Betta Changing Colors ?????

[tropics007]

The betta was stressed in the photo as I had to transfer him into a dip n pour in order to get a picture. Please excuse the scratches, and scuffs on the front of the dip n pour. I have had that container for over 5 years, so it is in pretty rough condition.

I found a unique looking crowntail male at one of my lfs about a week ago. He was a very deep chocolate color when I originally purchased him. Within a day or so of bringing him home, I noticed that his color was getting lighter & lighter, but now this betta has changed colors completely. I recently moved him to a new setup yesterday as the original tank was getting too small.

The original setup had white sand, with italian vals. The new setup has a dark substrate, with italian vals, and two itty bitty amazon swords.

This male betta is now turning a baby pink & bright purple color. He still has some of his dark brown scales, but it looks like he is still changing colors. (if you look closely in the pictures you can see his original brown colored scales).

He eats like crazy, and he couldn't possibly be more active. Could moving a fish to a new setup cause him to have changed colors this dramatically? Was he simply overstressed in the store? Etc.

I have kept a variety of bettas ranging from newborn-5 years old. In all my fishkeeping ( 15+ years), I have never ever seen a betta do this.

I am getting somewhat panicked about him, as I want to make sure he is happy, and 100% healthy.

[aokashi]

:)
there could be two reasons, your great care had him show his true colors, or he is a marble!

[Hallyx]

Yeah, they'll do that, sometimes to our delight, sometimes to our dismay.

With petstore Betta, you can't know the genetics. Looks like you got one with marble genes.