But why? There are a few reasons why your betta fish might change colors, and while some are good and harmless, others are not. So, what causes color changes in betta fish? What can you do to prevent your fish from changing color? To get the answers to these questions and get the full lowdown on why betta fish color change really occurs, read this guide!
Yes, stress is one of the primary causes of color changes in betta fish. Just as people change colors under stressful situations, like turning white as a ghost when shocked or sporting a bright red face while angry, your betta fish reacts in a very similar way. When put in stressful situations, these fish can experience temporary color changes. You may also notice your betta fish is displaying stripes. Usually, female bettas are more likely to display stress stripes than males.
If the water is too warm or too cool, your betta buddy will be stressed. Ideally, you should have an aquarium thermometer that gives you accurate temperature readings, and you should check it every day. If the temperature is too cool, it may be that your tank heater is faulty and needs replacing. Betta fish need a water pH of between 6. Bettas are especially sensitive to toxins in the water.
His tank should be a minimum of 5 gallons and heated to between 78 and 82 degrees. Filtration and plants remove toxins from the water, which can make his colors fade by making him feel ill. If bringing your betta's environment to ideal conditions doesn't brighten his color, enhance it with natural foods containing carotenoids.
The pigments naturally found in brine shrimp and other crustaceans can be purchased from the fish store, labeled as color-enhancing foods. Fish pigmentation is a complicated business. There are three primary types of pigments, and they exist in special cells called chromatophores:. The color of a betta is partially determined by the combination of pigments expressed in their chromatophores, and how deep under the scales the cells are. When the black and yellow pigments are expressed, for instance, a fish will appear brown.
The deeper the chromatophores are under the scales, the darker and more vivid the color appears. Wild bettas are not generally as colorful as their selectively-bred cousins, although there are some stunning exceptions. Wild betta only shows their brightest colors when threatened or breeding, but domesticated varieties are always colorful unless they are sick or stressed.
There are other types of cells that play a role in the color and pattern of your betta. Depending on the depth of these cells, a fish may seem to have metallic highlights or stripes, or may even appear nearly white.
Just to complicate things further, sometimes iridocytes and chromatophores combine to create new colors. To keep your betta looking their best, be sure to feed them a varied and high-quality diet, and keep their water sparkling clean.
The trait that makes the male betta stand out among other aquarium fish is his elongated tail. Female bettas are pretty, but have a duller color than the males and lack the elaborate tail or fins. Fish have several individual fins and a couple of pairs of fins around their body , and bettas are no different. They use these fins to swim and orient their bodies in three dimensions underwater.
Certain varieties of betta have been selected and bred for longer, wider, or specially-shaped fins :. One hazard of elongated tails and fins is it hampers movement when swimming through vegetation. The fanciest and most beautiful betta fish would be at a severe disadvantage in the wild. Several varieties may be known by multiple names throughout the world, so in those cases, I defer to the most common usage. My descriptions of these varieties are not meant to convey show-standards , however.
Bettas come in a rainbow of solid colors, from bright reds all the way to the deepest blacks and the purest whites. Of course, many betta fish are not simply one color but show several distinct areas of pigmentation. I cover some of these cases in the patterns section. Some color varieties typically have a two-toned appearance, where the body and fins might be different colors or shades, like the chocolate betta. An albino betta completely lacks any pigmentation. An albino betta should have whitish to clear-colored scales and fins, and pinkish or red eyes.
Their muscles and organs may be faintly visible through their scales. In the wild, albino animals are at a great disadvantage, because the UV light from the sun causes a high rate of damage, often resulting in blindness and cancer. They frequently have other mutations and health problems as well. They are incredibly difficult to breed and have a low survival rate.
Sometimes you can see the pinkish color of their muscles and internal organs through their scales. Their fins are usually clear to opaque. Their eyes should be a solid black. Unlike albino bettas, clear or cellophane bettas do have one of the three pigments in their chromatophores. White bettas should have solid white scales and fins, although the fins may be more opaque in some specimens.
This might not sound very impressive, but the detail you can see on the body and fins of a pure white betta is absolutely stunning. Blue is not a very common color in nature, but betta fish are an exception. Usually fish only show bits of an iridescent blue, but bettas can be a deep and vivid shade of blue. In the dim light, a copper betta looks brown or tan colored.
These fish have highly reflective metallic scales and fins. A chocolate betta has a brown or tan body that fades to orange or yellow-colored fins and tail. These are usually a bi-colored variety of betta. Green bettas are usually solid colored, but you have to angle the light just right to really see the green.
Their bodies and fins may appear black, turquoise, or blue at certain angles. Nearly all green bettas have a metallic wash overlaying their color as well. Mustard gas bettas are very common and typically appear as a bi-colored fish with a blue or green body that shades orange or yellowish fins. The edges of their fins may also be shaded to black. They resemble the chocolate betta but lack brown bodies.
For the first 6 to 8 months of life, a female betta's color will gradually deepen as she approaches sexual maturity. When she is ready to breed, her coloration will deepen; a dark vertical band will extend the length of her body, and her belly will swell with eggs. Her colors will shine brightest when she's enjoying her surroundings and will pale if she becomes injured or if the temperature or water chemistry of her tank falls outside optimal levels.
0コメント