hatcheries work the very best for me. They save me a lot of time and trouble because harvesting is so fast. I am usually able to harvest about six times (or three days) before I have to start a new batch. Having two of these going, I am hardly ever without newly hatched brine shrimp to feed.
FLARE! 11
Photos by Lori Green
Go Wild! If you keep it simple and do your homework, you too can enjoy keeping these fascinating wild species.
Story & Photos by Richard Atwood 12 FLARE!
M
any of us find ourselves looking into keeping the wild species of bettas at some point or another. Maybe we saw some at a show or while surfing the ‘net. No matter how they caught our attention, there is just something about the primitive unchanged wild-type betta.
FLARE! 13
Once you have caught the urge to keep them, you’ll have a whole new set of issues to overcome. • How do we set them up? • How do we spawn them? • Will they eat the foods we already have available? All you need to remember when setting up your first wilds is to follow the KISS rule. Do your research, ask questions and be prepared for the differences in keeping these as opposed to the domestic-type splendens.
... Keep It Super Simple! Setups
A simple, yet effective, setup for a pair of B. picta., a 5.5 gallon tank with plenty of hides and a full-glass top. The pair liked this setup and spawned shortly after being placed in it. Although experienced keepers have successfully kept certain wild species in small aquaria such as 2.5-gallon tanks it is not recommended for those just getting started with wilds. With splendens you can maintain them in deli cups with or without lids, in small tanks with no aeration. This is not the same with wild types. They need far more room, they need very well-fitting lids, and most need some sort of aeration or moderate water movement. They need plenty of hiding places around the tank for refuge as well. Do your research for the species you want to set up. This article will cover a general set up which will not work for all species, but most.
14 FLARE!
Bare bottom 10-20 gallon tanks work well for most species. Depth is not as important as floor space. I paint or by some other means block off the bottom and at least the back. I use a minimum of 2 large spawning mops and a few IAL’s with a sponge or box type filter running moderate airflow. A few sections of 2” PVC pipe or clay flowerpots can be added for added hiding spots. I use either painters plastic or clear trash bags to make a tight fitting top for the tank and tape it around 3 sides, a good glass lid works just as well but costs far more if your tank didn’t come with one. Lighting is not important unless you are going to use live plants, therefore in this article we will not cover it.
Water
Spawning
Food
General Care
Unless you have extremely hard water with a very high pH value, most normal water for any other tank setups will do the job. Most all of the importers are now acclimating the wild types over to a more “normal� water chemistry than in the past. I choose to run a lower pH on my wild types to aid in spawning and coloration. However, it has been shown that this is not a needed thing in current times. Just make sure you acclimate them over to your water in the proper manner and you should do fine with them.
In my experience the wild types will eat the same food that I feed my others once they get settled in. They have eagerly taken frozen bloodworms, brine shrimp, daphnia, and even high-quality pellets. As with any fish, you want to alter what you feed from time to time to give them the best variety of foods and nutrients.
Depending on the species you get, you simply set up a pair or small group and nature will take its course with very little help from you. Unlike splendens where we set up a special situation to get the outcome, with wild types if you set them up to meet their needs ‌ they do the rest. Depending on the type, either mouth brooder or bubble nester, your work may be done for a time until the fry are free swimming. Again, do your research. Most wild types are left in with the fry, however, some are not.
Most wilds do well with normal-range temperatures and light cycles. Some need more specialized temperatures and the like. Again, do your research on the species you are acquiring as not all are kept the same. Same can be said about water movement. Some species come from areas where there is a good amount of water current; to really meet the needs of them, you will need some moderate to higher turnover.
