半月鬥魚
The Half Moon
半月鬥魚(Halfmoon或HM)能成為現今最火紅的鬥魚有其緣由。即使半月鬥魚相貌一般還是很吸引人的目光，如果牠身型華麗耀眼，絕對會令人過目難忘的。巨大、上下伸展的尾鰭，完美的背鰭及對稱的臀鰭，半月鬥魚絕對是鬥魚型態上的一大成就。
The Half Moon (or Halfmoon, or HM) is the hottest tail form going today, and with good reason. These guys look great even when not flaring, and when they do flare the effect is astounding; a huge tail that spreads straight up and straight down, full dorsal, and symmetrical anal fin. They are quite an accomplishment in betta form.
具體來說，半月鬥魚一定要具備開展朝向前方，180°以上的尾鰭。尾鰭邊緣一定要直或是向外彎曲，不能向內彎折。
Specifically, a halfmoon betta must have a caudal where both ends are exactly 180 degrees apart or more, spreading towards the front. Caudal edges have to be straight or curving outwards, and not bending inwards.
培育半月鬥魚有下列幾項須努力的目標：
1對稱-側線可將尾鰭一分為二。
2.平衡-從尾鰭劃一條圓弧線，能包圍背鰭、臀鰭而不會碰到障礙。
3.180°，完整而乾淨俐落的的尾鰭。
There are a few important things to strive for when breeding for a Halfmoon betta:
1.)Symmetry - the body line that cuts and seperates the caudal into half.
2.)Balance - the ability to draw an arc that begins from the caudal and encompasses the dorsal and anal without hitting a snag.
3.)180 degree caudal with straight and crisp edges.
很少有人會不同意以上三點，唯一有爭議的地方就是比例問題。例如尾鰭/身體比例。
Few people disagree with the above statements. The only area of disagreement, or rather a difference in opinion exists in the ';proportion';,i.e. the caudal/body ratio.
當尾鰭/身體比例少於1，稱之為「橢圓形」(OS)。當尾鰭=身體比例或尾鰭/身體比例等於1，稱之為「圓形」(CS)。橢圓形半月鬥魚很好，但是圓形半月鬥魚更優，這是大家都嚮往的魚種。
When caudal/body is less than 1, you get an ';oval shape';(OS). But when caudal=body or caudal/body is 1, you have a ';circle';(CS). The OS Halfmoons are good, but the CS Halfmoons are truly exceptional, and an excellent model to aspire to.
