my betta color

Question
hello.  my beta has lost its color, from dark blue to almost a white color.  it has happened ALOT of times since i had bought him from the pet store.  he is a real pig too.  i know your suppose to only feed them 3-4 pellets a day, but he eats like 10 in one feeding and he eats at least twice a day.  could he be loosing his color as he grows? cause his color does come back, but i was just wondering.  like he will slowly lose his color and then he will go completely white and then his color comes back and when he finally gets all his color back, he starts to lose it again.  i would just like to know if it is normal.  thank you for your time. hope to hear from you soon.

Answer
Hi Deana,
No, what you are telling me isn't normal.  
He is overeating, and this is not good for him.  Giving him 10 pellets for one meal could kill him.  I know they are gluttons, but we have to ignore their song, and dance sometimes.  I have nothing to go on here, since he is eating, and not showing any other signs. You will have to stop giving him 10 pellets, and vary his diet.  I think your problem stems from feeding him too much.  You are killing him with kindness!!  I know how they can reach our heart!

Here is some information on how to care for a Betta:


A betta needs at least 2.5 gallons of water, but in my book 5 gallons is best.  
In his habitat the betta may live in shallow waters, but he has lots of room to swim.  
Keeping Bettas in small bowls, containers, vases etc, is cruel.  The Betta is one of the most mistreated fish on the market.
He needs a heated tank,  Temperature should be 78-80 degrees.  He is a tropical fish, and is cold under this temperature.  Cold bettas get sick, are miserable, and live unhappy lives.  They should have a silk plant in their tanks, so that they can rest on the leaves  They also need a little tunnel or some knick knack that they can go through.   You may add 1 teaspoon of aquarium salt in his water which has been diluted before adding to his tank.  1 teaspoon to 5 gallons of water.
He needs a varied diet. This is very important.  Betta pellets one day, Betta Flakes the next, Daphnia the next, and bloodworms should be given once a week as a treat.
He should be given one frozen cooked pea a week, and on the day you give him the pea, he should fast.  
Cook a frozen pea until it is well cooked and tender.  Remove the outer layer, and cut into tiny pieces.  
Feed your Betta one piece at a time making sure it doesn't fall to the bottom of the tank.  This helps to clean out his system.
A betta is prone to constipation, and constipation leads to Swim Bladder Disease.
He should have 2-3 small meals a day, and not one big meal.  We must remember that his tummy is the size of his eye.
Example:  2 pellets for one meal.
Water changes are very important.  Water changes must be made every week without fail with a good water conditioner such as Aqua Safe or Stress Coat.  There is also a conditioner made especially for bettas.
When treated well, a betta can live up to 8 years, and be a very good friend.  
He's an intelligent little fish, and should be treated with kindness.
Too many vendors know nothing about the betta, and don't care...so don't give good information on how to keep them.
They are there to sell, and will say anything just to make a buck.  They send you home with your bought betta, telling you a small bowl is perfect, and bloodworms!  The poor customer thinks he has everything he/she needs, and then the fish gets sick, money is spent to cure him, and eventually the fish dies.   
This turns my stomach over.  Unfortunately there are no laws to protect fish.  
Bettas kept in small bowls, and tanks, vases, will get sick, and are very hard to cure in such little water.  They end up dying, and
that hurts the person who has grown so attached to them.  They don't deserve to be treated this way.
I just thought I would tell you a little on our friend the Betta.  If you have more questions do not hesitate to write me.  I have bred them, love them, and know what is good for them.
Lynda