While I'm in Thailand, I visit Chatuchak's Betta Street several times every week, and I make sure to check out two restaurants that sell wild fish. Personally, I have always preferred wild and wild-type fish over improved varieties. These stores do not attract the general public, but when enthusiastic enthusiasts visit, they seem to stay for a long time. Many enthusiasts who love the wild seem to like to talk, and are eager to exchange information with the store owner. There are times when I have something to do with the store owner, but it's difficult to find the right time to talk to him.

I don't talk to customers, but sometimes when I'm introduced to Japanese people who like betta fish, they get really interested and talk to me. For some reason, many Thai wild fanatics can speak English well, so it's surprisingly easy to communicate. Common to all countries, conversations between people who are interested in the same thing are exciting and fun.

The conversation has gone sideways, but this is an important part of our patrols: the wild fish stores, and they always call out to us when new fish arrive. On this day, I was recommended Splendence Blue, which had just been created and only 3 pairs were in stores. They only have three pairs on display at the store, but they seem to have a large stock of fish that will grow to a size they can sell in half a month. As usual, remove the partition and use a flashlight to check on the fish flaring between males.

It has a beautiful slender body that is typical of the wild Splendens, and a spade tail with a slightly protruding center of the tail fin. Although it is called blue, it is not a solid blue all over, but the area around the back is dyed darkly, and each fin is dyed blue and yellow. This color stands out well in brown water and dark aquariums. He has a very elegant atmosphere and knows exactly what wild type enthusiasts like! It's a color that makes you feel that way. The three male fish I saw at that time were of almost the same quality, but some of the fish released later had a color that was more green than blue.

Now, after showing me the fish, I was asked the usual question about how to produce it. This fish was produced on the shop owner's farm, so the story is quick. To create it, they apparently crossed the orange-colored Benjaron Yellow, which was introduced in this column last time, with Smaragdina Blue. I had imagined that the clear blue color came from Plakat, but I was quite surprised that it came from Smaragdina. As a result, she had to listen to it again several times, but she was absolutely certain that it was Smaragdina Blue.

Isn't it called Benjaron Blue because Benjaron Yellow is used for breeding? I asked, and was told that it was Splendence Blue. Since it is a hybrid of Smaragdina, it is no longer a pure Splendens, but it seems like there is something particular about it (lol). Up until now, there have not been many wild-type fish that have been crossed with different species, such as Alien or Inveris Blue, but now we have heard that two other types of fish have been used for cross-breeding. I heard it. I will introduce them later in this column, so please look forward to them.

This Splendence Blue, unless you're told, I wouldn't believe it has Smaragdina's bloodline. Not only its body shape, but also the two lines on its gill cover are Splendens itself. Personally, I highly recommend this species, which is not too flashy like the plastic cut, but maintains a calm, wild atmosphere. Since mass production seems to be in place, it is likely that it will be introduced to Japan in the future. If you have a chance, please see the beauty of this fish with your own eyes.