Aquariums: What happened to my betta? (Details in comments)
What happened to my betta? (Details in comments)
Posted by SillyCookie358
2 Comments
SillyCookie358 on
The pics are after and before. His body used to be solid silver with red fins but now his head is almost white, some weird red spot is on his back (I think I saw some scaled coming off the pics just don’t show it well), and his fns are torn. I’m not sure exactly when or how this happened but I would say earlier this week is when I first noticed it. There’s no Popeyes or ich or the cottony stuff.
I expected some color change so his face might just be that but the scales on his back and the torn fins are strange to me, I don’t even know how to help. I’m not sure if his “stomach” is an issue because it’s rounder than usual but I don’t think I overfeed.
Did a water test and there’s no ammonia or nitrites. There’s unfortunately no nitrates because I had to get a new filter and this new filter doesn’t let me add my own media (I did soak the new filter in the old filter water).
5.5 gallon tank, temp is around 75 F, he only gets four pellets of tiny fluval bug bites and is fed every other day, no change in behavior, no tank mates. I got him last year so it’s not old age.
Edit: now that I think of it, the damaged scales on his back might be because of this log decor he went in a few days ago that I have (it’s the fake log that plants grow on from PetSmart) so he might have gotten caught on that, maybe the torn fins are from that too? I read that Indian almond leaves, aquarium salt, and stress coat could help?
Effective-Tone4837 on
I think you’re right, maybe he got scraped up on that fake log. Missing scales + torn fins + that red spot usually points to an injury, and once they get scraped, their fins can start looking rough too. I’d take the log out for now just in case. Also 75°F is a little cold for a betta, they usually do better around 78–80°F, especially when healing. I’d slowly warm the tank up, keep the water extra clean with small water changes, and adding an Indian almond leaf is a good idea. I’d hold off on aquarium salt unless things start getting worse.
2 Comments
The pics are after and before. His body used to be solid silver with red fins but now his head is almost white, some weird red spot is on his back (I think I saw some scaled coming off the pics just don’t show it well), and his fns are torn. I’m not sure exactly when or how this happened but I would say earlier this week is when I first noticed it. There’s no Popeyes or ich or the cottony stuff.
I expected some color change so his face might just be that but the scales on his back and the torn fins are strange to me, I don’t even know how to help. I’m not sure if his “stomach” is an issue because it’s rounder than usual but I don’t think I overfeed.
Did a water test and there’s no ammonia or nitrites. There’s unfortunately no nitrates because I had to get a new filter and this new filter doesn’t let me add my own media (I did soak the new filter in the old filter water).
5.5 gallon tank, temp is around 75 F, he only gets four pellets of tiny fluval bug bites and is fed every other day, no change in behavior, no tank mates. I got him last year so it’s not old age.
Edit: now that I think of it, the damaged scales on his back might be because of this log decor he went in a few days ago that I have (it’s the fake log that plants grow on from PetSmart) so he might have gotten caught on that, maybe the torn fins are from that too? I read that Indian almond leaves, aquarium salt, and stress coat could help?
I think you’re right, maybe he got scraped up on that fake log. Missing scales + torn fins + that red spot usually points to an injury, and once they get scraped, their fins can start looking rough too. I’d take the log out for now just in case. Also 75°F is a little cold for a betta, they usually do better around 78–80°F, especially when healing. I’d slowly warm the tank up, keep the water extra clean with small water changes, and adding an Indian almond leaf is a good idea. I’d hold off on aquarium salt unless things start getting worse.