[Valleyofmist]

Hi,
I adopted a male betta fish about a month ago and at first he was fine but a week ago I noticed he started discoloring and wasn't very active. Since then I bough bettafix medication and he got his color back and is slightly more active, but he still doesn't eat or swim much. I notice that while I was caring for him he would exhibit vertical lines when and when I looked at him in the light his color would change to a darker brown and black. Im really confused as to how his color can look healthy when the light is hitting him, but when it goes through it he looks unhealthy. Now Im confused if he really is a male because he has a white thing under his belly where the female betta fishes would have their eggs at. It look just like that. Ill post some pictures of him to show everyone.

 

[Sheldon31]

Does he have a heater? Loss of colour and inactivity can be caused by a number of things but a common cause is being too cold.

I am tempted to say, with those tiny front fins, he could be a she and if he's got an egg spot. When these lines show, does he look bloated?

 

[Valleyofmist]

I was thinking the same that he was a she, but isn't weird that "she" would have such large fins? Also the area where the white thing is, is slightly pudgy. On another note, do you know why the color looks different when they are held towards the light? To answer your question, he doesn't have a heater. Right now I have him in a temporary container because I traveled, but he's usually in a 1 gal tank with rocks, and some fake silk plants. He has a light that slightly heats up the water as well but I make sure to only have it on for 30 mins or so.

 

[Bombalurina]

I wouldn't turn the light on at all if it is doing that. If you turn it on and it raises the temperature, then turn it off, the temp will drop right back down, and fluctuations like that are bad for fish. Try to get him a heater ASAP.

His ventrals are quite thick, and the length of that anal fins says to me, boy.

 

[Tikibirds]

i have heard that some males do have egg spots like females.

 

[Bombalurina]

Juveniles certainly do...I've never heard of it in males as well-developed as this little guy, though.

 

[Bettaluver4evr]

This is definitely a male fish. NO females have fins that long. That may be an egg spot, but that doesn't automatically make the fish female. He's beautiful.
I'd reccomend not using bettafix, it's bad for fish with the labyrinth organ, like bettas. It coats the outside of the organ and makes it difficult for them to breathe. I'd reccomend possibly a pinch of aquarium salt, and just be careful with water changes. Try to keep a steady schedule.