Area Of Color Change

[Winterlily]

This is my Buster, a halfmoon who has been with me for 2 weeks. He has, for most of the time I've had him, had a fully silver/gray body and rosey colored fins. His lips were always white(ish) and the border around his gill on each side was too. In the past few days, he's gotten a vertical white "stripe" between his eyes and gills on both sides (there was a HINT of it in the breeder's pic, but not nearly as obvious as now). It's exactly the same both sides. Here's a pic to show you what I mean. Is this okay or something to worry about? (Also, any idea why the bottoms of those little fins in front [what are they properly called??] sort of curl like that? Always been that way, though I can't see it in the breeder's pic.) Thanks!

 

[loraxchick]

first off, he is
the stripe you describe is just coloration. just keep clean water and a close eye if it is worrisome to you.
as for his "little side fins" that are curly, seems like some bettas fins are just ruffly like that...genetic mutation? can also be caused from what ive read to bad water quality and old injury to the tissue(regrowth is just weird in the fins sometimes)...those fins are called ventral fins.
i think he is perfect looking! what a stunner!!!
CHEERS

 

[Winterlily]

Thanks, Loraxchick - he's a looker, isn't he? Amazingly impressive when he flares too because of those long fins.

Ventral fins - got it. And awfully glad to know his newfound white stripe isn't something new to worry about (I seem to always have to have SOMEthing to worry about...).

Thank you!!

 

[Gill]

The Stripes come with Maturity, thats all

 

[Winterlily]

Ah! Thanks Gill. By maturity, does that indicate he's an older fish, or just "getting" mature?

 

[Gill]

Ah! Thanks Gill. By maturity, does that indicate he's an older fish, or just "getting" mature?

I would say more getting there looking at his face

 

[Winterlily]

Okay good, thanks. He's SO much bigger than my other betta, I was worried he was already completely adult.

 

[Cdarmychi]

LOL...if you ever decide he's too old for you, Ill be happy to take him off your hands, he must be SUCH a burden, having to get a drool towel every time you walk past his tank....

Sakura

 

[lilacamy931]

There must be a stack of towels just for the purpose!

 

[jasminekiddell]

Im jealous, love the betta! i hope my betta will look somewhat like this in the future only had him less than 12 hours!

 

[electric yellow]

WOW he is gorgeous! And SUCH a great photo!!!

Ive ntoiced subtle changes in my bettas to as they get older. My PK Shimmer has gotten a spotty head as he gets older. his darkness has become more patchy lol. still stunning and shiney but he has a spottyness now to his head lol. He looks like a dalmation in some respects.

 

[Winterlily]

Thanks everyone for the nice words! He's a pretty boy, that's for sure. Absolutely spectacular when flaring. (And thanks for the compliment on the photography! A combination of a tough-guy fish who fully flares and stays still, and a great camera with macro setting!)