Betta fish also referred to as ‘The Siamese fighting fish‘ is a small, tropical, colorful fish that can be found in Southeast Asia. And is very common in the pet trade. The Betta got its name from a long line of ancient Asian warriors called the ‘Bettah.’
Betta fish are well known for their brilliant colors. However, they sometimes lose their beautiful blue, red, or green color and it fades to white. What does this mean? And most importantly, is it deadly?
Why is My Betta Turning White? If your betta fish turns white and refuses to eat, it could be an indication of several diseases. However, it could also just be a regular part of your Betta’s genes and growth.
In this article, we will learn why a Betta fish color may turn white and refuse to eat, what signs to look out for as symptoms in case of illness, the cause of such disease, and the treatment for it.
Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment for Whiteness
Stress
Stress is a common cause for whiteness in Betta fish and can easily be resolved by ensuring that other fish in the tank are not attacking the Betta fish.
Also, ensuring that the fish can’t see its reflection and that it is being kept in water whose temperature is between 78-80 0Fahrenheit, can prove very helpful. Always make sure that the water temperature never goes below 74 0F and above 86 0F.
Body flukes
Body flukes may also cause whiteness in your betta fish.
A fluke is a common type of parasite that can be found in aquarium tank water. If your fish is healthy, its immune system ought to be strong enough to combat the fluke. But if the fish becomes diseased, stressed, or if the water quality plummets, fluke populations can rise and infect your fish.
Body flukes are white in color and can generally be seen with the naked eye. They are several millimeters in length and very thin. If there are several of them, it may just look like your Betta is turning white.
Anti-parasitic treatments are very effective against flukes. Praziquantel is a great treatment for this and can be found in several medications such as Prazi-Pro and API General Cure.
Ich
This is another type of common parasite that can cause whiteness in your Betta fish.
It spreads quite quickly and has a relatively long life-span. The consequence of this is that treatment must last for at least a month as the young cysts can hide in the substratum for extended periods.
One blessing that comes with Ich being common is that nearly every pet store that sells fish will also sell Ich medication.
Ich is easy to recognize as it resembles white dots all over the fish. So if your Betta fish looks like something dipped in salt, you had better check it out cause it just might be Ich.
Costia
Costia is another parasite that can cause whitening in your Betta fish. The parasite rarely affects tropical fish though, and so there are not many medications specifically adapted for Costia.
However, the good news is that most Ich medications will work on this parasite because the two parasites are similar. Costia though would definitely make the Betta look white all over, or at least extremely cloudy.
Cottonmouth disease
The ‘cottonmouth disease’ is another frequent cause of whiteness and loss of appetite in the Betta fish.
The infection is caused by the Columnaris bacterium, Flavobacterium columnare. It is an extremely aggressive bacterial infection that closely looks like a fungus.
If you happen to see a fluffy white patch on your Betta, the best thing to do is to check it out as it could be Columnaris. The bacterium has been known to kill fish in 12-96 hours, depending on the strain.
A fish can show symptoms of the bacteria by having frayed and ragged fins.
This may be followed by the appearance of ulcerations on the skin, subsequent epidermal loss, identifiable as white or cloudy, fungus-like patches – especially on the gill filaments, and refusal to eat.
Mucus may also amass on the gills, head, and dorsal regions.
Gills will change color, either becoming light or dark brown and may also exhibit necrosis. Fish will breathe rapidly and laboriously as a sign of gill damage. Anorexia and lethargy are common, as is mortality, especially in young fish.
Some fish may show symptoms of this disease, while others will die quickly without showing any symptoms.
The best way to combat it is a combination of Furan 2 and Kanaplex or Maracyn. This disease is usually introduced by unquarantined tanks and can enter the fish through the mouth, gills, or small wounds.
The condition is prevalent where the tank fish tank is overcrowded or where there is a low oxygen level in the water.