FLARE! 15
Breeder Q&A
Dick Houston
How long have you been involved with bettas in general and Wilds in particular? I started with bettas and other fish in 1943 at age 11. I did not even know that wilds existed until 2005, at which time I started getting rid of my splendens and going completely to wilds. What attracted you to the IBC originally and what keeps you interested? I became a member of the local betta group, and in a year was the default president of the group. Because either the president or a contact person had to be a member of IBC, I had to join or our little group would have been put out. What keeps my interest is the chance to let a few more people see some wilds in the hopes that more will maintain them. What was it about wilds that got you interested in them? Originally it was the idea that I would be maintaining endangered fish to be reintroduced to the wild. Since I don’t have a lot of years left, that seemed a worthy goal in retirement. Turns out there are plenty of people maintaining wilds in their own countries and they don’t really need those of us in the United States. Also, I have always enjoyed challenges in raising fish. I was one of a few in the late ‘40s to successfully raise a spawn of neon tetras. (It was really more of an accident but I was too young to know that.) Wild bettas appeared to be a large enough group to present some challenges. For many years you have sent wilds to the shows to be sold. That seems like a labor of love. Why do you do it? I send them because I want those coming to the shows to see them and maybe at least recognize that bettas are not limited to the fancy man-altered ones. As to why I have them sold, there are two reasons: 1. I have had bad experiences with some show groups packaging them for return. 2. I don’t need any more of whatever species I send. I either have plenty left or I am phasing out of the particular species, like I did recently with Betta Pi. What wilds do you currently raise? I have six Bellica males with no females. The rest that I have are all mouthbrooders. I have plenty of water (I was given 26 tanks ranging from 55 gallons down to 10 gallons in 2005). Among the larger mouthbrooders I have are Patoti, Raja, and Enisae. Of the smaller ones, I only have Falx and Edithae at present. My fishroom is a working room not a showroom. I just care for what God provides. I don’t make any attempt to ”improve” them. Are the water conditions for the wilds much different than conditions for HMs or CTs? All wilds do not have the same water needs. My city water is dead soft. It is 7.0 out of the faucet but crashes overnight to the high 5s to low 6s. Wilds raised in this country tend toward the same needs as the splendens but many still seem to do better with soft water and low pH. I have heard they also need much larger tanks with well16 FLARE!
fitting tops to be happy. Is this true? Are there any that can be bred or enjoyed in smaller tanks? Well-fitted tops are necessary with most wilds, though the jumping for some can be decreased with a heavy floating plant mat. Since wilds come in size from less than an inch to over 4 inches, the size tank varies with that size. I don’t use anything smaller than 10 gallons for small wilds like Brownorum and Coccina. I am sure smaller tanks might be OK, but that is the smallest I have. When in doubt, go with a bigger tank. While I use a number of 30-gallon tanks for grow out, my full-grown Enisae, Patoti, and Pi did not do well in under 55 gallons. Which is your favorite wild? Definitely (so far) the Enisae. For someone new to wilds, what would be a good one to start with? I would suggest starting with one of those in the Picta complex and ones that were raised in your country. Don’t start with wild caught. That can come later when you are more at home with wilds. Where is the best place to get wilds? From breeders in the country where you are located. You don’t have the same adaptation problems that can happen with those either wild caught or used to different water.
Hermanus Haryanto For how long you have been keeping bettas? I have been keeping bettas since I was 10 years old. My first betta was a fighter betta, and I have bred them as well as my favorite fish. Second time I kept bettas was because Henry Yin poisoned me with his crowntail and halfmoon betta. It was August 2001. What got you to keep wild bettas? It was on Aquarama 2007, Singapore, where fish people came and met from everywhere. At the betta booth (Beta Club S’pore booth), there was a hot discussion about wild betta, but I was blank for I did not know anything about wild bettas. Actually, 70 percent of wild bettas’ home is in Indonesia. It was so shy and looked so ugly, that I promised myself that I must get and understand about them, and then promote this beautiful fish to all the globe. When did you decide to breed and show wild bettas for the IBC? How different is it from showing fancy bettas? After I get the wild-caught betta, first I think in my mind is to manage to get them to survive in my tanks. I have learned this lesson before I go to next step, breeding wild betta. And this part is easier than the first step because almost all of them are already in good condition. Betta albimarginata and betta chanoides were my first project, and in a couple of months I have many, many babies. And after these, all species have followed successful breeding on captivity, including