Is Rusty Healthy?

I'm still concerned about his fins. He had finrot nearly a month or more ago and they still look ragged. I do regular water changes and make sure of the parameters. He eats like a pig, has even reluctantly eaten a bloodworm or two. He blows a bubblenest once a week once the water descends a little. He was just doing that betta showoff dance, where they wriggle while looking at you and then dash around the tank. I'm not sure why he does this but he does the wriggle thing to get my attention, I suspect. He swims differently when he isn't aware that I'm watching him.

So I'm just wondering if he's genuinely healthy or what else I can do. I'm worried about the state of his fins. Are these scars or what?

 

As long as the finrot is gone I wouldn't worry. It takes a while before they even start to grow back. Phlox's fringes were nearly gone after his finrot. After 3 months I almost gave up hope that they would grow back but then they started growing and are coming back even thicker and more beautiful than before. Some of the regrowth is now coming in a light baby blue color (his original color was deep red) and I love it! It looks really cool I think.
Just keep Rusty's water clean and be patient. When you least expect it you suddenly see his tail coming back, though it may be a different color. Sometimes the different color may just make it even nicer. 

 

Thank you that's reassuring. I had no idea it could take so long.

 

If you have a darker colored fish you have a much better chance of the fins being regenerated normally. The lighter colored fish are much more likely to develop weakened tissue or scar type tissue. The best thing to do is, as has been mentioned keep the tank very clean, water sparkling and if he will eat protein foods (like the mentioned bloodworms) the better because the fins are pure protein. The water needs to be on the warm side to keep any chance of bacterial problems down. He is and has been over the actual fin rot problem for some time now so he should start to see some regrowth in the next 6 to 8 weeks but be prepared for a long haul. It takes forever.

Rose

 

Rusty is eating bloodworms only with the greatest reluctance. Like, I have to pretty much put one in front of his face and be sure that he's not going to just swim past it. He almost acted as though it was politeness rather than appetite like "Oh this is feeding of some kind...a new recipe for these disgusting things." Maybe my own attitude is reflected. I can't get past the fact that these are dead mosquito young.

 

dead mosquito young?? I have a whole thing of them in my desk. Gross! lol, at least they aren't live mosquito young!!! And with every one you feed to ur fish, that's one less blood sucking little.... well you get the thought!
I hope rusty's fins start looking better for ya soon!! good luck!

 

Gross, yes ;D, but the best food for them in a lot of ways. They are concentrated pure protein and just what the little bodies need. The pellets are good for them and contain a lot of vitamins and such but they also contain starch and stuff that they cannot digest. They do one thing that the bloodworms do not and that is to enhance the color of the fish. (example below is not necessarily representitive of all uses) They can give you a different colored fish than the one you bought LOL.

I bought Alexander (a "green" betta) and named him Alexander the Green. I started feeding him the color enhancing pellets and VOILA!! .... a beautiful BLUE betta. I love the little dickens but he sure shot the dickens out of his name.

Rose

1st picture was withing a day or so of getting him
2nd picture is now

 

He's very pretty Rose. Rusty by contrast looks like the Wandering Minstrel. thanks for the encouragement. I've found that just thinking positive with animals is not a good idea, that I need to make sure I look after him as best I can, so I appreciate it.

 

I saw Rusty's photo and he is a great looking fish. He had a rough time with his fins but he will be beautiful again. He just needs to eat protein. Fins are made of the same type of stuff our hair and nails are...pure protein. The higher the protein content of the food, the better chance the fins will regenerate more quickly.

Rose

 

Wow Rose

Unbelieveable the difference in color. He's soo beautiful.

 

I finally got Phlox to hold still long enough to get a clear picture of him.

Poefox: Three months ago Phlox had no fringes left on his tail. The base of his tail was fine but the fringes were nothing but little stumps. I took this picture today. This is three months growth. You can even see the light blue on the edges. (His tail was solid red before) It seems to still be growing so it should get even longer. His tail is not the same color, but it's still nice.

Rusty's tail should grow back in time and he'll be even more beautiful!

 

One beautiful betta! He has indeed changed, but I believe for the better. Thank you for sharing the picture with us. He is such an active little fellow, from what you have told us that I would imagine that was hard to come by.

Beautiful picture! (a good one for this months competition ??)

Rose

 

Such beautiful Bettas you all have, makes me want mine all the sooner ;D

 

Wow Phloxface! What a tank and pic! And phlox looks so healthy and vibrant. I'd 2nd the entering the competition for sure!

 

That's amazing, and very inspiring as well. And quite a nice looking tank too. I didn't know he'd turned out so good.