Candy, an evolved form of the Koi Betta, was introduced to the world around spring 2018.
This candy was introduced in the 52nd installment of this column.
However, at the time, the name Nemo was more commonly used than Candy, so the column also refers to him as Nemo.
As explained in the column, the candy at the time was primarily orange in color, and the name was chosen because it reminded people of Nemo the clownfish, the main character of the popular Disney movie.
Later, various colors were derived from the orange-based color, and the nickname "candy" became popular because of its vivid colors, which were said to be as colorful as candy.
However, the name Nemo is still sometimes used, and because it is an evolution of the Koi Betta, some breeders still call it Koi.

Because Candy's traits were very stable and it was easy to breed, it quickly spread throughout the Thai betta scene, and in addition to Plakat, it evolved into various types such as Half Moon.
Because of its striking appearance, it quickly became a popular variety in Japan, but in recent years, that striking appearance has actually caused people to tire of it, and unfortunately, its popularity seems to have declined somewhat.
Having photographed many candies myself, I no longer choose candies as models for my photography unless they have a very unusual pattern or beautiful color.
During my regular reporting trip to Thailand in the spring of 2025, I visited a breeder.
I have been working with this breeder for over 10 years, so I know exactly where the animals are and what they have at this farm. I feel very comfortable there and have visited the farm several times when I visit Thailand.

This time, I found a fish at the farm that caught my eye.
It was placed in an inconspicuous place, so I almost missed it, but at first glance it looks like candy, but it has a slightly different feel.
When I asked the owner of the farm what this fish was, he responded with a mischievous look, as if to say, "You've found it!"
It's hard to say exactly what the difference is, but the color is different from traditional candy.
In terms of structure, its tail fin is larger than that of a regular Candy, and its proportions are impressive.
This large tail fin trait was more prominent in the lineage introduced from Indonesia than in the Thai Plakat, so it is possible that this bloodline was introduced somewhere.
I asked if there was a new variety name, but it seems there isn't one.
Since this would make it difficult to differentiate it from conventional candy, for convenience we will call it New Candy.

I tried to get more details about how it was produced, but I couldn't get to the bottom of it as it was a trade secret for the breeder. However, I did learn that it was a cross between Candy and Mustard Gas.
I remember that these colorful candies used to be sold at bargain prices under the names 5-color and 7-color.
However, although it looks similar, it gives a different impression from the fish in question.
According to the farm owner, similar plakat is sold at a nearby market for a much higher retail price.
After looking at several individuals, it was found that the main color was not orange but yellow, blue, or red, giving it a different feel from conventional candies.
They looked very fresh and attractive to my eyes, which were tired of candy, so I wanted to take a bunch of them back with me when I returned to Japan to use as models, but they had already sold out and I was only able to get a few.

There were several fish kept in the breeding zone for the next generation, so I should be able to get some young specimens by the time I visit again in the fall.
Although it may be none of my business, I recommended that they mass-produce this fish because I think betta enthusiasts, including Japanese people, will like the color of this fish.
Like other Placatus, this fish changes color as it grows.
The same specimen photographed during its stay in Thailand was photographed again 52 days after it returned to Japan, so we hope you will also be able to see the changes in color as it grows.