betta macrostoma. I remember the first time I enter my wild to the show in 2008, and after that I have been taking part in almost all IBC shows where they show wild betta classes. I kept my promise by supporting the Texas Convention in 2009 and the Aquarama 2011 S’pore, where the events have slot for wild betta exhibition. What is the difference from showing fancy bettas to showing wild bettas? Fancy bettas are easier to manage for shows because the standard and classes we have known for long enough, and fancy bettas are easy to get and breed. For the wild betta, we must manage the fish so it will not get too stressed when we put it in the show tank or they won’t appear their true color and health. Right now, we don’t have a detail standard. At this moment, there are only two or four classes that are present in the IBC . What’s it like taking part in the IBC’s Species Maintenance Program? Yes, I have participated in IBC’s SMP, but what’s important is that I want to show the world how beautiful these bettas are. How are the different species of wild bettas kept well in captivity? These are wild bettas afterall, so how can they be kept in a normal aquarium set up? Almost all wild betta will adapt to their new home in our tanks if we do well in the beginning. At the moment of them arriving, we need to have them quarantined as well to prevent carrying bacteria and put a lot of Indian almond leaf to make it
similar with their origin place, after they’re stable then we can move them to normal aquarium with clear water. How did wild bettas get their colors, and where can you find them in the wild? Does this determine how long they live in the wild and how they will be kept in captivity? The wild betta colors are already there. The important thing is to make them comfortable at our tanks and their color will appear as we want. I don’t know exactly how long they can live in the wild, but in a captive tank I noted they can live about three years and some of the species can reach up to five years. FLARE! 17
by Gerald Griffin
A Wild Life
The status of the wild betta species from 2003 to 2013.
I
have been involved with the Species Maintenance Program for more than 10 years, and thought for the wild betta issue why not cover what has happened in the betta world for the last decade. In that time, 26 species had been formally described. Some of those species were known in science as Sp., and were awaiting formal descriptions. However, the vast majority were discovered just a few years before their description. Of those, one species that was thought extinct in the wild was rediscovered and split into two species, earning itself a new complex. Six species were listed as vulnerable in 2003 and are still vulnerable in 2013, and two species were added to the vulnerable list. Three species that were identified as critically endangered in 2003 are still critically endangered in 2013, while one species went from vulnerable in 2003 to critically endangered in 2013 and another species went from critically endangered in 2003 to endangered in 2013. As of this time, 52 species have not been evaluated so their exact status in the wild is actually unknown. Four species are of least concern, meaning that their status is secure in the wild, and another four species did not have enough data during evaluation to make a conclusion as to their status. Right now, Southeast Asia is going through some very rapid changes and is quickly developing land. I therefore find this data disturbing as some of these species could become extinct before their actual status is known. Some of the wild betta species are only known from small areas of distribution and are therefore threatened from habitat degradation and fragmentation. This could easily push those species into extinction. For the last 10 years or so, I have been
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preaching the plight of the wild betta species. The main threats still remain, which are deforestation, global warming and urban sprawl while the splendens complex faces the additional threat of the release of domestic splendens into their environment, which causes hybridization with the wild stocks and the loss of the species. The locations where pure splendens can be found are becoming smaller and smaller every year. Deforestation is a big threat at the current time. At one time, Southeast Asia was home to very large forests that have been logged both legally and illegally. The illegal or pirate logging is estimated to be about 40 percent of what has been harvested from Borneo. Thailand has lost over 66 percent percent of their forests and Borneo is not far behind.
shift in the biota, which can also have negative effects on wild betta populations. The other problem with this is the fact siltation then is carried into the reefs around Borneo, causing wholesale destruction of the corals in the reefs and outright killing them. Urban sprawl is another major problem with wild betta species as “Pristine Wilderness” is converted to use either by expanding cities or by industries needing more room. In my head, constantly plays Big Yellow Taxi by Counting Crows anytime I think about the situation in Southeast Asia.
The problems with Borneo are that the demand for lumber from lumber mills far exceeds what is being harvested and in addition extensive areas are being logged out and replaced with palm oil plantations.
