Is my betta going back to a happy color, or is she stressed and changing away from her happy color.

[dru_girl]

When I got Galadriel the Betta, she was white with a few black dots. She lives in a five gallon planted tank. Her water parameters have been perfect for the vast majority of the few months I’ve had her. I’m still working on her lighting though. Her tank mates are 3 snails, but I’m going to give two away soon. Her black dots are very slowly turning into more coloration. This is easiest to see in her tail fin. After reading about color change, I’m trying to figure out if I got her in a stressed or sick state and she’s getting healthy, or if something’s wrong and she’s turning black. Any ideas?

 

[Slaphppy7]

Did you cycle the tank before adding the fish?

By "perfect", what do you mean concerning water params? What kind of test kit do you use?

 

[autyfish]

I think she looks healthier for what it’s worth. I’m no fish scientist, but I can keep bettas alive long past life expectancy

And I love her name!

 

[dru_girl]

Did you cycle the tank before adding the fish?

By "perfect", what do you mean concerning water params? What kind of test kit do you use?

I ran it for 10 days before adding her. Did a 50% change 5 days before adding her, added some beneficial bacteria beforehand as well so that my sponge filter would have some going before I put her in.
I use API 5-in-1 strips. For the first 6 weeks, my levels (from top no3 to bottom GH) were 0-0-6.5-40-0.
Then I added a little crushed coral to my substrate and some equilibrium to my water to help my snails. Now it always reads 0-0-7.25 (just between 7 and 7.5)-40-30. (I took a pic of the strip from today, though I know the colors change after a bit.)

 

[dru_girl]

I think she looks healthier for what it’s worth. I’m no fish scientist, but I can keep bettas alive long past life expectancy

And I love her name!

Thank you.

 

[Slaphppy7]

Get a liquid test kit; the strips can be inaccurate and unreliable, especially if they are aged: https://apifishcare.com/product/freshwater-master-test-kit

Get the kit, run tests for ammonia, nitrIte, and nitrAte, and post the results here

What kind of water conditioner do you use?

You could possibly be in the midst of a "fish-in" cycle, have a look here for all cycling methods: https://www.fishforums.net/threads/cycle-your-tank-a-complete-guide-for-beginners.475055/

 

[dru_girl]

Thank you! I’ll take a look at all of this.

 

[Slaphppy7]

Thank you! I’ll take a look at all of this.

More than welcome.

We want to make sure the tank is cycled, and that the fish is in the healthiest conditions possible.

 

[dru_girl]

Get a liquid test kit; the strips can be inaccurate and unreliable, especially if they are aged: https://apifishcare.com/product/freshwater-master-test-kit

Get the kit, run tests for ammonia, nitrIte, and nitrAte, and post the results here

What kind of water conditioner do you use?

You could possibly be in the midst of a "fish-in" cycle, have a look here for all cycling methods: https://www.fishforums.net/threads/cycle-your-tank-a-complete-guide-for-beginners.475055/

I got a liquid test kit. My high range ph was 7.8. My nitrites and nitrates were 0. My ammonia was somewhere between 0 and .25ppm. I added some water conditioner to help. Does that all sound okay?

 

[betta4ever!]

I think its marbling! I'm not an expert, but I'm sure her color change is completely normal!!

 

[hansgruber7]

It's normal for bettas to change color over time. Do you have better pictures? It's kind of hard to tell from what you posted.

 

[NearMeBettas]

She looks really young, and is a marble. If she was either or she is going to change colors (marbles do all their lives and young bettas will) She looks supper health. Love her name!!