Lymphocystis
Lymphocystis may be another reason for your betta fish turning white. Perhaps the worst thing about this viral disease is that it currently has no cure.
The fish may show symptoms by growing small pink or white lumps on their fins or skin in the early stages.
This often makes people confuse it for Ich. After some time, the lumps clump together to form a cauliflower-like growth on the skin, mouth, fins, and occasionally the gills. Eventually, the growths inhibit the fish’s ability to swim, breathe or eat, and secondary bacterial infections usually kill the fish.
Usually, the best treatment is to simply give the fish a stress-free life and a weekly bacteria treatment. Then the virus will slowly subside and the fins will repair themselves. This can take many months.
Like most viral infections, the first outbreaks are the most serious. While the immune system learns how to suppress it, the outbreaks become less severe over time assuming the organism survives the initial outbreaks.
Sometimes the symptoms may abate on its own, but it is also possible for the lump to reappear. Lymphocystis is contagious; thus, it is advisable that if one fish is exhibiting symptoms, it must be isolated from other fish to avoid contamination.
Body fin/rot
Body rot or fin rot is another reason why a betta fish may turn white. In several instances, body rot happens after the fin has rotted away entirely, and the rot then extends to the other parts of the fish’s body.
Fin rot usually occurs in Betta fish with long fins because their fins are so long that the circulation of blood to the edges is often poor. This can lead to flesh rotting and becoming infected with both bacteria and fungus.
The best treatment for body rot and fin rot is Methylene Blue dips and baths along with strong antibacterial medications such as Kanaplex. However, if fin rot is allowed to go on long enough for it to reach the body, chances of survival are not very good.
Does All Whiteness Amount to Whiteness?
No. It’s not every whiteness in your Betta fish that amounts to illness.
This is because sometimes the mere shedding of your Betta fish’s slime coat may also cause it to turn cloudy and whitish either in some parts of the body or all over it. The presence of excess slime coat will also have such effects.
Medication can’t be employed to treat this but it is normally caused by an irritant in the water.
The most common one being salt, lotions, aerosols, and soap. The best thing to do in such instances is to change the water and replace it with water free of irritants.
Bettas may also have what is known as marble coloration.
This is not a harmful reason for your Betta’s color change. If it is just a few scales that are turning white, then it is likely that your Betta has the marble gene. If the change continues, especially if other colors become a part of the change, it is most likely simple marbling.
What If Your Betta Refuses to Eat?
Your Betta’s refusal to eat can be as a result of any of the diseases mentioned above. However, sometimes fish refuse to eat because they’re fussy, stressed, or overfed.
Low water temperature may slow the fish metabolism resulting in it eating less. You also might be offering the wrong type of food or keeping the tank in an unclean state.
Provide the fish with protein-rich and meaty food. Pre-packaged meals such as brine shrimp, live bloodworms, and specially formulated pellets will meet the nutritional requirements of your Bettas. And keep it in top condition.
We know you love your fishy friend, so when your betta buddy’s bright, beautiful colors start to change or fade, it can be really scary. After all, if the fish turns white or black, or morphs into some other color combination entirely, that can’t be good, can it?
Do betta fish change color? That may seem like a strange question, but it’s actually not such a weird thing to ask. And it has a short answer: yes, betta fish do change color. 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? And can you improve or enhance your betta’s colors? To get the answers to these questions and get the full lowdown on why betta fish color change really occurs, read this guide!
Does stress make my betta fish change color?
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.
“Stress stripes”
You may also notice your betta fish is displaying stripes. Those aren’t cool markings your betta buddy naturally developed; instead, they’re a sign your fish is suffering from stress.
“Stress stripes” run horizontally along the betta’s body and shouldn’t be confused with breeding stripes that run vertically. Stress stripes extend from the fish’s gills to its tail and can be red, black, white, or a combination of these colors. Usually, female bettas are more likely to display stress stripes than males.
