What sort of infection is this?

[Chelle1301]

Hello, first time poster here. I've read around a lot on these forums since before and now after getting my first betta fish, and thought you guys could help me.

Since I don't want to treat my fish for something he may not have in the risk of damaging him, I thought I'd ask first. The past couple of days I noticed a white spot on my male betta, Tony. It was on one of his pectoral fins. I watched it for a while and it didn't seem to spread (like what I've heard about ick), but then yesterday the same white spot is in the near exact same place on his other pectoral fin. There are no spots anywhere else on his body that I can see. It's kind of freaking me out.

I'll attatch the best photos I could take, he won't stop swimming around >.<

PS: He's currently in a 10 gallon tank on his own, heater at 80 degrees, and filtered.

[cjconcepcion]

does it look like that thing is growing on him? or does it seem like its under his skin? because if its in the same spot on both sides like that, and judging from the picture... it just looks like its part of his fins. but i could be wrong. it dosent look like ich though

[Chelle1301]

I would say that it looks like a part of his fin, but it has appeared very recently and he is clamping his fins often. It doesn't seem to be growing any larger. I just looked at him and there may be a tiny pinprick white dot on his back near his head.

[Aus]

Glad you're not diving in to drown your fish in meds in before knowing what it is..

That said.. I dunno what it is. Doesn't look like ich, to me.

I'd keep him under observation a few days, just to see what develops so if it is something wrong, a proper diagnosis would be easier to make. Hopefully it'll clear up in nice, clean water alone.

Ich will be obvious - very white spots, raised on the skin. It spreads very quickly but is fairly easily cured.

[Chelle1301]

Thank you for your reply. :)

I checked the water with a master kit just now and all seems fine. I'll keep an eye on him. Just wondering now if it's just a change in colouration, as he had a solid red colour in his fins with a black outline when I got him, and was a light blue, but has now turned inky blue with butterfly fins.