Is my Betta ok?

[Caroline2000]

I’ve had my Betta about a month now and today I spotted this white/grey stuff on his tail. Is this a sign of disease? Or has he just got something stuck on there? His behaviour has not changed, he is still swimming around, eating and coming to the front of his tank to be sociable. He has a heater and a sponge filter and water conditions seem alright but I did recently have to replace a couple of plants that were dying

 

[Bruce Leyland-Jones]

A fine looking fish.
It could be a number of things, from fungus, bacteria or, as you suggest, just something stuck there...perhaps some excess mucus.
Before I commit, what else can you tell us about the tank and the water in it?

 

[Caroline2000]

It’s 25L, it was cycled before I put the fish in, I tested the water the other day when I changed the plants and there was no ammonia or nitrates/nitrites, pH was neutral. The only thing I was worried about was if the water was too hard. Aside from the plants the Betta is the only thing in there

A fine looking fish.
It could be a number of things, from fungus, bacteria or, as you suggest, just something stuck there...perhaps some excess mucus.
Before I commit, what else can you tell us about the tank and the water in it?

 

[Bruce Leyland-Jones]

It’s 25L, it was cycled before I put the fish in, I tested the water the other day when I changed the plants and there was no ammonia or nitrates/nitrites, pH was neutral. The only thing I was worried about was if the water was too hard. Aside from the plants the Betta is the only thing in there

All sounds good enough.
Aquarium salt is always a very good and useful additive to the water, 1tbsp per 5 gallon, as a simple maintenance dose. Keeps up a fish's electrolytes, etc..
(Up that to 1 tbsp per 3 gallon, if treating an illness).

You dissolve the salt in a cup of warm tank water first, before adding it to the tank.

I'd just keep an eye on the fins for any sign of deterioration. Hopefully, it'll resolve itself.

 

[Caroline2000]

All sounds good enough.
Aquarium salt is always a very good and useful additive to the water, 1tbsp per 5 gallon, as a simple maintenance dose. Keeps up a fish's electrolytes, etc..
(Up that to 1 tbsp per 3 gallon, if treating an illness).

You dissolve the salt in a cup of warm tank water first, before adding it to the tank.

I'd just keep an eye on the fins for any sign of deterioration. Hopefully, it'll resolve itself.

Thanks, I’ll keep an eye on him, he’s my first fish so I just don’t really know what I’m doing but I want him to be happy

 

[Bruce Leyland-Jones]

Thanks, I’ll keep an eye on him, he’s my first fish so I just don’t really know what I’m doing but I want him to be happy

Perhaps you could check this out.

 

[Bruce Leyland-Jones]

...And this from KGTropicals on better Betta Care.

EDIT: Link added.

 

[Essjay]

Salt shouldn't be used routinely especially with soft water fish, but it's OK to use short term as a mild medication.

Salt in the Freshwater Aquarium – MJV Aquatics

mjvaquatics.com