If you see that your betta fish has stress stripes, it’s a good indication that your pet is suffering some degree of stress, so something in its environment needs to change.
What causes stress in bettas?
More often than not, the cause of your fish’s stress is unsuitable water conditions.
Bettas are highly sensitive to water temperature, so make sure these fish’s tanks are kept between 78 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. 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. Similarly, if the water is too warm, the heater’s thermostat might have failed, and you’ll need to buy a new heating unit for your betta tank.
Betta fish need a water pH of between 6.5 and 7.5 and a water hardness of 3 to 5 dKH, so make it a part of your weekly tank maintenance routine to check the water parameters of your betta’s tank using an aquarium water testing kit.
Bettas are especially sensitive to toxins in the water. Check that ammonia and nitrite levels are zero and nitrate levels are below 20 ppm. You’ll need to carry out a partial water change of around 30 percent every week.
You’ll also need to rinse the filter media in old tank water to remove the sludge that would otherwise clog the filter sponges and prevent efficient circulation around the tank and through the unit. Periodically, you’ll need to change the media according to the manufacturer’s recommendations.
New environment
When you get your betta fish home, you may notice it doesn’t look exactly like it did in the fish store, and that can be a good thing!
Conditions in pet stores are generally not ideal. Bettas are often kept in small, boxy display tanks with little to no decoration or company to stimulate the fish’s natural curiosity. The betta fish kept in these low-quality conditions are usually pretty inactive and can appear bored and miserable. That kind of environment can cause very high levels of stress to the fish.
This applies even more so to fish that are bought online, especially if the betta was shipped long-distance to get to you. Imagine how stressful it is for a fish to be taken from the aquarium in which he was bred, placed in a small plastic bag, and shipped by road or air to a totally new and unfamiliar environment. No wonder the poor fish gets stressed out!
Then, you come along, buy the betta, and take it home. Once the fish has settled into its beautiful new tank in your home — maybe with a few peaceful tank mates for company, some plants to rest on, a few toys, and perfect water conditions — the betta’s color will likely change.
Your new fishy friend will suddenly become lively, curious, and full of life, and its colors may become deeper and more vibrant, too. In that case, a change in your betta’s color is a good thing.
Does illness make my betta fish change color?
When a betta fish is sick, its vibrant colors might fade and appear washed-out.
Some fish diseases, like fungal and bacterial infections, can make your betta’s colors much paler than usual. So, if your betta starts to look pale, that can be a sign that all is not well; you’ll need to be on the lookout for other signs of illness in your finned friend, too.
Illnesses that may alter your betta’s colors include:
- Fin rot: Fin rot is a bacterial disease that can cause your betta’s fins to turn white. Look for fins that appear frayed or torn, especially at the ends. Prompt action is required to treat the condition and prevent it from spreading to other parts of the betta’s body. If not treated quickly, fin rot can cause permanent damage to your betta’s beautiful fins and tail.
- White spot disease: White spot disease is also commonly called ich (or ick). The condition is caused by an aquatic parasite that attacks the fish’s skin, appearing as a rash of tiny white spots like grains of salt. Your poor itchy fish will often flick its body against the substrate and other objects within the tank.
- Columnaris: Columnaris is a fungal infection that causes frayed fins, ulcers, and white spotting on the fish’s body. The fish might also begin to turn white and develop a fluffy appearance.
Thankfully, all the conditions mentioned above are treatable with medication that can be added to the tank water. Ask an expert at your local fish store for more information about the best course of action to care for your sick betta fish.
Does age make my betta fish change color?
Just like your hair turns gray as you enter your senior years, your betta’s color fades as it gets older.
Captive betta fish usually have a life expectancy of between two and five years. Some fish begin to lose their color vibrancy quite early, whereas others don’t seem to dull at all. Just as with people, whether your betta loses its color as it ages really depends on the individual fish’s genetics.
