BellaOnline Forums Home and Garden Fish betta questions...help!

Here goes....I came to work one day and went into an office of one of my fellow co-workers. I am a animal lover so I quickly noticed this beautiful red fish swimming in this way to small bowl. I asked about this beautiful fish; what type it was and things of that nature. It was a betta fish they said and that is when my adventure began!! I quickly went to my computer and looked up betta fish for information. I quickly found out that the small bowl with non regulated water temperature wasn't the best for "redfish" as he was named. I started cleaning the tank myslef, got him a bigger tank and then decided that I could take care of him better at my home where I would regulate his temperature (78-80') and make sure he had a clean tank. So I took redfish home and started to treat him like he should've been treated in the beginning like family. Don't get me wrong my fellow co-workers are good people I just don't think they were great betta parents!!

I took him home, bought water conditioner put him in a gallon size tank with gravel and a soft plant and made sure his tank temperature never went below 78'. He seems happy and definitely got to know me as his mom but there are still some things that concern me a little. I don't know a lot about betta fish so I have been on every website to try and educate myself. However I truly feel that it is time to just ask specific questions and I thank you in advance...=-)

Redfish is a beautiful red color but his fins look a little clumpy. They don't look stringy and they are still big but the ends of them clump. Also, he has a little white/gray only by his face (but it doesn't appear cotton-like). I have looked at pictures from the beginning and it looks like some of the betta fish do have a little bit of gray/white near their face.

I truly need help! I have gotten him the conditioner for his water, aquarium salt and then since I thought it might be fin rot or fungus I got him Jungle Fungus Clear and have put 1/10th of it (directions call for a whole tablet for 10 gallons of water)in a clean tank of water along with the conditioner and a little aquarium salt. His fins "look" like they are getting better. Do new fins grow in clear first?

After all of this I then asked my co-workers how long they had redfish and they said for at least a year before I got him. That alarms me for numerous reasons. First, that could mean that for that period of time his tank might have not been changed as frequently as it should have been, his temperature was not regulated (although I am sure it didn't get below 70ish....I know still way too cold) and I am not sure about his feeding habit either.

On the other hand, redfish could be just getting old if they had him for atleast a year here not counting how old he was wehn purchased.

In the end of the day I want to make and keep redfish as happy as I can since now he has a place in my heart. I wish I would've gotten him sooner!! I don't want to medicate him more and make him sick if he is just getting old...but I do want to help him if I can. Have I done enough with the treatments I have given him? Is the clumping age or past care of co-workers. If it is fin rot/fungus wouldn't my treatments cure him? Should I continue the treatments?

I apoplogize for the long post (I thought history was important) and many questions, I have just tried to get the answers from the other posts and find myself still asking questions!!

Thanks for your help, Kristy and Redfish

Can you get pictures? I really am not sure what you mean by "clumping".

The best treatment you can offer for a number of diseases (and the first place you should start if you aren't sure what is ailing your betta) is to keep his water very very clean and add a little aquarium salt to his water. I would change his water as often as every day if he is looking quite sick, but if he is still acting normally, every two or three days should be just fine. Keep it up for at least a week before making any changes to his treatment, since it will take time to see a difference in his condition.

Sounds like you have everything under control. You're taking all the measures I would have.

I agree that we will need a little better description about the "clumping" of the fins in order to let you know if it's normal, usual rather, for a beta. Are his fins just gathering at the end? Is there a build up of some kind? Color?

Concerning the whitish patch on/near his face, does it happen to be by his cheek? Mine had an area like that for a long time and at first I thought it meant he was sick but really it was just the way he was colored.

With the fins, yes when fins grow back they can be transparent for a bit before returning to their normal coloration. Some grow back with the original color and pigment but for it to be transparent when it is first growing back is not alarming.

As far as his age goes, by what you have described he still has a couple of good years left. My beta Silly Pants was 4 1/2 when he passed away and my friends was 6. So even if he is already 1 or 2 he should be able to still enjoy a couple healthy years.

I hope this helped. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR RESCUING THAT POOR FISH! Best wishes to you and Red Fish. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Fantails and Betas

Opps forgot one of your questions!

With your medications you are giving him, just see how 1 treatment goes and then decide if he needs more. Sometimes when a beta gets put into such a better environment! (compliments to you!:)) they need a couple of days for their body to adjust and start getting healthier.It sounds like you are following the directions very carefully and if you are following them as directed you should be fine to finish the treatments you are on. For example if a fin rot medicean says treat on days 1, 3 and 5, treat all of the recomended days but wait to see if he needs further treatment. The only other suggestion I have is to make sure you can use all of the meds you are at the same time. Some cannot be used in combination with other medication.

I have absolutely nothing to add except extra resources. You sound like a very conscientious betta parent!!

Some great sources:

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Thank you all so much for your encouraging and helpful words!!

I will take a picture of Redfish tonight and post it tomorrow!!

The clumps on his fins are just at the ends and I have noticed transparent growth at the ends....hooray!!

He is swimming around and sure has a great appetite!!

His whitish patch near/on his face could just be his coloring but I will include the pictures and get your opinions!!

Thanks again for your help, this is a great forum!

~kristy & Redfish

O.K now the funniest thing was trying to get a picture of my little Redfish. He gets so active when I come around (proud parent smiling)THEN the trying to get a picure up here took me a minute until I searched the word pictures...LOL!! Well, here is Redfish coming up for some air. I know that the picture isn't great, he usually has his top fin spread out but in this picture he is coming up for air. You can kind of see the new growth from the picture though...

I will try and get another better picture if I can!!

Let me know what you think!!
Again thank you so much for your help!

Hi Kristy,

I see the "clumping" you are talking about i think. Looks like his fins are curled at the end? One one mine has always looked like that, and I have never had any trouble because of it. I think the patch on his face is just coloring. He is a very pretty guy!!!

Amber

My coworker also has a fish with a long fin that curls at the end like that too. I don't think it's anything to worry about; they must just grow like that.

Your beta is gorgeous!

He looks strong and healthy. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> Keep up the good work!

Fantails and Betas