Freshwater

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Part IV: Breeding and Other Fun Stuff
Never attempt to dye your fish to increase their color for showing, or purchase
artificially colored fish for showing. This practice consists of injecting
colored pigments into a fish’s body and is unethical. Some species such as the
glassfish develop a disease known as lymphocystis that causes growths on
their fins, so never put a fish’s health at risk by partaking in cruel practices.
Fins are judged very strictly in a competition. Your entry should have all the
fins that are standard for its species. If your fish should have one dorsal fin,
one anal fin, two pectoral fins, one caudal fin, and two pelvic fins — then it
had better have all seven fins. Some species of fish have an extra adipose fin.
If your fish falls into this category, make sure it has one. If it doesn’t, don’t
enter it. If your fish is missing its tail or dorsal fin, wait until the next competition,
because this physical problem doesn’t go over very well with judges.
All the fins on your entry should be in good condition. Make sure there are
no frayed or ragged fins to detract from your fish’s natural beauty. The fins
should be erect and of good color, not clamped or folded. To keep a show
fish’s fins in top-quality condition, keep it by itself prior to the competition
so that more aggressive fish don’t get a chance to tear or damage its fins.
Other causes of poor-quality fins include inadequate water conditions, netting,
genetic problems, disease, and breeding spats. Make sure the water conditions
in your show fish’s tank always remain optimal so that the fish
doesn’t contract a fungal disease that can easily damage its fins.
To avoid having your entry’s fins destroyed by netting, always use a plastic
bag or cup to capture your fish.
Genetic problems are permanent, and the only thing you can do when you
come across a deformity is to weed out that particular fish from your list of
candidates for fish show competitions. Often, certain species of fish damage
their pectoral fins when they fan eggs during breeding. For that very reason,
it is best not to breed your show fish before competition.
Fins are no different from any other physical attribute and are judged against
an accepted norm. Many species of betta (Betta splendens) are bred for longflowing
fins, and judges expect fin lengths and sizes in the proper proportion
to the fish’s body size. All fins should have a symmetrical (even) look pleasing
to the judge’s eye. If one pectoral fin is quite a bit shorter than the other,
your entry probably will lose some points for this deformity right off the bat.
It is important to check out the requirements and rules of every competition
carefully ahead of time so that you know exactly what the judges are looking
for. Talk to hobbyists who have entered competitions in the classes you’re
interested in. You can pick up a lot of interesting ideas and learn a few good
tips by talking to seasoned pros who have already battled the “ins and outs”
of many fish competitions.