New Betta - What colour!?

[karma_llama]

I got a new betta boy 'Yuri' yesterday to keep my other one 'Igor' company.
To be honest i couldnt actually see what colour he was when i bought him (hard to explain why) and i have to say he's a little boring, but he's mine now so i love him!
The pictures are taken of him in two differing light conditions (one to show his lovely long fins, the other to show the colour).
What colour would you experts recon he is?!

 

[shewlett]

Hard to believe they are the same fish. What lighting did you use on the second picture where he looks pink?

If the first picture was taken under "natural" light I would say his body color is green. Green is produced by iridescent crystals (cells called iridocytes) on the fish's skin which refract light and our eyes see the result as green in this case. The structure of the crystal determines the color seen, blue in bettas is also the product of the shape of these iridocytes.

 

[karma_llama]

One the second picture i had a purply/pink flouresecent aquarium light above the tank and just relied on that an the light in the room (as it was dark outside). The First picture is using the flash ont he camera, hense the irridescence. I assure you it's the same fish!!!

Is it only blue and green that 'appear' due to these 'crystals', as my other betta igor (avatar) does not shimmer like the new one does!?

 

[MrMup04]

the first picture is his original color.. green body with a bit of red fins

the reason why the second picture of the betta looks pink is becuase of your lights

 

[shewlett]

Originally posted by karma_llama
Is it only blue and green that 'appear' due to these 'crystals', as my other betta igor (avatar) does not shimmer like the new one does!?

Blue and green are the common iridescent colours (sometimes called turquoise). I have recently seen pictures of a gold betta from southeast asia that looked like he had gold iridesence. I'm not aware of any other iridescent colors.

 

[Igor The Cat]

Yes green, but how is "Igor The Betta" ?

-Java

 

[karma_llama]

hee hee, 'Igor the betta' is fine.....i must have subliminaly named him after you, be proud!

 

[Igor The Cat]

I am

-Java