Bettas4all Standard: Chapter 2 - Show Classes

[Roberto Silverii]

Chapter 2: Show Classes


By Joep van Esch
www.bettas4all.nl - The International Betta Forum


General remark: When the finnage or color variety of a fish is of an "in-between" type the fish has to be shown in the class where it is least faulted.


1. Show classes Bettas4all Standard
At Bettas4all sanctioned shows fish can be entered in the following 19 main show classes (see table 2.1).


Table 2.1    Main show classes Bettas4all Standard
At Bettas4all sanctioned shows fish can be entered in the following 20 show classes.

* If possible, show classes are further divided in subcategories based on color variety (see Chapter 4).


No difference will be made between new and experienced breeders, as well as hobby and commercial breeders. Fish of participants under 18 years of age will be entered in the regular show classes and will be judged according to the same standards as participants over 18 years of age. However, only the fish entered by participants under 18 years of age are eligible to the Best of Show Youth prizes (see Chapter 5)


2. Splitting and/or merging show classes
The Bettas4all Judging Team has the right to split and/or merge show classes in order to create a more interesting and challenging competition.


2.1 Merging show classes
Merging show classes is only allowed when a certain show class (within a certain finnage variety) has only three or less entries by one single breeder.
For example, when the male traditional plakat classes unicolor (PK-1) and AOC (PK-2) would be merged, the nomenclature of the new show class will be as follows: a. Plakat males, b. Traditional plakat, c. All colors and d. PK-1 + PK-2.


2.2 Splitting show classes
Splitting show classes into extra classes is only allowed when there are at least six fish of a certain subvariety which are entered by a minimum of two breeders. Here it is important that the amount of (sub)classes does not exceed the  maximum prices made available by the organization.
•   Splitting color classes: Optional color show classes are for example seperate classes for unicolor, bicolor, marble, grizzle, banded and multicolor fish and if possible even further division into subclasses. These subcategories are discussed in greater detail in the standard for color Characteristics (see Chapter 4, 4A and 4B).
•   Splitting the Form & Variation classes: Optional show classes here are for example separate classes for doubletail crowntail (DTCT), doubletail veiltail (DTVT), doubletail crowntail plakat (DTCTPK) giants, fish with extreme large pectoral fins (also known as "dumbo/big ears") and/or swordtails. These subcategories are discussed in greater detail in the standard for Form & Variation (see Chapter 3J and 3K).


3. Coding show classes
As depicted in Table 2.1, the main show classes are designated by unique class code which includes all color varieties.
-   Example 1: Class code 'M7' corresponds with the show class 'Male longfin' and finnage variant 'Halfmoon', color variety 'All colors'.
-   Example 2: Class code 'M10' corresponds with the show class 'Male special classes' and finnage variant 'Form & Variations', color variety 'All colors'.


3.1 Coding color classes:
When the 'All color' class, is splitted into specific color subclasses, the name of the color variety will be added to the class code.
-   Example 3: If the Longfin male, halfmoon class, all colors (M7) can be splitted into a unicolor, a bicolor and an all other colors (AOC) class, the class codes will be:
i.   M7 – Unicolor
ii.   M7 – Bicolor
iii.   M7 – AOC
-   Example 4: When the 'M7 unicolor class' mentioned in example 3 is divided in a dark- and lightbody class the class codes will be:
i.   M7 – Unicolor Darkbody
ii.   M7 – Unicolor Lightbody
iii.   M7 – Bicolor
iv.   M7 – AOC


3.2 Coding Form & Variation Classes
When the 'Form & Variation' classes, male (M10) or female (F10), are splitted into subclasses for specific finnage, size or form variants, a lower case letter in alphabetical order in combination with the name of the variety will be added to the class code.
-   Example 5: If the Male special classes, Form & Variation class, all colors (M10) is splitted into a doubletail veiltail (DTVT) and a Form & Variation class which includes the remaining variants (both all colors), the class codes will be:
i.   M10
ii.   M10a – Doubletail veiltail**
** Further subdivision of these subclasses into specific colors should be done as mentioned above in section 3.1.


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