guavanectar

I just looked at pictures from about two months ago of my veil tail male betta, Hito. Back then both of his gills opened and flared big, fierce, and beautiful. However, now one side barely opens. It flares, but opens probably like 1/5 the amount it should. He has no trouble swimming, breathing, or eating. He does not look like a sick fish. I took him to a shop and they said he looked like a healthy Betta. It's possible his dorsal fin has gotten whitish. I never noticed it before, but I didn't exactly not notice it either.

Is he okay? I read fungal infections show on the body and head, not the fins. I just want to be 100% sure, though.

Jonah

Try posting a Profile message for Martinismommy and have a picture ready to show her.

If she can't answer you question you have a problem

Lucy

It would be a good idea to post a pic here on the forum also, others may have an idea of what's going on.
If you message martinismommy direct her to this thread to see the pic.

guavanectar

Bad pic but good shot of gill problem




Best of the fin whiteness.



My camera screen is messed up so it's hard to show pics. Please don't be alarmed because I am aware he looks angry at the Gourami. Hito does well with fish, even 'fin nippers'. He is not going to kill it, he is going to make sure it submits to him.

Jonah

I think a lot of your problems may well be having the Betta sharing with the DG.

You do not only have to worry about the Betta fighting with the DG, but just as much with the DG fighting the Betta.

The lack of colour is possibly/probably down to stress, and the gill problem could and possibly is damage caused by the Dg.

I speak here from experience i have a similar DG that is an absoloute maniac with any fish that should not be in HIS tank.

The Betta and the DG are both labyrinth fish and therefore related species, both are territorial by nature and should never share the same tank.

guavanectar

The problems aren't with the DG. I was acclimating it. Hito has never been bitten by any other fish, as well. The issue started when he had a solitary tank.

Lucy

I agree with Jonah, but would also like to add that the pea puffer might cause problems.
It would be a good idea for your betta to have a tank by himself, at least 5g's.
You have a few territorial fish in a small tank, it's bound to cause problems.

Shawnie

did his tail have color when you got him? if it did, his tail looks like the beginning stages of fin rot..his gill coloring looks normal ...but both could be color changes that they morph through..keep an eye on raggedness of his tail tho.....hito really needs a tank of his own ...he isnt going to get along with that gourami as these pics are showing and you are going to have some major wars with the two of them in a 10 gal

guavanectar

I watch my tank very carefully. I look for any hints of issues between the fish. I also know what different reactions to a fish mean with Hito. In general he does well with other fish.

I must admit that the Honey Sunset Gourami and Hito can't go together. I had just bought it today, and when I added it Hito wasn't pleased. He would normally Dominant a fish(if it is around his size) then go about his business but he instead treated it like a male Betta so I will return the Gourami. The Gourami darted around at Hito once, but then avoided contact with him because Hito didn't back down. If a fish does not attack Hito and avoids his attacks or ignores him, he will stop. But even with the Gourami ignoring and such he wouldn't give up.

I am definitely not moving him perm to an isloated tank as of now. He is happy in that tank. Territorial or not, there are no problems. In isolated tanks Hito is depressed and unactive. While in community he is always doing something. It would also not be fair to move him from a 10g to a 5g. Not all Betta hate other fish. Some can enjoy company and find the other fish interesting to look at.

About the Pea Puffer. It is not aggressive towards any fish and I highly doubt I will have problems. I know they can be fin nippers but that does not apply to ALL pea puffers. I know of others who have pea puffers in community tanks as well.

The Green Tiger Barb is not aggressive either. I am aware when kept single or in smaller groups they are often known to nip the fins of tank mates, but mine does not.

To Shawnie,
His fins have been only half colored since I've had him, and the fins have had bad edges as well. He was a pet store Betta kept in especially bad conditions, so the fins are explained. Although they never improved, they did not get worse at all either.

Shawnie

so I guess you answered your own questions

hope things work out well with your tank!

Martinismommy

It looks to me like a color change is all....This fish is a marble and looks older.....All of my old guys have changed color as they got older...I don't see anything to worry about except that fish in the bag he is flaring at......