We might love them, but if you’re not very experienced with fish or bettas, it’s really hard to be certain if they’re not doing well – they don’t exactly have puppy dog eyes to tell if they’re suffering! I really struggled to find images to diagnose with and mostly encountered just descriptions, so I’ve done my best to pull together some image evidence to help people spot any visual issues with their pets.
The ill and healthy images below are NOT the same fish, as it is difficult to find photos like this – they are similar fish to help highlight the differences in visible problems
Fin/Tail loss with dark, curled edges
Sudden fin/tail loss with clean or jagged edges
Peppery white fuzz/dots
White fluffy patches like mould
Inflated/Bloated with ‘pinecone’ scales
Swollen eye/s or grey eye/s
Dusty ‘gold’ or rust patches
Potbelly/bulging belly
Trouble swimming/sinking/floating
Visible white ‘tags’ attached to the body
Changes of colour or patches of colour
My Better Betta 