"aging" Betta Fish?

Is there a way to guestimate a betta's age?

My guy has been with me for a year or so now. In the time that I've had him, he's started in a bowl, been upgraded to a ten g, and is now in a 29. He loves his space, and plays, etc...but his fins are nearly always in a state of general disrepear/healing...which I've learned is common to long-finned betta in larger tanks.

Now, recently, he's spent nearly 4 months in a "holding pattern" with minor fin rot- healing and relapsing in turns

Whilst researching this, I came across an article regarding betta's aging- and that fin issues are common in older betta, along with some colour changing- dulling out, etc.

When I got this guy, he was radiant teal, and coloured up to a royal blue with some red in his fins. He's more of a teal again now, and brownish green where the red used to be in his fins. He's 2 1/2-3 inches long, and still pretty active, so I don't think he's "old"

Definitely not juvinile anymore, as I have found him to be no longer willing to have tank-mates, and downright surly if not fed on time. He's even attacked his assassin snails recently, and they were removed. My son's shrimp(who were behind a divider but escaped)...eaten

Judging from information regarding age of sale in chain stores, I would guess about 1 1/2- 2 years old?
This is last year, when I got him
this is around Christmas?
This is now
this is now. He's blue with lights on, teal in daylight lol

 

Sounds like normal aging to me! As with all creatures, the older we get the less capable our cells are of repair. We get grey and decrepit LOL. Unfortunately, there are many variables that can influence how quickly any of us age. Stress is a biggie! And Betta fish are subjected to some of the most extreme stresses of any of us, not to mention genetic factors because of poor breeding practices etc. Feed him good quality food, keep his temperature up, but not too high, and try to keep his stress low. And most of all, just enjoy whatever time you have with him

 

I have him at 80, and plan to add some more variety to his diet

He seemed to appreciate the addition of shrimp (though I didn't plan on his eating my sons cherries) so I was thinking starting a brine shrimp hatchery

 

What's your betta's name?

Why is he flaring at a heater? lol

 

Unless he has kidney issues a higher protein diet may in fact help with tissue repair during aging. Go for it!

 

His name changes, because he's the child's Betta

I named him sir Munch a Lot, because when he was in my community tank he gobbled up as much as he could, then scoured the floor for more food lol

He hated that heater...would attack it viciously lol. I ended up having to replace it with a plain grey one by topfin so he would calm down