Last night i bought my first betta fish, he looked a bit scraggy but i felt sorry for him, because the shop assistant said no one is buying him (he was the last one left). So i bought him, but i think something might be wrong, he acts fine but his tail is looks like another fish has been chewing on it. And his head to just before his tail is a dull greyish brown. Is he ok?? he acts fine
2007-02-12 12:16:12 · 5 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Fish
You may have a crowntail betta - does his tail look like this: http://images.search.yahoo.com/search/images?p=crowntail+betta&fr=yfp-t-501&toggle=1&cop=mss&ei=UTF-8
Some bettas have a brownish or bronze coloration, so the color may be normal. The only thing I'd look at here is does it (or the tail) look "fuzzy". If so, this is a fungal infection. See this website for info and treatment: http://www.fishdeals.com/fish_diseases/stressdisease.shtml
Just keep him warm (76-82), and as long as he's eating and acting normally, he should be fine.
2007-02-12 12:46:33 · answer #1 · answered by copperhead 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There's not a whole lot you can do with the tail. It could have gotten damaged by another betta or even by those spiky plastic aquarium plants. A dull brown color is basically a breeders failed attempt at a 'black' betta. It could also be a result of too much interbreeding between color lines. Fish will revert to duller colors if allowed to breed at will with no attention to genetics.
Sorry, you just have an unattractive fish.
2007-02-12 20:24:12 · answer #2 · answered by larsor4 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Was the betta in with other fish or was he in a container by himself? Chances are he was by himself, because that is the way they are normally shipped to the pet stores and sold in the stores. There is a betta on the market that is called a crowntail betta, it actually has "streamers" of all of his fins. Sometimes when the fins are down he may look like he has been "chewed" on. Your betta is probabaly fine. Make sure he is eating properly and if you are still concerned you could treat his water with stress coat, this helps their slime coat, or maybe a preventative antibacterial medication.
2007-02-12 20:24:39 · answer #3 · answered by Julie F 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You have already received several good responses, but I wanted to add that it may just be the lack of a good diet and also being kept in poor water conditions.
You may be happily surprised in a week or two, with better care and food. Make sure you feed him a Betta diet as they are carnivores. I give mine frozen blood worms a couple of them every other day and a Betta pellet or two in between.
2007-02-12 20:57:02 · answer #4 · answered by Tammy 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It sounds like maybe he has a fungus, which can actually eat at his tail. There are simple products to use for this, just check your local pet store.
It's also possible that he is old as well, which contributes to the shabby fins. Just keep an eye on him and give him lots of love :)
2007-02-12 20:21:44 · answer #5 · answered by Shea 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