Supposedly (on the authority of a fellow hobbyist who has done much research with literature and preserved specimens), the colors of the long-finned strains accurately reflect the colors of the "original" white clouds, from the White Cloud Mountain. Later, a more southerly pop. was found, with a white-to-gold edge on the dorsal and anal fins, and this is the one more familiar to us.
The fin length is, of course, a mutation isolated from captive stocks, but since it takes MONTHS for the longer fins to show, I think it possible that such a mutation could have easily persisted in the wild - young adult fish, at their most active and prolific stage of life, still have mostly normal fins. My breeders are six months old and just beginning to show the extended finnage.
Knowing others, one is wise; knowing the self, one is enlightened. In conquering others, one is forceful; in conquering oneself, one is mighty.
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