[Morganic]

So, the original picture from aquabid that I got him from shows him like this:

And he has come close to looking like that, but right now, he's looking like this:

His water parameters are fine and his tank is cycled. I noticed his fins started becoming a little see-through after putting in a second (canister) filter. It was very small and shared a pump with his sponge filter. Today I took it out and made the airflow of the sponge filter very weak, to see if maybe the water movement has been stressing him out. He does look a tiny bit better but not that much. I do have information on what conditions the breeder had the betta in, if that's needed.

 

[peacock]

maybe the stress slightly discolored him, ya know, from getting shipped

 

[Morganic]

maybe the stress slightly discolored him, ya know, from getting shipped

Yeah, he was very pale when he got shipped. I doubt it would permanently discolor him though. He's been in my possession since the middle of June.

 

[Ashthemutt]

Maybe the seller used flash to take the picture? When I use flash my fish look different than they do normally

 

[Morganic]

Maybe the seller used flash to take the picture? When I use flash my fish look different than they do normally

Nope, tried that. Plus it's pretty bright in my aquarium. Maybe she used photoshop or something, although she had perfect reviews so you'd think somebody would complain.

 

[Bailmint]

Funny-I got a fish from AB in the middle of June as well and he hasn't colored up like his photo either. He's supposed to have white on the tips of his tail but it's not there. He even has a gill problem where he can only open his gill about halfway than the other gill.

I don't know-maybe it's just a camera or something that breeders do or use because it's happened to me also, but I got another fish from the breeder that looked exactly like the photo from the moment I got her and still does. Depends on the fish possibly? I'm not sure but it's something and you're not the only one.

That's definitely the fish from the photo as is mine-but it does look like some sort of camera trick maybe.

 

[InStitches]

good lighting and a good camera does wonders.

 

[Morganic]

good lighting and a good camera does wonders.

Hard to believe, because I took this:

With a phone camera a couple weeks ago and this:

With a professional camera with the same lighting.

Also, you can see the difference in his fins from those pics and the pic I posted that I took today.

 

[Bailmint]

My profile pic is taken with an iPod camera with Petco lighting xD. It shows great detail in the full version.

 

[InStitches]

What a pretty boy. His reds still look great, is it the reflective/metallic bits that are concerning you? In the photo using the nicer camera, he only seems to have tale damage, but still very bright? He also is not flaring out his tail to show off the irids in it -- does he still have them?

side-by-side, he just looks like he is older now more of those pretty metallic scales on his sides. Longer fins, damage and regrowth.

With my copper boy, everything affects his looks: water color, glass color, light color, and even colors outside of the tank. The bettas in breeder photos go into display tank specifically to get the best possible lighting and photo. Clear water, low-iron glass, cooler/diffused lighting and a bright, simple setup around the photo tank sound ideal to me. Lower water level, more light reaching the fish. Instigating the famous flare. Not a setup to live-in, really, but just for photos.

I love his colors

 

[Morganic]

What a pretty boy. His reds still look great, is it the reflective/metallic bits that are concerning you? In the photo using the nicer camera, he only seems to have tale damage, but still very bright? He also is not flaring out his tail to show off the irids in it -- does he still have them?

View attachment 399130

side-by-side, he just looks like he is older now more of those pretty metallic scales on his sides. Longer fins, damage and regrowth.

With my copper boy, everything affects his looks: water color, glass color, light color, and even colors outside of the tank. The bettas in breeder photos go into display tank specifically to get the best possible lighting and photo. Clear water, low-iron glass, cooler/diffused lighting and a bright, simple setup around the photo tank sound ideal to me. Lower water level, more light reaching the fish. Instigating the famous flare. Not a setup to live-in, really, but just for photos.

I love his colors

Thanks! I like his colors too (that's kinda why I chose him )

Anyway, I'm not sure what irids are, but I'm guessing it's the white spots on his fins. I tried to get him to flare and I kinda did but I didn't see them very well. Not like the picture of the betta when he was in Thailand. I'm also confused about the age; he was 3 months when I placed my bid so he should be about 4.5 now. That doesn't seem like a lot.

He does indeed have tail damage, but it isn't what you probably think. I fill my tank up with well water because we live too far from the town to get their water (I'm okay with it). It's incredibly soft and the pH... It's over 8.8.

Here have proof that I'm not crazy.

I actually working on fixing this! I've found a way that won't cause tannis! I'm doing a DIY CO2 system. I just set it up today and I'm hoping to see some changes soon.

 

[InStitches]

holy purple XD let me know how the CO2 goes.

One month alone can make a huge difference for such a young fish Any growth just means you're taking good care of him. He looks like a fish that needs spoiling

Here's a two week of growth from what I was told is a female mustard gas, same age as your little guy:

turned into

:lol: Still cracks me up when I see him. I used to think he was one off the ugliest females I'd ever had. Well...

 

[Morganic]

Ooh, he's really pretty!

I wish I could get more co2 pumping. It's really annoying having just a little bit coming out of the air stone. They're very tiny bubbles.