IBC STANDARDS – SECTION 2 – JUDGE’S MANUALCHAPTER 7: SPECIAL STANDARDS, SHOW STOCK – SHOW CLASS B

GROUP B-- IRIDESCENT BETTAS IRIDESCENT means: Blue, Steel Blue, Turquoise, and Green. These fish have a unique problem, that of anal fin wash. Visible wash follows the fault levels specified for the color of the wash. “Invisible” wash can only be seen by shining a flashlight through the fins from the opposite side from the viewer. The Judge ignores this type of wash. One of the common concerns with the dark iridescent colors is learning to recognize them from each other. This chart shows their relative position on the “blue-green” scale:

Decreasing “blueness”----------> <----------Decreasing “greenness”BLUE-STEEL BLUE-TURQUOISE-COMMONGREEN-TRUE GREEN

Another concern is the pervasiveness of the metallic genes in iridescent lines. Judges must judge phenotype and not the presumed genetics of show bettas. However, judges must be able to distinguish dark-bodied metallic bettas with an iridescent base from the Group B iridescent bettas.

CATEGORY—Iridescent

Subcategory—Non-OpaqueTYPE - BLUE

A deep Royal Blue is ideal. Blue, like all of the dark single colors (except green) is well established with a wide concurrence on its purity. It’s presence in a non-opaque category makes the absence of all opaque an essential trait. This color often suffers from the presence of a color “wash”, particularly in the anal fin. Though common, the presence of any other color is a fault.

Siegbert Illig Peter Goettner Color Faults for Blue Bettas1. White ventrals (slight fault)2. Lack of blue iridescence on head (slight fault)3. Lack of color on pectorals ( slight fault)4. Yellow wash (minor fault) 5. Red in ventrals (minor fault)6. Barely visible metallic coloration, usually on lips & cheeks (minor fault)7. Blue coloration fading in shades to steel (minor fault) or fading to shades of green or turquoise (major fault)_______________________________________________________________________________________________ Chapter 7, Effective 7/1/2006 Page 4 of 4Copyright 2005-2008 Revised 7/15/2008

IBC STANDARDS – SECTION 2 – JUDGE’S MANUALCHAPTER 7: SPECIAL STANDARDS, SHOW STOCK – SHOW CLASS B 8. Blue coloration not of uniform hue (major fault)9. Red wash (major fault).10. Blue coloration not uniformly spread (severe fault).11. Small amount(s) of metallic coloration, up to 10% coverage (major fault)12. Presence of any red color (severe fault unless relegated to ventrals).13. Large amounts of Metallic coloration over 10% coverage requires moving to the dark metallic class14. Absence of a dark undercoating (disqualifying fault).15. Presence of opaque (disqualifying fault)

CATEGORY—Iridescent

Subcategory—Non-OpaqueTYPE – STEEL BLUE

Also called gunmetal blue, this color has a silver iridescence when compared to the Blue Betta. Perhaps slightly “grayer” in appearance to some observers. A “grayer”, less bluish color is desired.

Siegbert Illig Color Faults for Steel Blue Bettas1. White ventrals (slight fault)2. Lack of steel blue iridescence on head (slight fault)3. Lack of color on pectorals (slight fault)4. Yellow wash (minor fault) 5. Red in ventrals (minor fault)6. Barely visible metallic coloration, usually on lips & cheeks (minor fault)7. Steel Blue coloration fading in shades to blue (minor fault) or fading to shades of green (major fault) or

turquoise (major fault)8. Steel Blue coloration not of uniform hue (major fault)9. Small amount(s) of metallic coloration, up to 10% coverage (major fault)10. Red wash (major fault).11. Steel Blue coloration not uniformly spread (severe fault).12. Presence of any red color (severe fault unless relegated to ventrals) 13. Large amounts of Metallic coloration over 10% coverage requires moving to the dark Metallic class14. Absence of a dark undercoating (disqualifying fault).15. Presence of opaque (disqualifying fault)

_______________________________________________________________________________________________ Chapter 7, Effective 7/1/2006 Page 4 of 4Copyright 2005-2008 Revised 7/15/2008

IBC STANDARDS – SECTION 2 – JUDGE’S MANUALCHAPTER 7: SPECIAL STANDARDS, SHOW STOCK – SHOW CLASS B CATEGORY—Iridescent

Subcategory—Non-OpaqueTYPE – TURQUOISE

Ideally, a darker shade of the color of the mineral Turquoise. This type of Betta has had a stormy past history because of its confusion with the Green type. Color preference is toward the lighter “aqua”, “turquoise” tones of the blue rather than the darker green/yellow shades. It should appear to be a single even overall shade, rather than a mixture of blues and greens.

