Looks
A Crowntail looks like an average pony, ranging from 10hh-14hh, with a lean yet sturdy build full of powerful muscles, but of course they do have a few qualities that pertain to their aquatic namesake. For starters, their unnaturally colored mane and tail closely resemble betta fish fins, specifically the crowntail variety; their long flexible quill-like 'spines' are wrapped in a fine and velvety textured webbing that bobs and flutters with their body movements. Their heel feathering is also made of a fin-type webbing, though they are much thicker with sharp tipped spines, often used for fighting purposes in the wild. Equally used for dominance is their sharp wolf-teeth, something common on the average male horse, but is seen on all crowntails regardless of gender and at much larger sizes than the average equine. Their orb like eyes are equally less equine with a bioluminescent glow in the darkness due to their lack of pupils, though their eyesight is exquisite. Their body is also covered in a very thin layer of shimmery scales, with short rough fur layered overtop. In some cases Crowntails may exhibit mutations as well, though these have yet to be documented in the wild.
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Coloration
The colors on the species ranges, but all patterns are described as strictly equine. It is most common to see paint-type patterns, while the rarest variation known is pure black or white. The mane and tail can appear in any coloration, natural or unnatural, though they are more regularly blended color fades in shades of blue and red. Patterning on their webbing is unusual with the exception of stripping or highlight spines, but other mutations such as spotting are possible. Their eyes, inner ears, and hooves can also sometimes present with unnatural colorations, and while their eyes do not have dark pupils, seeing multiple colors is a fairly common trait.
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Behavior
Crowntails are known by many other names, but none so popular as the Thai Fighting Quids. This name comes with no surprise, as these creatures are naturally ferocious fighters in the wild. They lead in a dictatorship style pack, with one Crownie guiding and protecting the swarm. If any member of the swarm is out of line, or attempts to challenge the leader in any way, they will automatically fight to the death. This is especially common with masculine presenting quids or protective parental figures. It is because of this that it is very important for their caretakers to keep domestic Crownies in very large territories, and to separate aggressive individuals to their own enclosures. For these reasons, it is not encouraged to attempt to saddle or halter even the most domestic individuals.
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Diet
Much like other scavengers, Crownies can eat just about anything. Their diet should be high in proteins in order to keep up the same vibrant colors in the mane and tail, however they can easily survive without meat, as most plant materials provide higher protein levels with easier digestion. It is common to find native swarms presenting their own unique food preferences, such as northern groups preferring plant roots or eastern swarms preferring aquatic algaes, but the overall consensus is the same with each; the species is VERY food motivated. In domestic groups, caretakers tend to prefer providing their swarms with grain-based diets, with the additions of raw aquatic plants such as kelp and seaweed to adhere to proper nutritional standards. Freeze dried fish or invertebrate are also encouraged, and some caretakers will even offer frozen thawed feeder rodents. Large prey items or live prey should be avoided in captivity however, as it can encourage crownies to become more food aggressive toward each other and their handlers.
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Health
One of the many reasons that this species has been dwindling down in nature is due to a plethora of health issues. Historically, crownies would produce thousands of eggs and often raise full batches of offspring as to outmaneuver their population decline when offspring presented with certain life threatening ailments. Now a days they do not breed as rapidly, yet illness is still a major problem for them. Common health concerns include bloat due to incorrect diets, skin lesions or ammonia burns due to dirty water, eye loss and blindness due to fungal infections, hoof rot due to dry climates, and fin rot due to pollution. Many of these issues can usually be avoided in captivity with proper care, so it is incredibly important for caretakers to maintain their environment diligently.
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Mating
When two crowntails mate, eggs are produced by an intertwining of the tails, in which DNA from both parents of any gender combines and results in a small batch of fertilized eggs. Mating occurs only in bodies of water, where the eggs will form inbetween the spines of both parents tail fins within a few minutes of locking up. The eggs will then shed off into the water to develop over the course of a two week period. One or both parents will work tirelessly to protect the eggs, blowing foamy bubbles into the water to cradle them and furiously attacking any moving thing that comes near them. Though they may produce up to a hundred eggs, only one or two eggs will have developed far enough to hatch, and any unhatched eggs will be killed or abandoned by the parents for scavengers to feast on. Newly-hatched foals are fully capable of managing on their own from this point, though most prefer to stay with their parents or integrate into the swarm for safety. In domestic swarms, it is common practice for caretakers to create man-made hatching ponds in fenced off areas where the parents can be moved in and out of the denoted spot safely. This is so that the caretakers have the ability to check on the foal's growth, while still allowing the crownies to interact with their young naturally, without getting eaten alive by the protective parents.
