Fin Rot or New Fin Growth?

Question
Dear Karen,

My son has had a male (veil tail) betta for about 6 months now. His name is Whiplash, he lives in a heated, lighted, hooded 10 gallon aquarium (76 degrees steady). Water is changed at a rate of 63% or more every wek across three to four changes, each time the gravel is vacuumed; Ph is 6.8, Zero on the Ammonia, Nitrites and Nitrates, Soft Water, only area of caution is low buffer zone with the Hinckley brand water (40). We don't use tap water because the ph is 10.5 and bounces back after ph down. Diet is varied (pea, daphnia, bio gold betts bites, betta min flakes, freeze dried brine shrimp). Water is Hinckley brand purified water. Whiplash is fed twice per day. The question is, for the past 3 to 4 days I am seeing a slim light colored rim to the edge of his tail and anal fins. The edge is not pure white but is sort of pink compared to his red body color and it shows some darker red areas as well. Fins are not ragged or torn, no fin has dissolved. He is active, eating, curious etc. With the regime of water changes in place and so forth could this be the start of fin rot, or is Whiplask just growing longer fins? I don't want to "not" treat if there is an issue, but I certainly don't want to treat if there isn't an issue. Let me know what you think, and I could try to get a picture of him if that would help. The only issue there is, he associates me with food, and when I come in he starts doing the happy dance around the tank. :)

Thank you in advance!

Hope

Answer
Hi Hope!
Its definitely a good mindset to "not" treat when there isn't an known issue going on. :)doing so could cause more harm than good.

Whiplash sounds like a wonderful spoiled little angelfish!! What a darling he seems to be. I really can't say that there is something wrong since you have observed no ragged fins, dissolving or shortening of the angel's fins which would signal an infection. With Whiplash so active and otherwise behaving healthy I'm beginning to think this is just a color change or indeed some new fin-growth.

I'd be happy to see a picture of him if you can. I know its difficult always to photograph fish! ;-)

But let me know if anything odd pops up or you have anymore questions!
Karen~