Is my white cellophane betta growing red markings?

[tastyflavours]

Hi everyone, I'm new here. I recently got a delta male, about a month ago. He was pretty pale when I first brought him home - whitish and almost cellophane-like (I've attached a picture of him from back then). Lately, I've noticed he's developing red spots on his fins and face. His tank is filtered and I do regular water changes, so I'm hoping someone can offer some insight into what's going on with him. He's still active and building bubble nests, which is good, I guess. Any advice on his health would be really helpful.

[SeaBidder]

Hi tastyflavours, I've seen some Armageddon marked betas get red spots on their tails and fins, but not usually on their face - they do have that cellophane look though. It's possible this could be a water quality issue. Are you familiar with the nitrogen cycle, and is your tank cycled? What are your current water parameters? If your tank isn't cycled, the red spots could be a sign of ammonia poisoning. If that's the case, I'd recommend doing a large 70% water change right away, making sure to use a dechlorinator. Let us know if your tank is cycled, and if not, we can walk you through the process.

[sSjey]

It seems like you might not have cycled the tank before introducing your betta - this process involves adding ammonia and waiting for sufficient bacteria growth. At three weeks, you've likely grown some bacteria, but probably not enough yet. I'd recommend changing half the water daily to monitor the situation. Ideally, you should test for ammonia and nitrite daily, performing a water change when either exceeds zero.

A word of caution: your tank appears to contain several plastic plants, which often have rough edges or sharp points that can damage a betta's fins. If possible, consider replacing them with live plants or silk alternatives to minimize this risk.

[SeaBidder]

I completely agree with sSjey, large water changes are essential to keep ammonia levels under control. Daily changes of 50-70% should be done to ensure the health of your betta. To speed up the cycling process, I recommend getting a bottle of Tetra Safe Start+ and adding it directly to the filter. This will introduce beneficial bacteria to your tank, which will help break down ammonia and nitrites. It's crucial to keep the same filter cartridge, unless it's falling apart, as this will help maintain the beneficial bacteria. I would also advise reading up on the aquarium nitrogen cycle and the process of cycling a tank to gain a better understanding of what's going on. With regular water changes and the addition of bottled bacteria, you should be able to get your tank cycled and your betta healthy.