My male beta used to be blue but now its really faded and an ugly color. Do you guys know if there is any way to change the color back?
2007-09-11 10:15:53 · 11 answers · asked by em 1 in Pets ➔ Fish
This often happens to bettas when kept in a vase or "betta keeper." It is a common misconception that bettas can be kept at room temperature and without any filtration. This is simply not true. Bettas need a tank that is AT LEAST 2 gallons in size (5 is always better). They also require an undergravel filter (over the tank filters cause too much agitation in the water). Because bettas originate from still riverbeds in southeast Asia, they need a heater set to approximately 75 degrees F.
All of these things will help keep colors bright. But it is also important to offer your betta a varied diet. Bettas are highly carnivorous so any pellets offered should have a high protein content; in addition, they should be offered bloodworms, brine shrimp, and krill on a regular, rotating basis.
When kept properly, betta colors are brilliantly bright and do not fade. Housing your betta in a tiny, unfiltered, unheated bowl will inevitably make his colors fade and drastically shorten his lifespan. Bettas in a bowl typically only live 3-4 years. Properly kept bettas can live 10-15 years!
2007-09-11 10:32:38 · answer #1 · answered by Beeba 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
If you have had your betta for a while now this is a sign of stress or bad nutrition. This may happen due to too much ammonia so you should change the water. Instead of feeding flakes or pellets try baby brine shrimp or bloodworms. bringing out a balanced diet will increase the bettas health and color. change the water 95-100% every 2 days if its a small 2-3 gallon tank and with a filter change it once a week. low temperature will also cause the betta discoloration.
2007-09-11 18:38:19 · answer #2 · answered by cs313 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
How long have you had your betta? Fading colors could be a sign of old age (they can live 3-5 years with good care, meaning a 2 gallon tank or larger with a heater and filter), but they can also be a sign of stress in a fish. In bettas, this usually is the result of being kept at too cool of a temperature (their water should be 76-86o) or poor water quality (in an unfiltered container, you should be doing 100% water changes every 2-3 days, in a filtered tank, 25% changes once a week). Also, be sure you aren't overfeeding him, which can also cause the water quality to go bad quickly. If you're feeding him the betta pellets, he should only get 4-5 twice a day at the most.
2007-09-11 17:26:11 · answer #3 · answered by copperhead 7 · 5⤊ 1⤋
Look at his food. I assume you have a male. There are foods that have a color enhancer. Whether it will work or not depends on more than just the food. Try a bigger environment so he can move freely. I've noticed a lot of ours have done better in 5-10gal. tanks. Do not use your community tank. Bettas are an aggressive species. Although we've had them with other fish I've often heard people say they have had problems with some fish, especially fin nippers. I did have a female once who ate 1 eye and the right side and tail fins of a black moor. This taught me a lesson in transporting these fish together. I think they would've been fine in a tank but the bag was way too confined a space!!!
2007-09-11 17:29:13 · answer #4 · answered by pappyld04 4 · 0⤊ 3⤋
faded colour is a sign of sickness. i would make sure his tank is being well maintained. if he's in a filtered tank you need to make sure it's cycled and getting a 20-25% water change once a week, if it's unfiltered you need to make sure it's getting 50-70% water change twice a week. with room-temperature dechlorinated water. that would be the first step, and look for other symptoms of sickness including a bloated or sunken stomach, loss of appetite, trouble swimming, unusual marks and tatty fins.
2007-09-11 17:28:59 · answer #5 · answered by catx 7 · 2⤊ 2⤋
I think that there are things at the pet store to restore color to them. I would go to the aquatic section of your pet store and ask them.
2007-09-11 17:22:06 · answer #6 · answered by JoV 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Death (they live up to 2, in some cases longer, years. ) or malnutriton. that's it. the blue rocks will make a bigger contrast between colors- that's all.
2007-09-11 17:26:37 · answer #7 · answered by aliaysleighbasic 3 · 0⤊ 3⤋
That's a sign his end is near. No you cannot get his color back artificially.
2007-09-11 17:21:19 · answer #8 · answered by Sunday P 5 · 1⤊ 2⤋
I am sorry but it will be soon before they will "leave". Try to check the vet.
2007-09-15 13:39:45 · answer #9 · answered by KayleeR 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Place blue rocks in the tank. I was told this works, however I really am not sure it is possible.
2007-09-11 17:20:31 · answer #10 · answered by Teacher 6 · 0⤊ 4⤋