Betta with eye color same as body

Hello! New to the forum, as well as the aquatic realm. Thanks in advance for any help!
I just started working at a local pet store, and a particular betta has been available for awhile that seems to have eyes the same color as his body. I decided to take him home for a birthday gift to myself, and am inexplicably attached. I tried chatting with people from work about his condition, and everyone seemed to think it was nothing to worry about. I've also tried looking up eye pigment in bettas online, but I still feel in the dark as to if he has some kind of ailment, if he may be or become blind, or if he is just a special guy (or gal).
His body is a tealy green, and his eyes seem to be the same color. I tried to get pictures without bothering him too much... His eyes are not white or cloudy, just the exact same color as his body/face, with no sign of a pupil...
Thanks again for any advice or help in advance! I just want him to live as comfortable as possible!

 

That's really interesting. Does he act like he can see, i.e. interact with you, go after food by sight?

 

Hello and to FishLore!

That's a nice-looking betta! I think it is a Dragonscale Betta. Sometimes Dragonscales develop eye problems because of the type of scales on the body. These "dragon" scales may encroach on the betta's eyes and cause difficulty seeing, or even blindness. However, I don't know if having the same color eyes as the body is a sign of this.

There are lots of Betta lovers here who know much more about this than I do, so I'll defer to them. . Stand by for more replies.

Again, welcome!

 

Thank you so much for the info! He used to live in one of those dinky plastic cups at the pet store, and would be fed live bloodworms, which he never had a problem "finding". I will bring some home for him to see how he does in the slightly larger tank. He does seem to interact with me when I am at the tank, and I believe he is finding and eating his floating betta pellets just find. But he does not go after them immediately when I drop them in my tank, although I'm sure he is still adjusting to the new home.

 

He's called a Jewel Eye. It certainly causes problems with sight. A feeding ring, floating pellets, and little to no current will help him out a lot Also, don't make drastic changes to the tank decor once he's used to it, and have nothing floating in the tank (other than the feeding ring).

 

Thanks Akari! I will definitely order a feeding ring for him. Any suggestions for the best tank size/style for a fish with this type of condition? I picked up the cheapest tank kit for now but I'd like to put him in something bigger. I'd also like to give him some toys and maybe an African dwarf frog buddy, but would this be a bad idea? Despite his seeing issues he seems pretty interested in people around his tank and is very, very active!

 

Thanks Akari! I will definitely order a feeding ring for him. Any suggestions for the best tank size/style for a fish with this type of condition? I picked up the cheapest tank kit for now but I'd like to put him in something bigger. I'd also like to give him some toys and maybe an African dwarf frog buddy, but would this be a bad idea? Despite his seeing issues he seems pretty interested in people around his tank and is very, very active!

I'm sure he can see to an extent. I wouldn't put anything in his tank with him. He might see it as a threat, and attack it, or become very stressed out by it. Any other time, I'd so go for it, but not now.

2.5-5 gallons, I would think. Lots of people use Hamster tunnels as toys for their bettas. They can float, or you can put some gravel in the bottom, and they'll sink. Plants and caves are less of an eye-sore, though, if you ask me XD

 

I just thought id add that blood worms should be fed no more then 2-3 times a week in small amounts. They are like candy to bettas and can make them fat in a sense. A proper pellet brand of food will do him good. Taking in a blind dragon scale require some patients and hard work. Start by puttin a pellet on top of the water in one area of the tank, tap water or side of glass by the pellet until he finds it. Repeat these steps every feeding, he will learn where is food is.