Color Layers in Betta Splendens Betta coloration comes from multiple layers of color stacked on top of each other, with domestic betta layers ordered blue, black, red, then yellow, while wild types swap the red and black layers. Each layer is made of specialized cells called chromatophores, which produce different colors. Iridophores reflect light for blue and metallics, melanophores create black pigment, erythrophores produce red, and xanthophores produce yellow. Because these layers overlap, changes in one layer can affect how others appear, altering the overall color of the fish. Multiple genes can also act within the same layer, making it difficult to determine genotype from appearance alone. #STEM #genetics #learn #bettabreeding #bettatok #fishtok #wickedbettas