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Habitat
Wild Crowntails are said to be native to the coasts of Thailand, living in and among the muddy rivers, lakes, and especially marshlands, though the variety we have now is more commonly known as having originated from small remote island caves along the eastern american shore. Though they do not need to live in water to breathe, they do still require large bodies of fresh or salt water in order to properly forage and breed. The most preferred water sources are bayshores with freshwater rivers and saltwater marshes connected to it. Crownies can technically live like any other equine, settled in stables and barns with large pastures to explore and feed in, however it is unhealthy for a Crownie to go long without access to submersible-deep water. To accommodate their needs when living farther inland, barns are usually fitted with saltwater misters in the ceilings, shallow freshwater pools on the floor of each stall, and of course a large lake or pond somewhere within the pasture. The more clean cycled water that is available the happier, healthier and more vibrant-looking your swarm will be!
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Mutations
Some crowntails have been known to show certain mutations. These are usually very rare, and they tend to affect the crownies behavior and abilities. Below is a list of all known mutations along with passing rates and how it may affect the crowntail.
Colored Scales | 60% Passing Rate | Crowntails with unnaturally colored sections of scales on their body tend to have more sensitive skin. It's important to keep them very clean and avoid salt water as this can cause sores or brittle scales. They often prefer running rivers/streams.
Slit Pupils | 50% Passing Rate | Slit pupils have little affect on behavior, but often decreases their eyesight slightly. They may be clumsier or less agile when hunting. This altered body language may also cause other crowntails to outcast them. They tend to not last long in the wilds.
Facial and/or Hoof Fluff | 40% Passing Rate | Crowntails found in cooler climates or areas with harsher winter tempatures have mutated to show extra fluff and thicker fur. This is much more commonly seen in captivity. With this thicker fur, they can sometimes overheat more easily, so cool water or good ventilation is a must.
Curled Ears | 30% Passing Rate | Curled ears, otherwise known as marwari ears, has little affect on the health or behavior of crowntails. Some offspring do have issues with hearing for the first few days unlike hatchlings with regular ears, but this goes away with adulthood.
Gills | 20% Passing Rate | In some flooded climates, a few crowntail swarms have evolved to having gills. These gills are fully functional and allow the crowntail to breath under water for extended periods of time. It also causes them to tire more easily out of water however, and makes it impossible for them to breathe well at higher altitudes. They can also be more prone to fin rot or ammonia burns, due to being waterlogged constantly and entering dirty waters out of desperation.
Fantail Fins | 10% Passing Rate | A seemingly random mutation, fantail crownies do not appear to have any major complications in young specimins. Their fins are slightly more delicate and may tear more easily, but not at a concerning rate. In some older fantail finned crownies however, it's been noted that the fins grow in length significantly and become much heavier to maneuver, which may cause them to tire more easily. Because of this, elderly crowntails with this mutation are very rarely ever seen surviving well out in the wild, and captive fantailed equines may require more regular fin trimming to help take some strain off their aging joints. Fin nipping, a common self-mutilation behavior akin to parrots plucking their feathers, may arise in some extreme cases.
Horns | 5% Passing Rate | The rarest trait a crowntail can have is horns or boney growths of some form. These are always unique to the individual (custom lined) and can appear anywhere on the body in any shape. These can appear as almost anything - ramshorns, antlers, spiraled horns, unicorn horns, elbow/leg/cheek spikes, really any number of unique shapes. Horns are often used in battle and as such a horned crowntail is usually always a dominant figure, leading large swarms and securing many mates. Those keeping more aggressive or difficult crownies in their herd may seek out well trained horned crowntails to help keep everyone safe and the unruly herd members under control, so they are highly sought after and unfortunately often illegally poached from their native wild herds.