That song always brings tears to my eyes because of the photo documentation of Michael Lo showing the destruction and habitat modification currently going on in his paradise of Borneo. This is also a topic I discuss in my classes. I have to bring home the fact that we do not rule Southeast Asia and the local people, or any people in general, only think about conservation after their primary needs are met. Or, as I put it simply, “when they have food in their bellies and their housing needs are met, then they can think about more abstract things such as preserving wildlife.” One of the greatest threats to any species is habitat fragmentation. This is dangerous as it limits or eliminates exchanges in the gene pool of the species and can in itself lead to speciation given enough time. Also, when a species or population is in a limited area like what we are currently seeing with betta simplex, one small disaster can cause the entire species to go into extinction. The other threat that wild betta spe-
‘‘THEY PAVED PARADISE AND PUT UP A PARKING LOT.’’
More than 80 percent of the lowlands in Indonesian Borneo have been logged or are slated to be logged. This extensive modification of the environment is happening much faster than predicted and the calculations from the Woodrow Wilson Institute are actually quite conservative. The disruption to the environment has a twofold effect: •
First, it changes the streams and rivers silting them out because the trees are no longer there to hold the soil. This will cause the fish to die out in those rivers and streams.
•
The second effect is the modification to the ecosystem creates a
Borneo palm oil plantations affect water quality through increased nitrogen export due to extensive fertilizer use. Maps of nitrogen exports, where red is high and yellow is low, for three watersheds that originate in the Heart of Borneo. The left map shows the nutrient pollution in 2009 affecting drinking water utilities while the right map shows the likely distribution of nutrient pollution and affected drinking water utilities under BAU in 2020. cies face is global warming. In all computer simulations, Southeast Asia will receive less rainfall. This will, without a doubt, change the climate and habitat creating the possibility of minor waterways drying up, thereby eliminating areas that would have once contained wild betta species. The implications would be as the area dries out it would lead to more forest fires, and with the lack of tree cover, could cause flooding and/or siltation just like is seen in deforestation. Although it is impossible to see what future wild betta species will actually have, there is no doubt that for many species they will soon be facing pressures that they have never had to deal with before and could be forced into extinction. The flip side of that coin is how many species have gone into extinction before we actually got to see what they were? On a good note, a lot of progress is being made in breeding wild betta species in captivity and long-term maintenance of wild betta species is possible. We in the SMP have learned a lot from the propagation of these species, and with the efforts of Hermanus Haryanto and Joty Atmadjaja for supplying the SMPs of Australia and the United States, many of these species that are in trouble might be saved. It is also great to see so much enthusiasm.
Deforestation in Borneo 1950-2020
I now have hope that the keeping and maintaining wild betta species for the long term is not only possible, but will happen. The reconfiguration by bringing the SMP to Facebook has proven to be very successful and we have seen the expansion of SMP
in Australia in addition to its expansion in Southeast Asia. The cooperation for the common good is commendable. The future is bright again as we all work to save these precious jewels that have been bestowed to us by our creator. FLARE! 19
Species Betta akarensis Betta albimarginata Betta anabatoides Betta antoni Betta apollon Betta aurigans Betta balunga Betta bellica Betta breviobesus Betta brownorum Betta burdigala Betta channoides Betta chini Betta chloropharynx Betta coccina Betta compuncta Betta cracens Betta dennisyongi Betta dimidiata Betta edithae Betta enisae Betta falx Betta ferox Betta foerschi Betta fusca Betta gladiator Betta hendra Betta hipposideros Betta ibanorum Betta ideii Betta imbellis Betta krataios Betta kuehnei Betta lehi Betta livida Betta macrostoma
