About me

If you're ever wandering around San Francisco, you just might see Weldon and I walking around!

My name is Gianne (JEE-ann). I am a high school biology teacher in San Francisco that loves to bring life into the classroom! I received my Masters in Biomedical Sciences studying host immune interactions with Mycobacterium tuberculosis at the University of California, San Francisco. I am most passionate about science education. It is because of my love of science that I got into breeding bettas and other small, beautiful fish.

I've kept a huge variety of animals and plants over the years. Everything from giant millipedes to carnivorous plants to rats to horses. I trained and showed Arabian horses at the national level throughout high school. In addition to my many tanks of fish, I also have my dear bearded dragon, Weldon, and a window full of carnivorous plants.

I am a proud member of the California Betta Society, the International Betta Congress, the Bettas4All Forum, and the San Francisco Bay Area Killifish Association. The Bay Area is a fantastic place to be!

In addition to this website, I have a YouTube Channel called Inglorious Bettas 
​where I post videos and livestream!

Nelson has a halo!

What I typically look like at shows. Chained behind a computer lol

Mentors

It is important to always have mentors when pursuing a new hobby. I have many people to thank for helping me get into bettas. First, I want to thank Larissa Williams for starting the fire and keeping it going even when I ran into a LOT of newbie problems. She is an amazing mentor, a wonderful friend, and is always there to help guide me through the often arduous process of breeding bettas. She also introduced me to the California Beta Society and to the International Betta Congress, where I have made many awesome betta friends! I also want to give a big shout out to Joep van Esch, whose fantastic website (http://www.bettaterritory.nl/) initially piqued my interest in the genetics of bettas. His (delightfully nerdy) scientific line of inquiry concerning bettas, combined with his generosity in helping me establish my betta breeding interests, have made him one of my best betta buds. I also want to thank Sieg Illig for giving me much guidance for working with his stock from afar (and it was truly a pleasure to meet him and his wife Judy at the IBC convention!). I can't forget David Spectre, who was nice enough to let me follow him and pester him with judging questions at all the CBS shows, and who (along with Larissa) made me want to start my journey to becoming an IBC judge. Lastly, thanks to Dr. Gene Lucas for all the things that he has done for the betta hobby. It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to learn to apprentice judge with him, and to get distracted and talk about all things betta-related science! He has a million amazing stories to tell!

The best club EVER. And this isn't even all of us!!

Me with the last CBS show's betta judging team! Front is Dr. Gene Lucas, back is Amit Pandya, me, and David Spectre. Thanks Minh N. for the photo!

Jamie King and I!

Me with past IBC President Joe Becerra at my very first IBC Convention this past June. What a blast! Thanks Christine T. for the photo!

Larissa Williams, Gene Lucas, Joep van Esch, and I at the Kampfishfreunde IBC convention in Friedrichshaffen, Germany

Me, Andrea Quierolo, Larissa Williams, and Josip Kevari at the Kampffishfreunde Area 2 Convenetion in Friedrichshaffen, Germany!

Had a great time talking fish with Sieg and Judy Illig at my very first IBC Convention this past June! It was in Irving, Texas, put on by the hardworking SCUBA betta clubs!

Getting ready to give my presentation in Friedrichshaffen, Germany

Skyler. Best companion a girl could have ever asked for growing up.

Cycling Canada road, just south of San Francisco