What’s Wrong With His Gills?

Hi, I’m posting today because of a betta I found in my local petco, and have fell in love and plan to buy very soon. However, I noticed something that didn’t look right concerning his gills. I'll post photos below.

Can anyone tell me what might be wrong with them when it comes to how red and irritated they look? Also, is the shiny almost pearl looking coloration on his gills normal, because I don't feel like that should be there. Anyone who has any idea what could be going please feel free to post as much as you want, because I'd like to get any medication he might need if that's the case before I take him home. Thanks in advance!

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• Albifrons
• Jan 14, 2018

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• Albifrons
• Jan 14, 2018

0D51531F-8025-443B-A2EB-6DF8FE4589CD

• Albifrons
• Jan 14, 2018
• 2

 

AH! The photos didn't show up, help!

 

AH! The photos didn't show up, help!

nevermind I figured it out

 

The shiny stuff could just be natural iridescence. The gills look fine to me, with bettas of this color you'll be able to see the natural reddish-pink of the gills more easily. That being said, if they look abnormally red in a way that I can't see in the picture it could be irritation from ammonia. Those tiny cups aren't going to have the best water quality. In that case, they should return to normal after some time in better water conditions.

 

It’s a bit hard to tell with such bright light. One picture makes the white area look lumpy - is that the case? Or is it smooth there?

My koi has white gills and it looks a little odd, but it’s just how he is. Here’s a couple pics below if it helps for you to compare. He’s actually also from Petco.

Side note - I don’t know how long he’s been there, but I will tell you that bettas move very quickly at my local Petco. Most of the time they’re new every week when I’m in. So if you want him specifically, I might suggest picking him up now. You could also always ask an associate how long the bettas are usually there if you haven’t. I saw one I liked, and I knew he had been there 3.5 weeks already, so I didn’t want to chance it as I was worried he’d find a different home. I was unprepared, so he stayed in his cup for 4 days after I got him home, and I did 50-75% water changes daily and made sure to suck up all of his waste. I’m not sure if they do 100% changes or less, but you could always ask and try to replicate the parameters. I know they clean all the betta’s water daily around here. Also, a new “fish only” turkey baster works perfectly for the small container water changes. BUT for his sake, it’s also better to be prepared with a cycled tank.

 

It’s a bit hard to tell with such bright light. One picture makes the white area look lumpy - is that the case? Or is it smooth there?

My koi has white gills and it looks a little odd, but it’s just how he is. Here’s a couple pics below if it helps for you to compare. He’s actually also from Petco.

Side note - I don’t know how long he’s been there, but I will tell you that bettas move very quickly at my local Petco. Most of the time they’re new every week when I’m in. So if you want him specifically, I might suggest picking him up now. You could also always ask an associate how long the bettas are usually there if you haven’t. I saw one I liked, and I knew he had been there 3.5 weeks already, so I didn’t want to chance it as I was worried he’d find a different home. I was unprepared, so he stayed in his cup for 4 days after I got him home, and I did 50-75% water changes daily and made sure to suck up all of his waste. I’m not sure if they do 100% changes or less, but you could always ask and try to replicate the parameters. I know they clean all the betta’s water daily around here. Also, a new “fish only” turkey baster works perfectly for the small container water changes. BUT for his sake, it’s also better to be prepared with a cycled tank.

View attachment 398370View attachment 398371

His gills are smooth, and I've had my eye in this guy for about two months, but I've also been cycling my tank so I haven't been able to take him home yet . However, my tank is closing in on being done with its cycle so I'm hoping to pick him up this weekend, but I'm so desparate to get him I've been considering doing a large waterchange on my tank and then dosing it with prime and stability and then getting him today, what do you think? Also, thanks for the photos of your betta, he's gorgeous and the fact that he has super shiny gills too makes me feel better.

 

His gills are smooth, and I've had my eye in this guy for about two months, but I've also been cycling my tank so I haven't been able to take him home yet . However, my tank is closing in on being done with its cycle so I'm hoping to pick him up this weekend, but I'm so desparate to get him I've been considering doing a large waterchange on my tank and then dosing it with prime and stability and then getting him today, what do you think? Also, thanks for the photos of your betta, he's gorgeous and the fact that he has super shiny gills too makes me feel better.

Sorry I wasn’t able to get back to you sooner!

How long has the tank been cycling? Did you use any bacteria starter? And lastly what are the current parameters?

If your ammonia and nitrite aren’t too high, it might be safe to bring him home and dose daily with Prime until the cycle is complete. I’m having to do that with my second betta still. And personally I’m not convinced that fish-in-cycling is any more stressful than living in a cup - at least not when dosed with Prime.

Oh and thank you I love my little guy. He was somewhat of an impulse buy - couldn’t help myself! He got me back into the hobby and I’m so glad he did!

 

Sorry I wasn’t able to get back to you sooner!

How long has the tank been cycling? Did you use any bacteria starter? And lastly what are the current parameters?

If your ammonia and nitrite aren’t too high, it might be safe to bring him home and dose daily with Prime until the cycle is complete. I’m having to do that with my second betta still. And personally I’m not convinced that fish-in-cycling is any more stressful than living in a cup - at least not when dosed with Prime.

Oh and thank you I love my little guy. He was somewhat of an impulse buy - couldn’t help myself! He got me back into the hobby and I’m so glad he did!

Well, I did buy him just because I couldn't resist I did two quite large water changes, a 50% before I put him in and then a 25% a couple hours later after I had put him in. I've been dosing for close to 2 weeks with stability and I dosed with prime and stability today. My ammonia is at about 1ppm right now and my nitrite is at about 2ppm after the water changes, and he's super active right now! I'm so glad I got him, I just know I would have been fretting all week about him if I hadn't! (FYI I named him Grinch).