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Author Regan, 1910 Kottelat & Ng, 1994 Bleeker, 1851 Tan & Ng, 2006 Schindler & Schmidt, 2006 Tan & Lim, 2004 Herre, 1940 Sauvage, 1884 Tan & Kottelat, 1998 Witte & Schmidt, 1992 Kottelat & Ng, 1994 Kottelat & Ng, 1994 Ng, 1993 Kottelat & Ng, 1994 Vierke, 1979 Tan & Ng, 2006 Tan & Ng, 2005 Tan, 2013 Roberts, 1989 Vierke, 1984 Kottelat, 1995 Tan & Kottelat, 1998 Schindler & Schmidt, 2006 Vierke, 1979 Regan, 1910 Tan & Ng, 2005 Schindler & Linke, 2013 Ng & Kottelat, 1994 Tan & Ng, 2004 Tan & Ng, 2006 Ladiges, 1975 Tan & Ng, 2006 Schindler & Schmidt, 2008 Tan & Ng, 2005 Ng & Kottelat, 1992 Regan 1910
Status 2003 Not Evaluated Not Evaluated Not Evaluated Not formally described Not Formally Described Not Formally Described Not Evaluated Least Concern Not Evaluated Not Evaluated Vulnerable Not Evaluated Vulnerable Vulnerable Not Evaluated Not Formally Described Not Formally Described Not Formally Described Not Evaluated Not Evaluated Not Evaluated Not Evaluated Not Formally Described Not Evaluated Not Evaluated Not Formally Described Not Formally Described Vulnerable Not Formally Described Not Formally Described Not Evaluated Not Formally Described Not Formally Described Not Formally Described Critically Endangered Vulnerable
Status 2013 Not Evaluated Not Evaluated Not Evaluated Not Evaluated Not Evaluated Not Evaluated Not Evaluated Least Concern Not Evaluated Not Evaluated Vulnerable Not Evaluated Vulnerable Vulnerable Not Evaluated Not Evaluated Not Evaluated Not Evaluated Not Evaluated Not Evaluated Not Evaluated Not Evaluated Not Evaluated Not Evaluated Not Evaluated Not Evaluated Not Evaluated Vulnerable Not Evaluated Not Evaluated Least Concern Not Evaluated Data Deficient Not Evaluated Endangered Vulnerable
Betta mahachaiensis Kowasupat, Panijpan, Ruenwongsa & Sriwattanarothai 2012 Betta mandor Tan & Ng, 2006 Betta midas Tan, 2009 Betta minopinna Tan & Tan, 1994 Betta obscura Tan & Ng, 2005 Betta ocellata De Beaufort, 1933 Betta pallida Schindler & Schmidt, 2004 Betta pallifina Tan & Ng, 2005 Betta pardalotos Tan, 2009 Betta patoti Weber & de Beaufort, 1922 Betta persephone Schaller, 1986 Betta pi Tan, 1998 Betta picta (Valenciennes, 1846) Betta pinguis Tan & Kottelat, 1998 Betta prima Kottelat, 1994 Betta pugnax (Cantor, 1849) Betta pulchra Tan & Tan, 1996 Betta raja Tan & Ng, 2005 Betta renata Tan, 1998 Betta rubra Perugia, 1893 Betta rutilans Witte & Kottelat, 1991 Betta schalleri Kottelat & Ng, 1994 Betta siamorientalis Kowasupat, Panijpan, Ruenwongsa & Sriwattanarothai 2012 Betta simorum Tan & Ng, 1996 Betta simplex Kottelat, 1994 Betta smaragdina Ladiges, 1972 Betta spilotogena Ng & Kottelat, 1994 Betta splendens Regan, 1910 Betta stigmosa Tan & Ng, 2005 Betta stiktos Tan & Ng, 2005 Betta strohi Schaller & Kottelat, 1989 Betta taeniata Regan, 1910 Betta tomi Ng & Kottelat, 1994 Betta tussyae Schaller, 1985 Betta uberis Tan & Ng, 2006 Betta unimaculata (Popta, 1905) Betta waseri Krummenacher, 1986
Not Formally Described
Not Evaluated
Not Formally Described Not Formally Described Critically Endangered Not Formally Described Not Evaluated Not Formally Described Not Formally Described Not Formally Described Not Evaluated Critically Endangered Not Evaluated Not Evaluated Not Evaluated Not Evaluated Not Evaluated Not Evaluated Not Formally Described Not Evaluated Not Evaluated Not Evaluated Not Evaluated Not Formally Described
Not Evaluated Not Evaluated Critically Endangered Not Evaluated Not Evaluated Data Deficient Not Evaluated Not Evaluated Not Evaluated Critically Endangered Not Evaluated Least Concern Vulnerable Least Concern Not Evaluated Not Evaluated Not Evaluated Not Evaluated Not Evaluated Not Evaluated Not Evaluated Not Evaluated
Not Evaluated Vulnerable Not Evaluated Critically Endangered Not Evaluated Not Formally Described Not Formally Described Not Evaluated Not Evaluated Vulnerable Not Evaluated Not Formally Described Not Evaluated Not Evaluated
Not Evaluated Critically Endangered Threatened Critically Endangered Vulnerable Not Evaluated Data Deficient Not Evaluated Not Evaluated Vulnerable Not Evaluated Not Evaluated Not Evaluated Not Evaluated
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BOS Male
2013 Cal Betta S Fall S New Breeder BOS Female
New Breeder BOS Male
Photographs by Christine Tanner 22 FLARE!
