Hi everyone, I’m sorry to post again. I've had my male betta for about a week in a 10-gallon heated and filtered planted tank. I'm currently doing a fish-in cycle using Seachem Prime and Stability, and I've been monitoring my water parameters closely.
Over the last few days, I've noticed that the area around his face/gill seems to be changing from a darker brown/gray color to more of a white/silver color. I can't tell if it's just his natural coloration developing under better conditions or if it's the beginning of an illness.
Behavior-wise:
He's swimming normally.
He comes out to greet me when I approach the tank.
He explores the tank and occasionally goes to the surface for air, but he's not gasping.
He built what looks like a small bubble nest.
His appetite is slightly off. Today he only ate one pellet. He tried to eat a second pellet twice but spit it back out each time.
I've attached a couple of photos from different days so you can compare the color change.
Does this look like a normal color change, or does it look like the beginning of a disease?
https://www.reddit.com/gallery/1uqajr6
Posted by Real-Employee6113
1 Comment
My betta is exactly the same, im doing an in fish cycle and its the worst!! The colouring of the gills is most likely due to the parameters of the water, ive been having to do daily water changes due to swings, as long as ammonia, nitrites,pH and KH are stable or you are doing water changes when you notice they are too high/ low he should be fine. Having a good filter also changes how quickly youll get it cycled, i tried an internal sponge filter and it just did not work for me, i had to get the tidal 35 hang on the back filter which has media to help with beneficial bacteria, if you can add filter floss to ur current filter that would help catch the little particles and help the filter grow more bacteria.