White Fins Turned Pink

[thrallwoods]

I'm a betta newbie; bought a blue-green betta about a month ago (he is BEAUUUtiful and I LOVE him!). Can't even tell you tail type, but think CT (but doesn't have the spikey look I see on all the crowntail pics, so not sure). The important point here, tho', is that he has very long, flowing fins which are blue-green near the body, but the outer 40-50% of the fins are white. Or WERE white, I should say, because they've started taking on a pink tinge -- reminds me somewhat of pink shower mildew.

Sutra the blue betta originally lived in a 1.5 gallon unfiltered tank -- this is where the pink fin problem started. I moved him to a Baby biOrb (abt 4 gal) about 2 weeks ago, so he now lives in filtered water (fyi: air tube is clamped for a very gentle air flow). I test his water frequently & have been making weekly water changes -- tests haven't shown that the water needed changing more frequently than that. Have been treating with both Pimafix & Melafix, thinking it couldn't do any harm, but doesn't seem to have done any good, either. Other than the fin thing, he seems healthy: behavior hasn't changed & no loss of appetite or anything.

Any ideas on what may be the cause & how to get rid of it?

Thanks!

 

[lisie]

A picture would be very helpful. Is the pink actually something on his fins, or could it just be his coloring? Sometimes bettas can change colors a bit.

Also, you really shouldn't medicate unless you know what you're medicating for, especially with antibiotics like Melafix. Also with Melafix, bettas generally don't tolerate the full dosage; some have even died from it... you should use about half of what they recommend.

I'd do a 100% water change to get rid of the meds and try to find out what it is before you medicate anymore, since you said he's otherwise acting fine.

 

[thrallwoods]

A picture would be very helpful. Is the pink actually something on his fins, or could it just be his coloring? Sometimes bettas can change colors a bit.

Also, you really shouldn't medicate unless you know what you're medicating for, especially with antibiotics like Melafix. Also with Melafix, bettas generally don't tolerate the full dosage; some have even died from it... you should use about half of what they recommend.

I'd do a 100% water change to get rid of the meds and try to find out what it is before you medicate anymore, since you said he's otherwise acting fine.

OK, will cease & desist with the melafix/pimafix! Today is water changing day, so that will take care of that.

Have attached a photo -- it's a little faded because of glare on the biOrb, but you can still see the pink tinge .

Tks!

 

[lisie]

First of all, he's gorgeous!! He looks like he's a superdelta or a halfmoon... I'd love to see flaring pics.

It looks like his fins are damaged somehow, either from chewing them himself, nips from other fish, fin rot (doesn't look like it though from the pic), or tearing them on a plant or other decor. Keeping the water nice and clean and adding some aquarium salt (for freshwater fish) should take care of that. Unless he's a fin biter, then he'll probably keep doing it.

 

[thrallwoods]

First of all, he's gorgeous!! He looks like he's a superdelta or a halfmoon... I'd love to see flaring pics.

It looks like his fins are damaged somehow, either from chewing them himself, nips from other fish, fin rot (doesn't look like it though from the pic), or tearing them on a plant or other decor. Keeping the water nice and clean and adding some aquarium salt (for freshwater fish) should take care of that. Unless he's a fin biter, then he'll probably keep doing it.

As for the fin damage, I think we had a little accident when switching from one tank to the other; I was being very careful (or at least, thought I was), but I noticed a difference in the lower finnage after the move (didn't find any pieces left behind, tho', so don't know). At any rate, Sutra's never had any roommates, so don't think that's the problem. He's got one silk plant & 2 plastic in the tank with him. I've just bought more silk plants to replace the plastic, basically because the plastic ones I have are hard to place in a biOrb (these are the type whose base must be filled with gravel to anchor them -- very difficult in a biOrb); the new plants have a heavy, solid base; these should be easier on his fins, if the plastic plants were the problem, right?

Standard dosage on the aquarium salt? My package says 1 tsp for 5 gal. If the pink coloration is indeed some kind of fungus or something, should the salt take care of this?

Am working on getting a picture of him flared, cuz he really takes my breath away when he flares! Easier said than done, I'm finding

Tks again!

 

[e11cloud]

pink fins (most of the time)=high ammonia...your tests may not be accurate. It's burns from the ammonia. Do a water change, get a new test kit (strip kits aren't as affective as the kind you drop into test tubes), and use some salt with some stress coat. If you can find some stress zyme, use that also. Good luck! He surrrre is a purtyful fishy.

 

[thrallwoods]

Just wanted to say thanks to both of you for your advice. Will certainly invest in the better test kit, as I have indeed been using strips.

Tks again!

 

[liz2]

That fish is absolutely beautiful if you ever get fed up with him I will rush and fetch him from wherever you happen to live. I think I am in love

 

[thrallwoods]

Dream on! I am TOOOO in love with this fish