lifornia Society Show
Reserve BOS Male
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Australia’s 1st IBC Show Photographs by Michael Chang
Show judges were Jesica Bret, Jodi-Lea Matheson (head judge) and Ness Flett.
Daryl Maddock we
After enjoying 26 over four days it w bittersweet seeing being sold off one Have a good life li
Auctioneer 26 FLARE!Paul Yeo and auction steward Hai Nguyen.
Reserve BOS Male
BOS Female
BOS Male
elcoming guests to the show.
60 bettas was a little g them e by one. ittle fella.
Bagging 146 auction fish.
Arts and crafts entries.
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AREA 1 IBC 2013-2014 SHOW CLASS LIST Group A: Regular Classes Division A1: Halfmoon ST Solid Color A1. Red STM A2. Black STM A3. Red or Black STF A4. Blue STM A5. Steel STM A6. Green / Turquoise STM A7. Blue STF A8. Steel STF A9. Green / Turquoise STF A10. Clear / Yellow / Orange STM A11. Clear / Yellow / Orange STF A12. Opaque / Pastel STM A13. Opaque / Pastel STF A14. Metallic Solid STM (dark and light) A15. Dark Metallic Solid STF A16. Light Metallic Solid STF Division A2: Halfmoon ST Patterned A17. Multicolor STM A18. Multicolor STF A19. BiColor STM A20. BiColor STF A21. Butterfly STM A22. Butterfly STF A23. Marble / Grizzle STM A24. Marble / Grizzle STF Division B: Halfmoon Doubletail B1. Dark Solid DTM B2. Light Solid DTM B3. Dark or Light Solid Color DTF B4. Patterned DTM B5. Patterned DTF Division C: Crowntail C1. Dark Solid Male C2. Light Solid Male C3. Dark or Light Solid Color Female C4. Patterned Male C5. Patterned Female
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Division D: Shortfin D1. Traditional Plakat Male D2. Dark Show Plakat Male D3. Light Show Plakat Male D4. Show Plakat Patterned Male D5. Show Plakat Multicolor Male D6. Halfmoon Shortfin Male D7. Traditional Form Plakat Female D8. Show Plakat Female D9. Doubletail Plakat Male Division E: Breeders Division E1. Color or Form Variations E2. Form and Finnage E3. Pairs Division F: Wild Type Betta Pairs F1 Small / Large Bubblenesters F2 Small / Large Mouthbrooders Division G: Optional Classes G1 Photography G2 Illustration G3 Crafts
Group B: New Breeder Classes NB-1 Singletail Male NB-2 Doubletail Male NB-3 Crowntail Male NB-4 Plakat Male NB-5 Singletail Female NB-6 Doubletail Female Regular Classes: 46 Trial Classes: 0 Wild Classes: 2 Optional Classes: 3 New Breeder Classes: 6 57 Total Classes
AREA 2 IBC 2013-2014 SHOW CLASS LIST Group A: Regular Classes Division A1: Veiltail ST A1. Veiltail Males (TRIAL CLASS) A2. Veiltail Females (TRIAL CLASS) Division A2: Halfmoon Non-Iridescent Dark Solid ST A3. Red or Black STM A4. Red or Black STF Division A3: Halfmoon Iridescent Dark Solid ST A5. Blue or Green/Turquoise or Steel STM A6. Blue or Green/Turquoise or Steel STF Division A4: Halfmoon Light Solid ST A7. Clear, Yellow, Orange, Opaque or Pastel STM A8. Clear, Yellow, Orange, Opaque or Pastel STF Division A5: Halfmoon Metallic Solid ST A9. Metallic Solid STM A10. Metallic Solid STF Division A6: Halfmoon Patterned ST A11. Bicolor STM A12. Multicolor STM A13. Other Patterned (bf, marb, griz) STM A14. Bicolor STF A15. Multicolor STF A16. Other Patterned (bf, marb, griz) STF Division A2: Halfmoon ST Patterned A17. Multicolor STM A18. Multicolor STF A19. BiColor STM A20. BiColor STF A21. Butterfly STM A22. Butterfly STF A23. Marble / Grizzle STM A24. Marble / Grizzle STF Division B: Halfmoon Doubletail B1. Doubletail Males B2. Doubletail Females Division C: Crowntail ST C1. Crowntail Males C2. Crowntail Females Division D: Shortfin ST D1. Traditional Plakat Male D2. Show Plakat Dark Solid-Color Male D3. Show Plakat Light Solid-Color Male D4. Show Plakat Bicolor Male D5. Show Plakat Multicolor Male
