The most popular black is the Melano black. In melano bettas, a mutant gene has caused the black pigment to be greatly increased in density and coverage area. The mutated gene that causes increased black color in Bettas is recessive to the normal black gene. This means that if a melano betta were spawned to a normal betta that does not have the mutated black gene all the offspring would be multis. These offspring would be carrying the gene for melanism, but it would not show in their coloration. We call these 'melano genos', and they are indistinguishable from normal multis. Recessive characteristics only become visible if both parents pass down the mutant gene to their offspring.In wild type bettas black is a color that is often covered by other colors. The distribution of black pigment is all over the fish except for most of the caudal fin and the abdomenal area. This dispersion is of medium density but is not usually obvious because of other overlaying colors.
Melano females are infertile, and therefore the color has to be perpetuated using melano 'carrier' females of other colors, usually iridescent (royal, steel, green) colors. Unfortunately, these crosses inevitably introduce iridescence into the body and fins of the melano fish - a fault.
Above on the right here is a female salamander/lavender and beside it is a male.
