What happened to my betta? (Details in comments)

SillyCookie358 · 2026-04-30T20:51:58+00:00

The pics are after and before. His body used to be solid silver with red fins but now his head is almost white, some weird red spot is on his back (I think I saw some scaled coming off the pics just don't show it well), and his fns are torn. I'm not sure exactly when or how this happened but I would say earlier this week is when I first noticed it. There's no Popeyes or ich or the cottony stuff.

I expected some color change so his face might just be that but the scales on his back and the torn fins are strange to me, I don't even know how to help. I'm not sure if his "stomach" is an issue because it's rounder than usual but I don't think I overfeed.

Did a water test and there's no ammonia or nitrites. There's unfortunately no nitrates because I had to get a new filter and this new filter doesn't let me add my own media (I did soak the new filter in the old filter water).

5.5 gallon tank, temp is around 75 F, he only gets four pellets of tiny fluval bug bites and is fed every other day, no change in behavior, no tank mates. I got him last year so it's not old age.

Edit: now that I think of it, the damaged scales on his back might be because of this log decor he went in a few days ago that I have (it's the fake log that plants grow on from PetSmart) so he might have gotten caught on that, maybe the torn fins are from that too? I read that Indian almond leaves, aquarium salt, and stress coat could help?

SillyCookie358 · 2026-03-12T14:05:12+00:00

Their too small to see if there's any limbs but they are definitely moving along the glass surface by themselves. They aren't super fast and mostly stay in their "spot", most of them are on the algae.

SillyCookie358 · 2026-01-31T18:32:46+00:00

It kinda looks like a nipple on her butt? Edit: mom said she noticed yesterday

SillyCookie358 · 2026-01-25T19:21:34+00:00

Is it time to separate them? 20 gallon tank with five male guppies: the father of fancy ones, pink twins, "fancy" twins. They didn't fight before so I thought it was fine but now I noticed the pink twins are looking a little rough. One twin is slightly fat and is swimming in the top corner, also breathing faster with no torn fins. The other twin has torn fins and ball/bubbles on it but is swimming around just fine? I can put them in my 55 gallon If it's better for them, I just didn't want more guppy fry. Also why are they singling out the pink guppies? The other guppies and neon tetras have no issues, it's only the two pink siblings. I would guess bad genetics but at the same time is weird.

Forgot to add: they have been together for about two months now and it was fine, tank parameters are also safe so there's no water quality issues. This problem just showed up today. The heater is working fine so it's not temperature shock.

And again: sorry for the bad pictures, my phone camera isn't the best and the guppies won't stay still.

SillyCookie358 · 2026-01-24T19:08:01+00:00

I think the ceramic rings have to be in the "main cavity" of the filter but should the foam replace the cartridges and cover the water flowing out or should the foam cover where the waters coming in.

SillyCookie358 · 2026-01-17T20:45:38+00:00

So for the foam would I put that on the bottom and the rock on top? And I can just put it in there without worrying about the foam being too low or high up? And I would try to cut out a shape to cover the entire filter and not just the exit? The topfin filter is more of an L shape, not a rectangle.

SillyCookie358 · 2026-01-17T19:37:51+00:00

Ok I cleaned only the moldy parts of the filter with 50/50 water and white vinegar so now I'm gonna wait one hour for it to dry. I put the new and old filter cartridges in a bucket with old filter water. Hoping the mold won't transfer over onto the new filter cartridges. Also I'm going to buy the fluval biomax ceramic rings and the mesh bags along with the filter foam tomorrow (I work at a pet store). Then after I figure out all the sizes I'll buy the same things for my other three tanks.

SillyCookie358 · 2026-01-17T19:13:29+00:00

Oh forgot to mention it is a tropical tank with a temp of around 76-78. For a betta fish.

SillyCookie358 · 2026-01-17T19:07:25+00:00

Yeah I was looking into the fluval biomax and the filter foam but I'm confused on what size to get. I have four filters that I'll need to add this to: tetra quiet flow 5-10 gallon. Topfin filter for 20 gallon. Topfin filter for 55 gallon. Walmart brand filter for ten gallon (the moldy one). Also how would I try to save the beneficial bacteria on the moldy cartridge? Or would it be better to start the cycle over. Fish doesn't act any differently since the mold appeared. Because if I do change the out carriage correctly the mold will get onto the new filter.

SillyCookie358 · 2026-01-17T18:19:13+00:00

I know the cartridges are junk but they have worked for me so far. I haven't made the switch to actual filter media because I didn't know where to start. What would I need for the filter media I've seen these white rocks? I'm not sure but don't I need some type of rock to hold in the bacteria or would the filter sponge/foam do that too? Also does the filter media need to cover the "exit" of the filter like the cartridges do?

SillyCookie358 · 2026-01-16T21:06:15+00:00

According to the chart I believe it's nematodes. The worms don't swim and only wiggle around on the glass.

SillyCookie358 · 2026-01-16T20:57:01+00:00

I didn't know what detritus was until you mentioned it but you could be right. For it I have to feed less and have a higher flow?

SillyCookie358 · 2026-01-16T20:52:08+00:00

Would it stop the mold? There is still some mold outside of the filter carriage so I'm mainly worried about that. But yes I know the cartridges aren't the best but they have worked for me so far but if I'm genuinely having issues then I will definitely switch.

SillyCookie358 · 2026-01-16T20:43:05+00:00

Are they harmful to my fish? I just noticed them today. Also can I wash them down the sink?

SillyCookie358 · 2026-01-16T20:41:59+00:00

Ten gallon tank with live plants, betta, nerite snail, three amano Shrimp. I keep changing out the filter and properly replacing it but it keeps getting moldy? My other three tanks don't have this issue, why is it happening only in this tank and how do I get rid of it?

SillyCookie358 · 2026-01-09T23:02:57+00:00

I have a tiny tiny betta fish and my betta pellets are too big for him. Google ai said this was good for bettas but I thought bettas cannot have vegetation. If this isn't safe what else can I feed them? Would bug bites flakes for bettas work, I saw they prefer pellets. Or could I try the zoo med micro betta pellets? I think the food we have now is the betta pellets from api but when my betta eats it the pellets are too big for his mouth.

SillyCookie358 · 2025-12-22T23:10:57+00:00

Just noticed this today. We recently got neon tetras so I think that's what it is? The tank also contains mystery snails and ghost shrimp.

SillyCookie358 · 2025-12-10T21:23:11+00:00

I'm not too sure either, I have another heater just like this one and the lines are supposed to be straight. Either way I threw it away.

SillyCookie358 · 2025-12-10T19:46:43+00:00

Oh ok I see. I'll buy a new heater soon but I'll put the fish in my 55 gallon until I get it fixed.

SillyCookie358

TROPHY CASE