Bettas4all Standard: Chapter 3E - Crowntail Plakat

[Roberto Silverii]

Chapter 3E: Finnage Characteristics – Crowntail Plakat


Under Construction
Figure 3E.1   2D representation of the 3D model of the ideal crowntail plakat (created by Stefan George Psarakos).


1. General appearance


1.1 Condition
As in all other show betta (see Chapter 3).


1.2 Deportment
As in all other show betta (see Chapter 3).


1.3 Overall balance
The ideal crowntail has a symmetrical appearance which can be demonstrated by an imaginary horizontal midline which shows that the upper and lower part of the fish nearly form a mirror-image (see Figure 3E.2). The contour of the ideal crowntail plakat fits an oval of which the width is approximately 1.5-times the height. The outer rim of the unpaired fins follows the contours of the oval in a smooth way without any irregularities. Ideally the anal fin and dorsal fin should not extend beyond the bottom edge and upper edge of the caudal fin, respectively.


Under Construction
Figure 3E.2    The contour of the ideal crowntail plakat fits an oval. The horizontal (X) and vertical (Y) midlines as well as vertical lines A-E are used to describe the proportions of the ideal crowntail plakat.
   
The vertical line which runs through the point on the body where the outer rays of the caudal fin are attached (C), divides the total length of the crowntail plakat (A-E) into two parts, A-C and C-E, with a ~75/25 distribution respectively (see Figure 3E.2). An important point with respect to overall balance is that the finnage must be in proportion with the body. The width of the anal fin (B-C) is used as an important marker to indicate the desired proportions (see Figure 3E.3). In the ideal situation the length of the rays of the caudal fin, which extend from the peduncle (D) to the outer rim (E), are equal to 1/2 of the width of the anal fin (B-C). When an imaginary vertical midline would be drawn, the vertical length of the dorsal and anal fin from the body to the outer rim is again equal to 1/2 of the width of the anal fin. The length of the ventral fins from the point where they are attached to the body to the tip is equal to 1/2 to 2/3 of the width of the anal fin (B-C).


Under Construction
Figure 3E.3    The width of the anal fin (B-C) is an important marker to demonstrate proportion.


2. Body


2.1 Form & dimension
As in all other show betta (see Chapter 3 and Figure 3E.4).


Under Construction
Figure 3E.4    Ideal body shape form & dimension of the crowntail plakat.


2.2. Scalation
As in all other show betta (see Chapter 3).


3. Finnage


3.1 Caudal fin
The ideal crowntail caudal is "double-ray (DR)" and shows a primary branching (2-ray) with a 40% reduction in webbing between the primary rays and a 20% reduction between the secondary rays thereby creating a crown-like appearance. The protruding rays ideally should be thick and straight (with exception of the crossray variants as described below). The branching of the rays should be evenly distributed throughout the caudal fin. The overall form of the caudal fin of the crowntail can be compared with a the shape of a capital letter "D"  (see Figure 3E.5, left). The caudal fin has a symmetrical appearance which means that it could be divided into two equal parts which are a mirror-images of each other across a horizontal midline (X). The ideal caudal fin has a 180-degree spread, straight rays and sharp corners. A spread of more than 180-degrees is not  preferred over a 180-degree spread. The caudal fin has 12-13 primary rays which extend from the peduncle. The webbing of the caudal fin has a smooth appearance without any overlapping/folding parts due to excessive branching and/or webbing.


Under Construction
Figure 3E.5   Ideal form of the caudal fin (left) and dorsal fin (right) of the crowntail plakat.


3.2 Dorsal fin
The dorsal fin of the crowntail plakat shows a 40% reduction in webbing between the rays thereby creating a crown-like appearance. The protruding rays ideally should be thick and straight without any branching. The dorsal snaps open like a fan and has the shape of a modified scalene trapezoid (see Figure 3E.5, right). Ideally the base of the dorsal fin should be equal to 2/3 of the width of the anal fin (B-C). The rays in the front of the dorsal must be slighlty directed forward, and the back of the dorsal fin overlaps the upper part of the caudal. Overlap of the back of the dorsal fin with the body is not desirable. The webbing of the dorsal fin has a smooth appearance without any overlapping/folding parts due to excessive branching and/or webbing.


3.3 Anal fin
The anal fin of the crowntail plakat shows a 40% reduction in webbing between the primary rays thereby creating a crown-like appearance. The protruding rays ideally should be thick and straight without any branching. The anal fin of the crowntail starts at the thickest point of the body (B) and has the shape of a modified scalene trapezium (see Figure 3E.6, right). The anal fin runs approximately parallel to the body. The length of the rays in the back of the anal fin match those of the caudal fin but the length of the rays slightly declines towards the front. During flaring the front of the anal is directed forward and the back overlaps the lower part of the caudal. The volume and the capacity of the anal fin to open up during flaring is achieved by a moderate branching of the fin-rays (mainly primary raysplitting although secondary raysplitting sometimes also can be observed). The webbing of the anal fin has a smooth appearance without any overlapping/folding parts due to excessive branching and/or webbing.


3.4 Ventral fins
The form of the ventrals fins of a crowntail plakat is as in all other show betta (see Chapter 3). Additionally, the ventrals of the crowntail plakat should have a full volume with a clearly jagged appearance (see Figure 3E.6, left).


3.5 Pectoral fins
As in all other show betta (see Chapter 3 and Figure 3E.6, right). The pectoral fins of the crowntail plakat are D-shaped with primary (2-ray) branching with a clearly jagged appearance.


Under Construction
Figure 3E.6   Ideal form of the ventral & pectoral fins (left) and anal fin (right) of the crowntail plakat.



Figure 3E.7   Examples of crowntail plakat males
(A) Truong Phu Thanh (Cedric; Vietnam), (B) was bred by Vinita Tippimul (Nicebettas; Thailand) and (C) was bred by Daniella Vereeken (Belgium)
Please note that these fish are examples and still exhibit points requiring improvement.


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