The Emerald Betta: wild, iridescent, and tougher than any fancy strain.A wild-type pair of Betta smaragdina "Guitar." The name smaragdina is Latin for emerald, and you will see why the instant light catches its green-blue scales. Native to the Mekong and Chao Phraya basins in southeast Asia. Care: Bubble-nest builder. Hardy and adaptable in a warm, gently filtered tank.