Can a Betta change colors?

[platytetrafan]

Ok when I bought Dice he appeared to be a white and black betta or so I thought. In the last week his colors have changed to a more solid dark Navy color he is still really pretty but I have never seen this happen before. He is quite the chameleon. Pics of Dice pic #1 when I first bought him and Pic #2 now with the color change.

 

[DoN_WoN]

it could be he was stressed when u bought him and he is comfortable now and changed colors slightly

 

[paperdragon]

You've got yourself a marbled betta. They're notorious for switching colors whenever they feel like it. One of my females went from red butterfly to cellophane and is now blue, almost black.

 

[platytetrafan]

Hmmmmmmm very cool! He didn't seem stressed at all when I bought him he was comfortable from the time I put him in his new home and has been since. Just thought the color change was funny he is still a beautiful betta lol I have a chameleon on my hands lol. Too cute! Thanks .

 

[Hebily]

That sounds awesome! Can you tell in the store if they are going to be like that?

 

[jm1212]

fish usually become more vibrant after a few days of being in their new tanks.

 

[excuzzzeme]

Not usually. It is hard to know whether they have been taken care of or stressed to the brink. Almost any fish will have a morph change so to speak due to lighting, water condition, food, stress level, etc. when brought home from the store. Some will even change according to temp fluctuations and how they feel.

 

[platytetrafan]

He is a really happy betta swims up to greet me eats well. Swims all around his tank. He just likes to change color lol.

 

[serissime]

All my bettas have changed colors since we got them. You are giving him better care than he was getting before, so he's probably going to his true color now (or he's still maturing)

 

[paperdragon]

Forgot to ask how long you had him before he changed... I was going by the patterning in the first pic, but yeah that can just be "un-stressing".