Breeding Project Questions

I don't know which are more desirable since each area differs. But in terms of maintaining fin quality: the most difficult would be CT. Their fins often curls or bends. You want them to remain firm and straight. The the HM which often ends up with ragged end fins. You want them to remain in one piece. Both CT and specially HM needs constant flare exercises to keep their fins wide. The easiest is the PK. Their fins are short thus easier to maintain. In terms of breeding they're all the same.

So, you want Giant - Red Dragon - CT. Working with 3 different traits would be difficult. All those genes are partially dominant and will show to some percentage in F1.

There are tons of red dragons giants out there. So I'd suggest you get a pair of them and breed for them first. Giant x giant does not necessarily produce giants. Most will only, if any, produce only 30% giants. But they will have to be kept in bigger containers and fed much much more (4-6 times daily). Once you have a number of red drgn giants (specially males), then search for a red dragon CT female. You'll only have to worry about giant and CT genes since both are already red dragons. F1 will probably give you uneven web reduction. Choose the fast growers with web reduction and after 5-6 months, the largest ones then inbreed. F2 will still give you giant carriers (bigger than regular but not enough to be full giants). F3 should give you at least half giants. You should produce literally 1-2 giants in F4.

The problem with "creating" certain traits is that often the traits you want is not shown by one individual. This will be a set back and you will have to breed for more generations. But if you keep breeding the largest CTs, you will eventually reach your goal.

Good luck.

1. You can easily lose them - they are more fragile than regular size bettas.

2. Since you will easily lose the giant trait and rather than buying new giants every time you want to breed (expensive), it would be better to create more giants so you will have more to work with.

3. They often die of stress (all males) after taken away from fry.

4. Some may be quite impossible to breed. They just won't breed.

5. It will give you the experience of raising giants. If you can properly raise those with full/complete giant genes, it will be easier for you to understand the growth of partial giant genes. . . . (IMO giant, like most betta traits, is not from one single gene but a combination of many genes).
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Giants come in all colors including black dragons. In terms of color, if it's a common color, it would be as easy. And for dragon scales, combinations difficult to achieve with regular colors, are easier - specially achieving yellow. Less common colors are opaque white, regular yellow, super black. Other colors are quite common - all dragons colors, including koi, metallic colors, and Super red (very bright red).
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I forgot;
In Asia, we do not recognize "half giants". To us, they are either giants or they're not. 5.5cm (body only) and above are considered giants. So if you buy them from Asia, don't expect them to grow 10-12cm. Only very few will grow to such sizes. And remember, in Asia they are often crossed to regulars in order to improve their form and create new colors.

That being said; if you buy from Asia, either buy a big adult (but will be harder to breed) OR buy a 5.5cm at 4 months of age. Smaller older bettas, though from giant spawns, will unlikely grow big enough.