Why are doubeltails so messy?

[Sena Hansler]

By that I mean, looking around even on AB there are doubletails (shipping overseas, I wouldn't get them) and they are going for 20.00 or so EACH female!

Why are they going for so much? For uneven, or messy fins? Or fins that are not quite split all the way?

Another question, let's say for example... A spawn of 100 doubletails, how many of them would end up being culled?

[MattsBettas]

I would think its because they are rare/sought after, and more then average fish would have to be culled because double tails tend to have more genetic problems. And as a tip, some of the pet lands (that used to be pj's pets) in Edm are starting to sell "twin tails", really double tails. I've been waiting for a nice one to come in.

[Sena Hansler]

OMG really?! Are you in Edmonton?

[Fenghuang]

I have seen some fairly nice looking doubletails at the nearest Petsmart to me. They're always a lot smaller and younger than the veiltails and crowntails which look really messy. I'm not saying they are breeding quality (I don't know the first thing about breeding bettas, although I would like to get into breeding and showing someday) but they're not bad. Often mislabeled though and put on the wrong display. You have to look.

From what I've seen reading around, it's recommended not to breed a doubletail with another doubletail because such a breeding often produces fish with crooked spines. The doubletail gene is recessive so people think they can charge more for what appears to be a greater amount of work, maybe?

[Luimeril]

every DT i've seen has gone for less than other tail types. x: but, i wouldn't doubt that some of the bigger names are selling them for more. 8U

[Sena Hansler]

I find it silly to charge a non-breed quality betta for 20.00 x.x I mean... There was no symmetry with the ones I found, plus the roundness was actually more wonky and wavy, plus the rays were uneven... And yet they charge that much? :o

[indjo]

Maybe because it takes two generations to create them - more mouths to feed.
I agree not getting them (the ones you described) since they're expensive yet won't improve your line.

[Sena Hansler]

My doubletail male is lovely :3 he was worth the 15.00 I dished out xD (now that he has not tail bit....) as for my genotype, who knows? Her caudal is even, just who knows what she came from.

I've heard DTxDT is risky, and DTxsomething else or DTxGENO is best for less deformities?

[indjo]

That's true.
It's only safe to breed DT x DT once. The next generation must be a cross to a non DT.
DT x DTgeno is also safe.

[MattsBettas]

Yes I am. They're not the nicest dts I have seen, but the colors nice and they are young...