Stuck Beard?

[dipsydoodlenoodle]

This morning when I got up my male betta flared at me (he can be grumpy in the morning if I wake him up when going to bed lol); anyway I was surprised when he “half” flared at me. Sometimes he gives a half-hearted flare and he only sticks his beard out a little bit; however this morning was different. One side was perfectly normal; the other side his cheek was poofed out but not his beard. I couldn’t quite tell if something had happened to it or if it was ‘stuck’ to his cheek. I will look properly when I get home tonight (I tried to this morning but he was too busy flaring at the filter to come and see me).

Any idea what it could be?

Water stats: don’t know; didn’t have time to check before I left for work (I’ll check when I get in).

Tank size: 4.5 gallons

Temperature: high 25 celsius – 27 celsius (it was 26 this morning).

The only thing new in his tank is a sulawesi snail; which I added on Saturday.

Other useful stuff: I did a 100% water change a week and a half ago (his tank is fully cycled; it’s just easier sometimes to do a 100% water change when cleaning the gravel as by the time it’s hovered there isn’t much water left in). Then on Tuesday (2 days ago) I did about a 60% water change (maybe 50% - about half anyway). I’m going to check the tap water tonight as well as one of my girls (separate tank; 30% water change on Tuesday as well) has been showing signs of being unwell as well (no symptoms but loss of appetite and general ‘can’t be bothered-ness’).

I'm also posting this in the emergency section as well just in case (here)

 

[BethK]

I wouldn't worry too much, I get this sometimes with my females, one gill moves out when they flare, the other sticks but then the next time they do it, it's fully flaring. But keep an eye on him, just incase x

 

[dipsydoodlenoodle]

I wouldn't worry too much, I get this sometimes with my females, one gill moves out when they flare, the other sticks but then the next time they do it, it's fully flaring. But keep an eye on him, just incase x

Both of his gills are going out, one side has beard; the other side has none .

I'm not 'particularly' worried I'm curious to know what it is; how it's happened, if it's serious, how can it be prevented etc.

I can't do much about it since it's happened but I'd like to at least help him along if possible; or how to stop it happening again.

 

[loraxchick]

i wouldnt worry too much. i had a betta before just like that...his gill covers were fine but only ever flared half his beard. he live to be 3.
just keep an eye on him.
cheers

 

[dipsydoodlenoodle]

Well I don't know if it's disappeared of he just isn't flaring it.

He was fine yesterday and he was fine this morning (albeit missing his beard)- he was telling his filter who was boss this morning (like he does every day ) - I should say there is no way he can get trapped in the filter.

He's got a bend long dangly fin at the front, wiggly rays in his tail and now half a beard....a bit quasimodo I think but he is still so pretty . I'll post pictures when my error message is sorted

 

[Gizaroo2]

Well I don't know if it's disappeared of he just isn't flaring it.

He was fine yesterday and he was fine this morning (albeit missing his beard)- he was telling his filter who was boss this morning (like he does every day ) - I should say there is no way he can get trapped in the filter.

He's got a bend long dangly fin at the front, wiggly rays in his tail and now half a beard....a bit quasimodo I think but he is still so pretty . I'll post pictures when my error message is sorted

My betta Finneus likes to tell his filter who's boss too...haha. I had a betta who used to only flare half of his beard. He lived to be over 4 years old. Sometimes he'd flare everything, othertimes only half. Just depended how lazy he was feeling I guess lol

 

[zophie]

Really- don't worry. Kenji will flare at me intensily, but sometimes, he just does it a little.. Just keep a eye on him, and tell us if he's actung weird

 

[dipsydoodlenoodle]

When I went back to check on him he gave a full flare, so he was fine all along....typical eh!