[bluefishy123]

Hi.

I've just brought a blue betta fish (my first fish, and betta fish) 3 weeks ago. He was very sluggish and just stay on the bottom and would not eat at first, but the second day he ate, and he got used to me in a couple of days, and is more active now. He's been making bubble nests every since the first water change too. He likes to rest on the bottom sometimes. About week ago I noticed grey spots on his fins, but it has been getting increasingly more. I'm not sure what it is. It reflects off as blue when viewed on the side. Could it be a sign of columnaris? The pectoral fin lines and outer overall shape are still there though, nothing split, so it doesn't seem to be fin rot?

I have been changing his water 100% every 6 days and for the last 2 water changes, been adding a bit of aquarium salt. Tank has no filter and unheated (hence the 100% change). The tank is small- more like a fish bowl (cube). I feed him pellets usually twice a day except once a week I'd feed him only one.

My fish was approximately 3 weeks old when I got him so he would be about a month and a half years old.
He seems to be normal otherwise. Eager to eat. Follows my finger.

I have attached pictures. Any comments/suggestions on what it is would be much appreciated!

 

[Jessicatm137]

It sound's like the mystery decease. This is fatal. See this thread: http://www.bettafish.com/showthread.php?t=90086

 

[Mo]

It's not the mystery disease, the mystery disease approaches and kills the fish quite fast. It doesn't take as log as a week to become noticable? It looks like discoloration from stress to me, or natural coloration

 

[bluefishy123]

** whoops i meant 3 months old not three weeks, which would make him 4 months old now
Thanks for the response
Does fin coloration change as they grow older?

 

[Jessicatm137]

Mo's right, I didn't read that part...sorry... Marbles change color yes, though yours doesn't look like a marble. If he is behaving normal it sounds like natural coloration, but I'm not sure.

 

[Mo]

I personally don't see any discoaloration and if he is acting well and not showing any signs of sickness I would assume that it is natural coloration. Most bettas will change color as they mature, he doesn't look like a marble though, it's very rare that bettas that are solid colors end up being marbles. I would PM sakura8. A respected moderator if this forum with a broad range of knowledge on Betta diseases

 

[Olympia]

Doesn't look bad to me. Both my betta boys have little flecks on the pectorals if that's what we're talking about. His are a bit bigger than normal, and unsymmetrical, but that could mean nothing, too.
Columnaris is caused by a weakened slime coat.
You should get on getting him a thermometer and heater though. What size is the cube?
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[Mo]

Looks a little Less than half a gallon, I would ideally place him in a 2.5 gallon tank, heated, and do regular 1 50% and one 100% water change weekly to keep toxic substance content minimal

 

[Olympia]

Oh just read this... If it reflects off as blue, I'm guessing it's normal as he's blue. My blue betta's fin flecks shine blue as well.
And yea, what Mo suggested is a good place to start with sizes. There's lots of 2.5 gallons on the market.
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[bluefishy123]

Okay. Thanks guys! I was worried because he didn't have those before.
Yup. As soon as school's over and out of dorms, I'm getting him a bigger tank

 

[Mo]

Okay. I wouldnt leave him in there for more than a month though, I would atleast work on getting a 1 gallon tank, with everything included, they are 10-15 dollars at Walmart

 

[Olympia]

Oh, well that's good cause schools out soon for you, right? Most of my friends are already done, at least.
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[Pitluvs]

Are we talking about the white tips on the end of his pectoral fins? A few of my boys have this, especially my red VT boy. Columnaris usually looks a little fluffy.

One of mine looked as if he had the mystery disease, he lost all his find in a matter of an hour or two, gone by the next day This is not that kinda situation.

 

[Olympia]

I thought we were talking about the blotches on one of the pectorals. xD
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[Pitluvs]

Ah dur, not enough sleep and it's late in the night here lol Pectorals, I see nothing on this guy :S

 

[Olympia]

Yea, he's just got a cool looking fin.
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