She's HM, or almost HM. I have trouble telling when they're over about 170 - I just don't have the keen eye. Plus, it's harder to get my females to flare. She won her class at the PNW betta show, but that just means she's a good fish, not that she's a HM. I'm not 100% sure she's 180.
Well, where did it come from? According to Lucas:
"In Crown Tails, or what I prefer to call Fringe Fins since other fins beside the caudal (tail) also have ray extensions, the rays extend beyond the edge of the membrane portion of the fin. I think that what happens is that the membranous portion of the fin does not grow as far out as the rays themselves, thus it appears that the rays protrude. Another problem I have with the term 'Crown' is that it doesn't work for more than a few of the affected individuals. The membrane seems to extend slightly further between the branches of the rays than it does between the main rays themselves. If one rotates the tail so the rays stick up and the extension is right, the contour does resemble a King's (or Queen's, Princess's, etc.) crown but the trouble is that only certain ones meet that criterion.
Actually, the rays seem to merely grow out to normal length so the abnormality really is inadequate membrane development. This deficiency can be characterized by referring to the percentage of inadequacy similar to the degree of spread in Half Moons. The ray extension might range from say 2-3 percent to 5 percent, all the way to 35-40 percent or more. The more extreme ones have what I like to call a 'Rooster' tail because of their resemblance to the tail feathers of a fighting cock. At the time of this writing I have not seen rulings passed by the IBC judging board or statements from breeders as to which, if any, of these variations constitutes the ideal Crown Tail. I trust this subject is being addressed and there will be guidelines of some sort in the near future."
From here.
I'm not 100% sure I agree with him that all combing/fringing is a mutation that produces inadequate membrane development, though. Some fish that have fringe definitely appear to have fin extentions on top of normally developed mebranous fins. But that's neither here nor there....
I guess, in answer to your question, I would have to say I don't know.
Well, where did it come from? According to Lucas:
"In Crown Tails, or what I prefer to call Fringe Fins since other fins beside the caudal (tail) also have ray extensions, the rays extend beyond the edge of the membrane portion of the fin. I think that what happens is that the membranous portion of the fin does not grow as far out as the rays themselves, thus it appears that the rays protrude. Another problem I have with the term 'Crown' is that it doesn't work for more than a few of the affected individuals. The membrane seems to extend slightly further between the branches of the rays than it does between the main rays themselves. If one rotates the tail so the rays stick up and the extension is right, the contour does resemble a King's (or Queen's, Princess's, etc.) crown but the trouble is that only certain ones meet that criterion.
Actually, the rays seem to merely grow out to normal length so the abnormality really is inadequate membrane development. This deficiency can be characterized by referring to the percentage of inadequacy similar to the degree of spread in Half Moons. The ray extension might range from say 2-3 percent to 5 percent, all the way to 35-40 percent or more. The more extreme ones have what I like to call a 'Rooster' tail because of their resemblance to the tail feathers of a fighting cock. At the time of this writing I have not seen rulings passed by the IBC judging board or statements from breeders as to which, if any, of these variations constitutes the ideal Crown Tail. I trust this subject is being addressed and there will be guidelines of some sort in the near future."
From here.
I'm not 100% sure I agree with him that all combing/fringing is a mutation that produces inadequate membrane development, though. Some fish that have fringe definitely appear to have fin extentions on top of normally developed mebranous fins. But that's neither here nor there....
I guess, in answer to your question, I would have to say I don't know.