Dan Young Peter Goettner Color Faults for Turquoise Bettas1. White ventrals (slight fault)2. Lack of turquoise iridescence on head (slight fault)3. Lack of color on pectorals ( slight fault)4. Yellow wash (minor fault)5. Red in ventrals (minor fault) 6. Barely visible metallic coloration, usually on lips & cheeks (minor fault)7. Turquoise coloration fading in shades to green (minor fault) or fading to shades of blue (major fault) or steel

blue (major fault)8. Turquoise coloration not of uniform hue (major fault)9. Red wash (major fault).10. Turquoise coloration not uniformly spread (severe fault).11. Small amount(s) of metallic coloration, up to 10% coverage (major fault)12. Presence of any red color (severe fault unless relegated to the ventrals).13. Large amounts of Metallic coloration over 10% coverage requires moving to the dark metallic class14. Absence of a dark undercoating (disqualifying fault).15. Presence of opaque (disqualifying fault)

CATEGORY—Iridescent

Subcategory—Non-OpaqueTYPE – GREEN

Ideally, a grass or forest green. Darker rather than brighter shades are desired. Green is the least fixed dark single color type because it is complicated by a tendency to vary in shade. There are at least two distinct subtypes. Subtype 1, True Green, has preference though the second subtype is more common. Green is not to be confused with Turquoise which has a much more distinct blue hue. Teal color is from metallic and should be _______________________________________________________________________________________________ Chapter 7, Effective 7/1/2006 Page 4 of 4Copyright 2005-2008 Revised 7/15/2008

IBC STANDARDS – SECTION 2 – JUDGE’S MANUALCHAPTER 7: SPECIAL STANDARDS, SHOW STOCK – SHOW CLASS B moved to dark-bodied metallic.

Subtype--True GreenThis sub-classification contains those Green Bettas that have a true “forest green” or “grass green” and are given intentional preference when judging. Subtype--Common GreenMost “Green” Bettas are, in fact, this type, which is less desirable than true green. Common green is a bluish green fish although it has less blue than a turquoise--an often difficult fine hue distinction.

Lapheng Color Faults for Green Bettas1. White ventrals (slight fault)2. Lack of green iridescence on head (slight fault)3. Lack of color on pectorals ( slight fault)4. Yellow wash (minor fault)5. Red in ventrals (minor fault) 6. Barely visible metallic coloration, usually on lips & cheeks (minor fault)7. Green coloration fading in shades to turquoise (minor fault) or fading to shades of blue (major fault) or steel

blue (major fault)8. Green coloration not of uniform hue (major fault)9. Red wash (major fault).10. Green coloration not uniformly spread (severe fault).11. Small amount(s) of metallic coloration, up to 10% coverage (major fault)12. Presence of any red color (severe fault unless relegated to ventrals).13. Large amounts of Metallic coloration, over 10% coverage, including teal and emerald requires moving to the

dark metallic class14. Absence of a dark undercoating (disqualifying fault).15. Presence of opaque (disqualifying fault)

CATEGORY—Iridescent

Subcategory— Opaque No Types within this grouping are officially recognized. Blue, Steel Blue, Turquoise, or Green dark bodies _______________________________________________________________________________________________ Chapter 7, Effective 7/1/2006 Page 4 of 4Copyright 2005-2008 Revised 7/15/2008

IBC STANDARDS – SECTION 2 – JUDGE’S MANUALCHAPTER 7: SPECIAL STANDARDS, SHOW STOCK – SHOW CLASS B Bettas with an opaque covering would belong here.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________ Chapter 7, Effective 7/1/2006 Page 4 of 4Copyright 2005-2008 Revised 7/15/2008