An overview of the double-tail trait in betta fish
Double tail Betta fish is a larger fish than the single tailed fish where it has a double width of the body. Its body thickness usually supports the enormous fins (Lasantha, n.d). They are known as Double Tailed Male (DTM) and Double Tailed Female (DTF).The double tail Bettas are generated by a mutant gene which causes the tail fin to be divided into two lobes(Hargrove & Hargrove, 1999). The tremendous enlarged dorsal fin produced by the mutation is a secondary characteristic (Amy, 2015).
How it is inherited
The double tail trait gene is usually intermediary inherited. A betta fish whether single tail or double tail depends on the gene they receive from the parents where the mother donates one gene and the father gives the other gene (McCarthy, 2012). Genes can be dominant or recessive; where the single-tail gene is dominant (ST) and the double-tail gene is recessive (dt). Both dominant and recessive genes determine what you will get after breeding two bettas (Tullock, 2006). However, for a double tail betta to be born both parents should pass down a dt gene. For example, a mother carries two double-tail (dtdt) genes and the father also carries the same genes (dtdt), and then they will produce a 100% double tailed betta (Christie, 2011).
dt + dt= dt (double-tail)
Double-tail trait Betta fish are not lethal to humans in any form. They are only known to have attractive appearance due to their vibrant colors. However, the name Betta is associated with their aggressive nature (Schwartz & Kuhn, 2001). In this case, people in Thailand breed them so that they can indulge them in fish-fighting which displays their hostile nature that are not harmful to humans in any way (Dzieweczynski, 2005). At this point, Betta fish may lead to injuries especially to themselves leading to their death (Weiss, C., & Coughlign, 1979). On the other hand, in other countries, Betta fish are bred and reared as pet fish since they possess’ inherent beauty (Lombardini, Law & Lewis, 2010). However, betta fish are not kept for consumption but still there is no known side effect of consuming them.
References
Amy Brinna(2015) Betta Fish Facts retrived on 28th February, 2016 http://www.earthsfriends.com/betta-fish-facts/
Christie (2011)Understanding Dominant and Recessive Genes 2nd Ed, New York.
Dzieweczynski, T. (2005). Audience effect is context dependent in Siamese fighting fish, Betta splendens. Behavioral Ecology, 16(6), 1025-1030.
Hargrove, M., & Hargrove, M. (1999). The betta. New York, NY: Howell Book House.
https://dx.doi.org/10.1093/beheco/ari088.
Lasanth (n.d)Betta Fish “Double-Tailed Betta fish” retrieved on 28th February, 2016 http://care- bettafish.blogspot.co.ke/2012/11/double-tail-betta-fish.html
Lombardini, E., Law, M., & Lewis, B. (2010). Nephroblastoma Two Siamese Fighting Fish Betta splendens. Fish Pathol., 45(3), 137-139. http://dx.doi.org/10.3147/jsfp.45.137
McCarthy, C. (2012). Betta fish. Mankato, Minn.: Capstone Press.
Schwartz, D., & Kuhn, D. (2001). Fighting fish. Milwaukee, WI: G. Stevens.
Tullock, J. (2006). Betta. Hoboken, .J: Howell Book House/Wiley Pub.
Weiss, C., & Coughlin, J. (1979). Maintained aggressive behavior in gonadectomized male siamese fighting fish . Physiology & Behavior, 23(1), 173-177. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0031-9384(79)90139-2