D6. Show Plakat Patterned Male D7. Halfmoon Shortfin D8. Traditional Plakat Females D9. Show Plakat Females D10. Doubletail Plakat Males D11. Crowntail Plakat Males (TRIAL CLASS)* Division E: Breeders Division E1. Color or Form Variations Male E2. Color or Form Variations Female E3. Form and Finnage Males E4. Form and Finnage Females E5. Pairs E6. Large Pectoral Form Males (TRIAL CLASS)* Division F: Wild Type Betta Pairs F1 Small / Large Bubblenesters F2 Small / Large Mouthbrooders Division G: Arts & Crafts G1 Photography G2 Illustration G3 Crafts
Group B: New Breeder Classes NB1 Males VT (TRIAL CLASS) NB2 Males ST/DT NB3 Crowntail Male NB4 Shortfin Male NB5 Females VT (TRIAL CLASS) NB6 Females ST/DT/CT NB7 Shortfin Female Regular Classes: 33 Trial Classes: 4 Wild Classes: 2 Arts & Crafts: 3 New Breeder Classes: 5 NB Trial Classes: 2 49 Total Classes Note: If not specified, classes are to be judged with all colors/patterns. *The trial classes for Crowntail Pakats and for Large Pectorals are written for males only. Females with these characteristics should be entered in E2—Color or Form Variations Female.
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AREA 6 IBC 2013-2014 SHOW CLASS LIST Group A: Regular Classes
GROUP B : OPTIONAL CLASSES
Division A: Halfmoon Single Tail
Division E: Female Classes
A1. Red STM (Dark and Light Body) A2. Black STM A3. Dark Iridescent STM A4. Light Solid Color STM A5. Bicolor/ Butterfly STM A6. Marble/ Grizzled/ Multicolor STM A7. Metallic Dark STM A8. Metallic Light STM A9. Color Variation STM (AOC) Division B: Halfmoon Doubletail B1. Dark Solid Color DTM B2. Light Solid Color DTM B3. Patterned DTM B4. Metallic Dark/Light DTM B5. Color Variation DTM (AOC) Division C: Crowntail ST C1. Red/Black CTM C2. Dark Iridescent CTM C3. Light Solid CTM C4. Patterned CTM C5. Black Orchid CTM C6. Metallic Dark CTM C7. Metallic Light CTM C8. Color Variation CTM (AOC) Division D: Shortfin ST D1. Red STM Show Plakat D2. Black STM Show Plakat D3. Dark Iridescent STM Show Plakat D4. Light Solid Color STM Show Plakat D5. Bicolor/Butterfly STM Show Plakat D6. Marble/ Grizzled STM Show D7. Multicolor STM Show Plakat D8. Metallic Dark STM Show Plakat D9. Metallic Light STM Show Plakat D10. Color Variation STM show Plakat D11. Giant Solid Color Show Plakat (TRIAL CLASS) D12. Giant Patterned Show Plakat (TRIAL CLASS)
E1. Solid Color HM/DT Female E2. Patterned HM/DT Female E3. Solid Color CT Female E4. Patterned CT Female E5. Solid Color Show Plakat Female E6. Patterned Show plakat Female Division F: Wild Type Betta Pairs F1. Bubble-nesters (small size) F2. Bubble-nester (medium/large size) F3. Mouth-brooder (small/medium size) F4. Mouth-brooder (large size) Division G: Optional Classes G1. Photography G2. Illustration G3. Crafts Division H: Optional Plakat Classes H1. Traditional Plakat H2. Halfmoon Shortfin Division I: Temporary Classes I1. Doubletail Show Plakat I2. Large Pectoral HM/PK (TRIAL CLASS) I3. Form Variation Division J: Form & Finnage Classes J1. Halfmoon J2. Doubletail Halfmoon J3. Crowntail J4. Shortfin Division NB: New Breeders NB1. Singletail Male NB2. Doubletail Male NB3. Crowntail Male NB4. Shortfin Male NB5. Singletail Female NB6. Doubletail Female
