betta experiencing color change and droopy fin

[luckycharm]

Hi everyone,

I'm excited to share that my new betta seems to be thriving in his 10-gallon home with two snails and about 8-9 ghost shrimp, and a filter to keep the water clean. I've been keeping an eye on the temperature, which stays around 75 degrees, so I haven't needed a heater yet, but I'm planning on getting one soon. I do have a couple of questions, though.

Firstly, when I first brought my betta home, his body was a beautiful blue and red, and his fins were red with white tips. Now, I've noticed the white parts of his fins are turning a light blue (I've attached some images). I'm curious - what's causing this change in color?

Secondly, I've observed that his top fin has been curled down since I got him about a month ago (again, I've attached some images). Is this a normal thing, or should I be concerned?

[whetu]

I don't know, but he's such a lovely fish

[luckycharm]

He's gorgeous, isn't he? I just had to rescue him from PetSmart, despite knowing it's not the best place to buy bettas. He was the clear standout with all that energy. Now he's settled in, seems really laid-back with his tankmates - just a couple of minor nips on the shrimp on the first day, but all good since then.

[floras]

He was living in a rough environment, so it's no surprise he looked a bit rough around the edges. Now that he's in your care, he's got the perfect setup to flourish. His colors and finnage are really coming into their own, and he's looking like the stunning betta he was meant to be. The only thing I'd suggest is bumping up that water temp a notch - bettas generally prefer it a bit warmer, around 80 degrees.

[roygun_1]

I agree with Floras, 78 degrees should be the minimum, really. If it's too cold, your betta will start to lose his colours and become lethargic, so it's worth investing in a heater, especially since the temperature will likely drop below 75 at night.