Why are Spade Tails so rare now?

[morius]

Hello everyone!!

So, I've had lots of Betta fish (my second Betta fish lived almost 3 years).

I've owned veils, crowns and double tails. I was recently reading about all the different types there are, and I found out that, apparently, Spade Tails are very rare nowadays.

Supposedly they used to be common some years ago. Does someone know why they suddenly started being so rare?

[Shirleythebetta]

Personally I think it could have something to do with being bred to veils or something like that. I have had a couple that started out with a spade and turned out to be veils later on as they aged. I also read somewhere that most spades don't stay spades. I never understood it completly either.

[Sena Hansler]

I had one spade tail. Never saw one again truthfully. Bought her as a veil too maybe since people focused more on other tail types?

[homegrown terror]

two words: half moon. seems like no one wants to breed ANY betta without the 180 spread anymore.

[Sena Hansler]

I do. my halfmoon always has tattered fins since they are heavy. I've got some fry from him and a DT geno who won't have the spread. But the longer fins. I'd rather crowntails, plakats, doubletails, spades, etc.

[Mo]

Originally Posted by homegrown terror

two words: half moon. seems like no one wants to breed ANY betta without the 180 spread anymore.

This is sooo true! HMPK and halfmoon doubletails are also two other variations

[babystarz]

There are a lot of wild imbellis and mahachai with naturally occurring spade tails, which leads me to believe that the genes for spade tails are plentiful. So if they were to become popular again they would be pretty easy to get. It's just a matter of breeders knowing they would be popular enough to try for, so there would be a market for their fish.

[Laki]

The 180 spread is more appealing to the masses. Personally, I don't like the heavier finned males but I must say- I am an enormous HMPK fan. I don't know, maybe the symmetry of it?
There is currently a rose colored spade tail in the lps. He was a very attractive color, not red-not pink-not purple. But like a rose. Hint of teal in his color I think. I thought Ludendorff was a spade when I got him, turned out it was early fin melt.

[ChoclateBetta]

Carter is a DT so I dont care about fins. I think some of my Guppies are Spade Tails.

[sunstar93]

I'm thinking my little yellow betta (not sure if it is a girl or boy anymore lol) is possibly going to grow into a VT...but for now looks like a spade tail lol
(i apologize for the bad pic quality!!!)