I've only had my betta for a couple weeks and since day 1 I've noticed the area under his gills is miscolored. He's red with purple highlights, but his scales are kinda gray behind his gills and before the first set of bottom fins. The lower portion of his jaw also has this discoloration It's hard to get a good look. Everytime I put my face up to the tank, he flares his gills and bumrushes me, making it hard to get a good look. I want to say it almost looks slightly fuzzy like maybe a fungus. It's hard to tell. He's in a 1 gallon hexagon tank now. What shall I do?
Is my Betta diseased?
- Thread starter haydenm315
- Start date
We need to know your water parameters - ammonia, nitrites, nitrates, pH -- and how often you do water changes and how much. What is the temperature of the water and do you have a heater?
Can't really help you without that information.
Roan
Can't really help you without that information.
Roan
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How does he behave? Is he lethargic and refusing to eat? Is he active, eating, and possibly building bubble nests? If he acts fine, it's probably ok.
Also how is the rest of his body color? Is it dull and grayish or vibrant? Mine loses it's color when under stress or sick. THat is another sign of something wrong.
Looking at mine, he seems a little grayish from the gills to it's underside a little. if that seems like what you describe, then it is coloration. Unless you notice him acting weird...
BTW what is your tank temp? Do you have the tank filtered, cycled? What is your water change schedule like? Make sure all these things are healthy too.
Also how is the rest of his body color? Is it dull and grayish or vibrant? Mine loses it's color when under stress or sick. THat is another sign of something wrong.
Looking at mine, he seems a little grayish from the gills to it's underside a little. if that seems like what you describe, then it is coloration. Unless you notice him acting weird...
BTW what is your tank temp? Do you have the tank filtered, cycled? What is your water change schedule like? Make sure all these things are healthy too.
Roan Art said:
I haven't brought my kit in to work yet to test his parameters, but here's the drill. He's in a 1.66 gallon hex tank I think. I change 100% of the water out at the beginning of the week. I just scoop him up gently in the beta cup and go to work on the tank. I've been leaving the gravel in, but that is about to change once I get a strainer. I take the tank to the lounge area and dump out all the water. I add a little bit to rinse the gravel, and dump it out again. I usually change out maybe 20% of the water halfway through the week.
Unfortunately I don't have a heater, but from what I've been told, they are hard to work with on small tanks. I work at a company where the climate seems to be pretty constant. The temp has always hovered around 78-80F. I use genesis to remove all the bad stuff from the tap water and keep a room temperature store of replacement water.
he's pretty active, and seems to eat like a champ. He's only getting the bio-gold stuff now, but seems content in wolfing it down. I don't know a thing about bubble nests. I don't think he's building them though.FisheyLisa said:
I think his body color is good. He's red with purple. His tail gradually gets lighter in color from the base to the tip. I'm guessing that over time it will get darker. I think I can see where there is new growth. He's not exactly fluffy yet as the pics I see in some of the avatars around here. I think he's only been out of the little bowl scenario for 6 months.
it's probably normal then. Thank you for the input.