Who Gives A Fish Forums

Got a betta from my local fish store two days ago
Forgot to ask about the breed
Know a few types, but this little guy's fins are pretty beat up, making it tough to ID
Asked someone and they thought it might be a mustard gas betta, but they weren't too sure either

Betta pros, can you help me figure this out

Honestly, at first glance, it resembles a half moon or delta, but his fins have been severely damaged by what appears to be fin rot.

I think it's a Red Dragon scale, to be honest. No fin rot that I can see, but the fin erosion is pretty bad. And it looks like he's producing way too much slime coat, probably because of that. The discoloration on his body is pretty noticeable too. It seems like your fish is having some issues with the decor in its tank, maybe it's too rough.

This is what a healthy one looks like.

This careless fish owner really did a number on his dorsal fin and tail overnight, didn't he?

I don't think rough decor was the issue here - he was in a small jar in the aquarium for 1-2 weeks prior to me bringing him home. And I'm pretty sure he didn't damage his fins in my tank, since they were already in this state when I first got him. My setup's pretty minimal - just some driftwood, live plants, sand substrate, and leaves - I don't see how that would cause fin damage. I do appreciate your input, but I'm not seeing the extra slime coat you mentioned. This photo, taken with flash, might give you a better view of the fish.

I think he's on the mend, to be honest. I'm not convinced he has fin rot at the moment - usually, you'd see brown tips on the fins, and it progresses pretty quickly, so you'd notice his fins shrinking by the day if that were the case.

If left untreated, fin rot can be devastating - it'll eat away at the fins until they're gone, and eventually kill the fish. Even with treatment, if it reaches the base of the fins, they won't grow back.

We need to keep a close eye on his fins and be prepared to step in with treatment if we notice any further deterioration. His tail is in pretty rough shape, so that's something to watch closely too.

You know how aquariums care about bettas, so I'll definitely keep a close eye on him. I've added catappa leaves to his tank now, they're supposed to help with healing and stress reduction, so fingers crossed that'll help him recover.

He must've been stunning in his prime, I can only imagine how impressive he'd look with fully grown fins.

Nellie wrote: ↑Sat Jan 07, 2023 2:56 am He must've been stunning in his prime, I can only imagine how impressive he'd look with fully grown fins.

I had a similar thought, I was thinking he'd look amazing when his fins are back to normal, he does have the potential to be super impressive when in top shape.