weird betta

Question
My room mate and mine's Betta, Mr. Sexy, is doing something really weird. We just changed his water last night and the color of the lights in his tank and we looked in on him tonight and he had these gills around his neck sprouting, it kind of looked like what a lizard does. Everytime he breathed these main looking thing would lift from around his neck. It looks really scary, we got real scared and turned out his light hoping that he would stop by morning. We are really worried...please help!

Answer
Hello Ashley-

It's kind of hard to picture what you are describing, but I think what you are seeing are Mr. Sexy's operculums (gill flaps.)

Here is a picture:
http://www.bettas-jimsonnier.com/images/opaque+flare.jpg

Is that what you were seeing?
If so, it is completely normal! Bettas flare out their operculums when they are excited, or trying to defend their territory.

Hope this helps,
Amber Worman