My betta fish's color changed. Is this a good sign for his health?

Cold water can affect activity in fish. Bettas are tropical fish and do best between 78 F and 80 F. Check the water chemistry also. You can use a home test kit, such as the API Master Kit, or submit a water sample for testing. The local Petco may do this for free or for a small fee. Aim for an absence (0 ppm) of ammonia and nitrites with nitrates at 20ppm or less. Perform a partial water change if necessary to stabilize chemistry and/or to improve water quality. Use only conditioned water that is temperature matched to prevent stress or shock. Diet can influence color, so it is possible this is partly to blame for the color change. There are diets that can be fed to enhance colors.

Thanks for reaching out about Spiderman and including photos. Have the water tested again, including ammonia. Betta pellets should be rotated out every 3 months as vitamins degrade. Lack of pigmentation in the diet can also lead to paling of color. Basic water quality is only minimal, but advanced testing might be needed. Good luck.

Check the water quality. This can be done with a home test kit or you can submit a water sample for testing. Most pet stores or aquarists will do this for free or for a nominal fee. Correct any imbalances as indicated. Check the water temp as well. Aim for 78 F to 80 F. Use a tank heater to prevent temps below 74 F. Offer a good quality pellet such as Hikari BioGold. You can also feed blackworms or bloodworms. Live worms may get him eating. Freeze dried tubifex worms may also stimulate his appetite. If there are no outward signs of bacterial or fungal infection, consider parasites. You can use metronidazole for fish. It is sold in most pet stores in the aquarium section. Follow label directions and gauge his response after treatment. The raised scales are a concern because that can be a symptom of dropsy. Dropsy is common in bettas and usually fatal. It is typically accompanied by a swollen abdomen though. Fish tuberculosis is another serious concern. This is a slow, progressive illness that can kill fish and ruin tanks/bowls. Start with the basics as listed above. Try water changes with conditioned water and offer different foods to get Thorin eating. You can request a consultation to discuss his condition in greater detail and for additional resources.

Thanks for your question, and I’m sorry that Oscar isn’t feeling well. Thank you for the photos as well - they are very helpful. I agree with you - it looks like his fins are shortened and I can appreciate the color changes you are seeing. Both of these changes can be caused by infections, including bacterial, fungal, and parasites. When these infections occur, the first thing that we evaluate is the water quality. I am not sure if you have done this or not yet, but you can take a sample of your water to a pet store for evaluation if you don’t have a kit at home. If the parameters are not ideal, this can make Oscar susceptible to diseases that he would normally be able to fight off. Once you have determined this, then you can either try to treat empirically with an over the counter medication, or you can seek veterinary advice for Oscar. Your veterinarian would take a sample from the skin surface and maybe the fins to evaluate for what is causing the changes. They would then prescribe medications that are tailored to what they find. I hope that gives you a place to start, and that Oscar feels better soon!

Thanks for reaching out about Fun Ghoul and including photos. Not sure if fish become depressed, but maybe lethargic. Check and correct water parameters including pH, ammonia, nitrite and nitrates. Packages of food offered should be discarded after 2-3 months as vitamins degrade. If concerns continue, a veterinary visit is recommended. Good luck.

Thanks for reaching out about Spike and including a photo. It is difficult to visualized the lump on the picture but if water quality is pristine, a veterinary visit might be in order to assess. Bumps/lumps can be parasites, infections, enlarged internal organs and more. Monitor appetite. Containers of food should be re-purchased every -23 months as vitamin C degrades quickly and fish has a nutritional requirement for vitamin C. If not a new fish (owned for several months or more), unlikely to be parasitic problem. Good luck.

If he is eating normally I wouldn't be overly concerned. The only time I would be concerned is if his color was changing to black or brown. Now, that being said, the biggest problem with these fish getting sick is incorrect husbandry. So, be absolutely certain that you have the tank set up correctly, water is correct, you are feeding the right diet, etc..... I hope this helps. Best wishes to you and if you have any further questions please feel free to ask! Dr. Amber