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Colors

Pigments that appear on bettas exist in the skin as chromatophores, which are cells that contain pigment. They are best described as existing in structured layers. In betta splendens, iridescent is on top, with red on the bottom. Cellophane is the true bottom layer, but it holds no pigment, and is often overlooked in color layer charts.
Picture
  • The iridescent layer holds royal blue (⬤Bl), steel blue (⬤Bls), turquoise (⬤Blt), and iridescent (❂Si) which is not a true pigment, rather crystallized guanines that reflect light and appear as bright colors or white. It also holds metallic (❂Mt) and opaque (◒Op), which changes the depth of the guanines within the layer to be lower, and therefore less shiny.
  • The black layer holds melano (black) (⬤/⬤bm), black lace (a second black gene, slightly lighter then melano) (⬤blc), and red-loss (◎Rlos), which is not a color itself, but causes a fish to lose red pigment as it ages.
  • The red layer holds red (⬤R), non-red 2 (orange) (⬤nr2), non-red 1 (yellow) (⬤nr1), and blonde (◌bd), which is not a color itself, but responsible for reducing the density of black pigment, which results in a "washed-out" color. The layer also holds the extended red (◉Er) gene, which is responsible for increasing the density of the red pigment.
  • The cellophane layer holds no pigment, making the fish appear white from a distance, but slightly pink up close. (Kind of like how you can see the blue and red veins through the skin on your arms and hands.)

  • Basic Colors
  • Combined Colors & Modifiers
  • More Science
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Click images for original sources.
royal blue betta
Royal Blue
steel blue betta
Steel Blue
turquoise betta
Turquoise
turquoise green betta
Turquoise (green)
red betta
Red
extended red betta
Extended Red (allele = Er )
orange betta
Orange
yellow betta
Yellow
melano black betta
Melano
brown betta
Brown (unoxidized melano)
black lace betta
Black Lace
cellophane betta
Cellophane
There are many different genetic routes you can take to reach a specific color. For example, a "pink" betta could be as simple as a red crossed with an opaque white, resulting in pastel red or "pink" offspring. Alternatively, a red betta with the blonde trait crossed with a steel blue or turquoise could produce a "pink" betta. This is why it's important to know the genetic background of the betta before you decide to breed, because a [Pastel-Red] x [Blonde-Red x Steel Blue] is going to give you [Pastel-Blonde-Red x Steel Blue] which could show as a very pale purple, a multicolored washed out red/blue, and a multitude of other options.
Click images for original sources.
super black betta
Super Black (melano x black lace)
cornflower blue betta
Cornflower Blue (steel blue x turquoise)
purple betta
Purple (royal blue x red x steel blue)
green betta
Green (yellow x turquoise x wild type)
opaque white betta
Opaque ( allele = Op ) Causes white, powdery-pale appearance over body and fins. Density of Op changes how the colors appear on the fish, with high density producing white, and low density producing pastels.
pink betta
Pink ( red + Op)
pastel blue betta
Pastel Blue (royal blue + Op)
bicolored pastel betta
Bicolored Pastel
metallic betta
Metallic (allele = Mt ) Changes the structure of the crystallized guanines in the iridescent layer, causing a metallic sheen.
copper betta
Copper (unoxidized melano + metallic)
gold betta
Gold (yellow + metallic)
silver betta
Silver (Black + bd + metallic)
iridescent
Spread Iridescence (allele = Si ) Causes iridescence to spread over the body and fins.
wild type coloring
Normal Iridescent (allele = si+ ) & Non-Metallic (allele = mt+ ) (Wild Type alleles = + )
blonde betta
Blonde (allele = bd ) Reduces the density of black pigment, causing a washed out color. (Pictured is a blonde red.)

Chromatophores are divided into groups:

  • Xanthophores and erythrophores both hold pteridines and carotenoids, or yellow and red/orange pigment respectively.
  • Melanophores holds melanin, which appears black or dark-brown.
  • Iridophores reflect light using crystallized guanine.
  • Microscopic pteridines have fine, reflective surfaces, giving them the appearance of blue and green hues thanks to light. This is called structural coloration and is responsible for the metallic sheen.

In short...

The iridescent layer holds iridophores & pteridines.
The black layer holds melanin.
The red layer holds xanthophores & erythrophores.

All bettas, even solid "pure" colors, have these chromatophores.
Their densities and their enzymatic structures are what alter the colors we see on the fish.
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  • Koi Bettas
    • Bettas >
      • Line 🍒
      • Line 🍓 >
        • Line 🍓 F1
      • Line 🌑
    • Other Fish & Inverts
    • Buying Locally
    • ────────
    • References & Disclaimers
    • About Me
    • Contact Me
  • Betta Care
    • Ultimate Shopping List >
      • Budget Shopping List
    • Tank Setup & Cycle
    • Choosing a Betta
    • ────────
    • Food & Feeding
    • Diseases
  • Breeds
    • Tail Types
    • Body Mutations
    • Colors
    • Patterns
  • Learn More
    • Behavior & Misconceptions
    • Tank-mates & Sororities
    • ────────
    • ○ What is a koi betta?
    • ○ Is my betta male or female?
    • ○ Can my betta live in a bowl?
    • ○ Do bettas need a filter?
  • Shop Live Fish