Marble bettas
Marble bettas are notorious for changing colors throughout their lifetimes. They were created by accident through selective breeding and have dark patches on a white or pinkish-colored body or vice-versa. The very first marble bettas were always black and white, but now these lovely fish come in pretty much every color you can imagine.
Marbling is caused by a genetic quirk referred to as the “jumping gene.” Jumping genes can move from one of the betta’s chromosomes to a different location on another chromosome. However, the jumping gene’s location in its new location is only temporary. This means the change in genetic expression is temporary, too, which is why marbled bettas typically change color.
Their habit of changing colors is something that makes marbled bettas incredibly popular and sought after. After all, you might have a black and white fish one day but a red and green one the following week — how cool is that?
Contrary to popular urban myth, there’s no evidence to show that marbled bettas are any less healthy or more prone to disease than regular betta fish.
Growing up
Betta fish can change color as they reach sexual maturity. Who knew? Well, we did, and now, so do you.
If you decide to buy a very young betta fish, there’s a good chance it will change color as it becomes sexually mature. Usually, the betta’s color will either darken or become brighter.
However, unless you buy your fish online or deliberately look for a very young betta, most of the fish you see in pet stores are fully mature and have their adult colors. That’s largely because bettas can breed well before they’re fully grown. So, it’s pretty unlikely your betta will change color because it hasn’t reached fish puberty.
Can injury make my betta fish change color?
Maybe your betta fish was injured in transit, or perhaps it bumped into something in its new home while acclimating to its new surroundings. No matter how it happened, your betta fish might change color if it’s been injured.
Part of the natural healing process can cause the affected body part to grow back a different color. Often, the flesh and scales around an old injury are darker or lighter than the rest of the fish’s body.
That’s not necessarily a cause for concern as long as everything else is okay and the injured area is not reddened, ulcerated, or fails to heal. Those signs can indicate a bacterial infection, and you should treat your fish with suitable antibacterial medication.
Why is my betta fish turning black?
It’s not unusual for a betta fish to become darker in color as it matures. In some cases, the betta’s naturally bright colors morph completely into almost black. That’s not generally a cause for concern and is merely part of the fish’s natural aging process.
Marbled bettas, for example, commonly change from bright colors to black, so if you have a marble fish, don’t worry. Other fish species, including goldfish, can also change color completely from bright orange to white to black and bronze simply because they are getting older.
However, to be on the safe side, we recommend you check the water quality and temperature in your betta fish’s tank and look out for other signs that could indicate a health or stress problem for your fish.
How to make your betta’s colors brighter
Assuming your betta fish is healthy and free from disease, the water conditions, and tank temperature are suitable, and it lives in an enriched environment, you can sometimes boost your fish’s colors through its diet.
Color-enhancing diet
Feeding your fish a color-enhancing diet can produce dramatic results in a relatively short time.
Betta fish are omnivores, although the majority of their natural diet consists of meaty foods. So, by feeding your betta a high-protein diet, you can replicate what he eats in the wild environment. Feeding your betta a diet that’s rich in meaty proteins such as brine shrimp, bloodworms, daphnia, krill, and the like is the best way to bring out your pet’s natural beauty and helps prevent color loss.
Bettas love live food, especially bloodworms and mosquito larvae. However, unless you have a very good supplier, we advise against offering live foods to your betta. Unfortunately, many parasites and bacteria find their way into fish tanks with contaminated live foods. Instead, feed your betta frozen meats and color-enhancing betta flakes. If you have space and time to devote to the project, you might want to raise your own brine shrimp in a home hatchery.
In conclusion
Betta fish can and do change colors for many reasons. However, one of the most common reasons betta’s lose color and vibrancy is stress.
Poor conditions in tanks or incorrect water temperature are the primary causes of stress in bettas, so always check the tank temperature, water parameters, and water quality before you do anything else. Bettas also change color as they age and in response to illness. And if you’re the proud owner of a marble betta, you can expect plenty of color changes throughout its lifetime.