betta color loss

Question
hi,
I have a betta that is usually a dark red and a dark blue. I was just cleaning his bowl and when I put him back in he was pale white! He's regained his color but i don't why he got so pale! Can you help me?
                                         Thank you,
                                           Sage
P.S. He's my first fish!  

Answer
Good afternoon Sage,

Fish don't like to be introduced to all new water. The water they swim in is their environment after all. What if someone picked you up from windy Chicago and dropped you into the arid Arizona desert? I know that's a little extreme, but trust me, fish do get "traumatized" when their water is changed out 100% and/or the new water is not the same temperature. Likely he will recover from this, but I have a few other things to say about bettas in bowls...

First off, while bettas can survive in bowls, they don't thrive. They are tropical fish and like to be in water that's always 78-80 degrees. Hydor has a 7.5 watt heater (go to Google.com, type this in and see a list of e-tailers) that would work for a bowl, but it would be much better for your betta - and ultimately for you - if you could put your betta into a small heated and filtered tank. A tank of 3 gallons would be fine, Walmart has a 5 gallon acrylic kit that would be perfect for a betta. For $30-40 it includes a light, a filter - just get a 25 watt heater and a thermometer and you have a truly ideal betta set up!

If you really want to keep your betta in a bowl for the rest of his life, then change 50% of his water three times a week, and make sure the water is the same temperature, if not a little warmer. Always add dechlorinator. I use Aqua Safe once in a while and prefer Prime. Aqua Safe takes 10 drops and Prime takes 2 drops to dechlorinate a gallon.

This website will help you learn lots more about bettas and their care, it's my favorite betta reference site:
http://www.bettatalk.com

Don't worry too much about the temporary paleness, but in order to make him the happiest and keep him stress free, consider my recommendations. Get a heater and eventually move your betta to a proper fish tank instead of a bowl - this ensures his health, appetite and longevity for life!

Take care,
Nicole