Bettas tail turning transparent?

[tthymee]

Hi, my betta Pepper has been losing his color in his tail. It started as being red all the way to the edges when I first got him. Now the color is receding into itself. There is no splitting or anything but I'm not sure what could be causing this he seems happy and healthy, a new bubble nest everytime I change his water and eating well. He's active usually, sometimes lays on the bottom of the tank or just sort of drifts near the top. His ammonia is at .02 - 0 (based off of the Seachem ammonia alert dial because I don't have any test strips) and his water is heated and filtered. Here's a photo of him rn

Also, unrelated. Can Ph/hardness of water harm a betta? Ik ammonia is really bad but all I've found about pH/hardness (I think they're the same thing) is that it can cause curling in the tail but no harm to it. Just wondering if that's true.

 

[Kait]

Did you get him recently? That looks like new fin growth. When bettas have lost their fins to fin rot etc. the tissue regrows transparent initially and the color returns later in my experience. It's possible he had some damage to his fins that's repaired itself since you got him. Could also just be his coloration.

If he's active and seems healthy I wouldn't worry about it.

Most fish should adjust to most pH levels just fine as long as it's stable. Sudden changes in pH are dangerous.

 

[AdoraBelle Dearheart]

It looks like fin re-growth to me too, which is a good thing! It suggests that he had some damage to his fins or was perhaps in the early stages of fin rot when you got him, and it's now regrowing. Notice how the red bits are a little jagged looking, while the transparent edges are rounder and more even? That also suggests it's re-growth, and will get the red colour in time.


Are you doing water changes often? Because that could be why the fins are growing back. Keep it up!

 

[Essjay]

about pH/hardness (I think they're the same thing)

I just want to comment - pH is the amount of acid or base in the water and hardness (GH) is the amount of calcium and magnesium in the water. They are connected but not the same. Of the two, GH is more important to fish.

 

[FishFinatic77]

I agree with the others, it looks like his tail is regrowing.

Did you cycle your tank before putting the betta in? You should not be seeing any ammonia in the water.

As essjay said, the PH is the amount of acid or base in the water, and the GH is the hardness of the water. Fish can adapt to most PH values, but the GH is important. If your water is hard, you can only keep fish that live in hard water (like guppies, platies, etc.). If your water is soft, you can only keep soft water species (like bettas, tetras, ect.).

 

[tthymee]

I agree with the others, it looks like his tail is regrowing.

Did you cycle your tank before putting the betta in? You should not be seeing any ammonia in the water.

As essjay said, the PH is the amount of acid or base in the water, and the GH is the hardness of the water. Fish can adapt to most PH values, but the GH is important. If your water is hard, you can only keep fish that live in hard water (like guppies, platies, etc.). If your water is soft, you can only keep soft water species (like bettas, tetras, ect.).

My water is on the harder side, how can I make it softer? And will my hard water hurt him?

 

[tthymee]

Did you get him recently? That looks like new fin growth. When bettas have lost their fins to fin rot etc. the tissue regrows transparent initially and the color returns later in my experience. It's possible he had some damage to his fins that's repaired itself since you got him. Could also just be his coloration.

If he's active and seems healthy I wouldn't worry about it.

Most fish should adjust to most pH levels just fine as long as it's stable. Sudden changes in pH are dangerous.

Yes I did get him recently, a few weeks ago from PetSmart. And that's good I'm glad he's not sick. I wish I could have gotten all the bettas there they looked so sick and sad ):

 

[tthymee]

It looks like fin re-growth to me too, which is a good thing! It suggests that he had some damage to his fins or was perhaps in the early stages of fin rot when you got him, and it's now regrowing. Notice how the red bits are a little jagged looking, while the transparent edges are rounder and more even? That also suggests it's re-growth, and will get the red colour in time.


Are you doing water changes often? Because that could be why the fins are growing back. Keep it up!

Thank you and yes I'm doing water changes decently often. I did about 25% twice a week but I'm not sure if that's too often or too much. So I moved it to once a week. What would be best?

 

[AdoraBelle Dearheart]

Thank you and yes I'm doing water changes decently often. I did about 25% twice a week but I'm not sure if that's too often or too much. So I moved it to once a week. What would be best?

Not too often or too much, especially if he's in a smaller tank. Most of us do 50-75% weekly on an established tank, but especially if he's in a smaller one and had fin problems, 50% twice a week sounds like a great schedule to me.

You can't really change water too often, it's an old school myth that water changes are harmful. The beneficial bacteria aren't affected by water changes since they live in the filter and on surfaces- the glass, substrate, decor etc-not in the water column. By changing a good percentage of the tapwater, you're keeping nitrates low and keeping the tank water conditions close to your tap water conditions. Tanks that don't get much water changed often often end up suffering from "old tank syndrome". Worth looking up. You're reducing the amount of bacteria and fungal spores in the water too when you remove some water and replace, which is helpful for fish that are healing from poor conditions or an illness. Those twice weekly changes are probably why his fins are healing.

So I'd go back to twice weekly, and up it to 50%. Make sure you give the substrate a good gravel vac, make sure the new water is temperature matched to the tank water and use water conditioner. Please keep us updated, he's a beautiful fish

 

[FishFinatic77]

My water is on the harder side, how can I make it softer? And will my hard water hurt him?

Can you give us your exact GH?

 

[tthymee]

Can you give us your exact GH?

No because I don't have any test strips but I'm pretty sure in my area it's super hard. I think when I tested it it was the darkest level of red on the strip

 

[tthymee]

Not too often or too much, especially if he's in a smaller tank. Most of us do 50-75% weekly on an established tank, but especially if he's in a smaller one and had fin problems, 50% twice a week sounds like a great schedule to me.

You can't really change water too often, it's an old school myth that water changes are harmful. The beneficial bacteria aren't affected by water changes since they live in the filter and on surfaces- the glass, substrate, decor etc-not in the water column. By changing a good percentage of the tapwater, you're keeping nitrates low and keeping the tank water conditions close to your tap water conditions. Tanks that don't get much water changed often often end up suffering from "old tank syndrome". Worth looking up. You're reducing the amount of bacteria and fungal spores in the water too when you remove some water and replace, which is helpful for fish that are healing from poor conditions or an illness. Those twice weekly changes are probably why his fins are healing.

So I'd go back to twice weekly, and up it to 50%. Make sure you give the substrate a good gravel vac, make sure the new water is temperature matched to the tank water and use water conditioner. Please keep us updated, he's a beautiful fish

Okay cool thank you

 

[FishFinatic77]

No because I don't have any test strips but I'm pretty sure in my area it's super hard. I think when I tested it it was the darkest level of red on the strip

I'm not familiar with the test strips, so I don't know what that color means. You can bring some of your water to your LFS. Tell them to give you the exact numbers.
You can use RO water to lower your GH if it is too high for your betta.