Help Betta Rescued from Chain Store. Looks "dirty". Return / exchange not an option. Dark stripes developing.

Question

4/18 I found a betta at Walmart in about 1" of water which was very blue. I could only tell he was light-colored - I thought he might be coral, light pink or white. My son wanted to rescue him and I agreed.We got him out, got him in a decent bowl. We're caring for him according to the better betta sites. He was flesh colored with orange/ red fins. His colors get richer every day. I know he won't get back to his actual color until he finishes getting comfy. He seems to be a happy little guy - swimming around, making bubbles, eating and pooping and doing what bettas are supposed to do EXCEPT: He looks "dirty" despite all water care - started as spots, now looks like dark vertical stripes - they sort of follow his fin stripes. Pix at http://new.photos.yahoo.com/deborahgrand/album/576460762399515695 . Last night, at same store light colored bettas looked like scales had black tips - some had every "scale outlined". What is this and what to do to cure? Thx! Deborah

Here is a link I think will work (fingers crossed. . .) . I've made the album public and I think this simpler link will work. http://new.photos.yahoo.com/deborahgrand/albums .

Wow! Thank you all for your quick answers. I am so relieved. I have been fretting over this for a couple of days now. I'm a bit OCD (grins) and I've been so scared my 5 year old would wake up to find his "baby" belly up. Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you!!!

Answer 1

Try reposting your photo - the link doesn't work. The outlined scales may be a natural color pattern called "pineapple" (see photo: http://feistyfins.com/photos/displayimage.php?album=lastup&cat=0&pos=0 )

ADDITION: Are you certain the betta is a male? Some females have bright coloration, their fins just aren't a long (see link: http://www.flippersandfins.net/faq.htm#malefemale ). Females typically get a vertical striped pattern when they're ready to spawn as in the second photo in the above link, but I've also seen a less distinct pattern on a few lighter-colored males - yours sounds a little like a Cambodian pattern - light body and darker fins (see photo: http://www.ebetta2u.com/photoalbum/displayimage.php?album=1&pos=47 ), so this might show up and may just be his normal coloration. Chain store bettas typically don't have the best of features. As long as the behavior is normal, I wouldn't worry.

Not the spawning pattern, but some Cambodian in his genetics. To me the brown looks like normal coloration - maybe some chocolate or marble (http://www.skylinebetta.de/images/marb12cols3.jpg ) bettas in his ancestry, too.

Answer 2

The stripes are normal and are induced by stress. The scale pattern is called a "wash" and means his natural colouring has a few darker scales mixed in.

He is a Veil Tail boy and is known as sunset blush by some and a pineapple by others.

He looks very healthy!

BTW the blue water was medicated and was Methyline blue. Lazy fish stores use it instead of cleaning the water.

Answer 3

Sadly the picture doesn't work.

What it sounds like is that that is his natural colouration and it's coming out as his stress coat fades and he becomes more healthy. If the stripes go horizontally down his body this could be a sign of stress but if they are top to bottom it sounds like a type of piebald marking. He could be young and coming into his colouring.

As long as he's eating, flaring, nesting and pooping ok, it sounds like you're doing a brilliant rescue job!

EDIT: after seeing the picture, he looks just fine! That's just markings...he's looking really healthy, well done :)

P.S. You're very welcome x

Answer 4

It appears the link is now working for whatever reason is wasn't before. That is just natural coloration as copperhead suggested.

MM

Answer 5

The only thing I can suggest is Fish Mox but that's only if your local pet store still sells the stuff. If they do then you should dump half a capsule into the water.

Answer 6

The pictures do not work...