Regular Classes: 32 Trial Classes (Regular): 2 Optional Classes: 21 Trial (Optional): 1 New Breeder (Optional): 6 62 Total Classes 32 FLARE!
2012-2013 IBC Finance Report
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Code of Ethics of the International Betta Congress The International Betta Congress (IBC or The Congress) welcomes everyone who is interested in bettas, whether new at owning and/or raising bettas or an old pro who has raised thousands. The IBC feels there is room for all betta enthusiasts, be it young or old, new or experienced, individuals, families, teams or commercial breeders. The IBC is a club of individuals, families, teams, and commercial breeders who support the keeping, breeding, and/or the showing of bettas bred by our members; the research into the genetics of the betta species, and support of the preservation of the wild species through the Species Maintenance Program. It is IBC policy that members who sell, trade or give bettas to others must represent the description of such bettas in a proper manner, so as to assure that the buyers, consumers or recipients are not misled. An intentional misrepresentation would be a violation of the IBC policy and Code of Ethics. Moreover, it is the policy of the IBC, that when bettas are entered in a show, all such bettas should be raised and bred by the entrant or exhibitor unless clearly stated otherwise. Failure to comply with this policy would be contrary to the IBC Code of Ethics. The IBC does not participate in the fighting of fish for any reason and does not condone the fighting of bettas by others; nor does it support any individual or organization that does. The IBC expects all members to conduct transactions with all parties in a responsible, fair and ethical manner, in all dealings concerning the purchase and sale of betta stock and supplies. While we hope that all disputes be amicably resolved among the parties, the Congress, however, is not an enforcement agency for the transaction of betta stock and/or supplies, nor can the IBC mediate disputes involving members or any individuals over said transactions. In the interest of fairness, the IBC does not endorse individual business enterprises, and does not allow the promotion of those enterprises in posts on the IBC website, its forums or discussion lists, whether they are personal testimonials or commercial advertisements. The IBC believes that if all members abide by these simple guidelines we will have a happy, fun and stimulating club.
New Members Please welcome the following new members to the IBC: Ahmad Amin
Phillip Harris
Minh Nguyen
William L. Skonsky
Thomas Aurand
Ken Konas
Leah P. Patton
Krista Strucke
Barbara Bianco
Yuekun Lang
Terresa Rennhack
Michael Sughroue
Claudia Blanc
Anthony Jordan Looney
Erin Rusic
Tjiong Supriadi
Robert Boumis
Victor Ma
Roberto R. Scifo H
Wolfgang Wilde
Jason Buck
Macaire Marino
Michael Sherman
Christine Williams
BoonPing Chan
Cesar Matos
Kalin Showers
Pamela Eggleston
Dylan Neri
Sumantri Sjukri
IBC has 647 members and continues to grow.
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