Who Gives A Fish Forums

I'm still pretty new to this forum, so I hope I'm posting in the right spot. I'm getting a bit concerned about my betta's health, and I could really use some advice. I got him from Petco back in October 2017.

I've been dealing with fin rot for a few months now - I've been changing the tank water weekly, sometimes even twice a week, but it's still an issue. I've been treating it with melafix and pimafix, and it seems like he's recovering judging by the pale edge of his tail. But, lately, I've noticed he's been hiding on the ground a lot behind the fake plant, and his color doesn't seem as vibrant as it used to. When I shine a light on him, I see this shiny gold stuff under his scales, and I'm worried it might be velvet - but it could also just be his natural coloring, I've just never noticed it before. I started treating him with API Geneflake Cure a few days ago, just in case.

I've also seen some shiny silver patches on his head, which have faded a bit, but now there's this whiter, shinier one. And there's this pinkish reddish dot on his body that I'm not sure if it's an injury or not. On the bright side, he's still pretty energetic and eats well. I haven't noticed any stiffness in his fins or clamping, but I'm not really sure what to look for, so I could be missing it. He's been a bit nervous lately, darting away when I come near, but I'm not sure if that means anything. I've seen him rub against the plants and glass, but I'm not sure if he's actually doing it or if it just looks like it.

My water parameters are: ammonia level 0.5, nitrate is safe and medium (I don't have the exact number), pH is a bit acidic at 6.2 (I've started using a pH regulator since then), alkalinity is low, between 0 and 40, and there's no chlorine or hardness. He's in a 3.7 gallon tank with a heater and some fake plants that seem pretty soft.

I'm really worried about him, and I've been searching online, but his symptoms don't seem to match anything in particular. I've attached some pictures below, and I apologize for the quality - he's always moving around, so it's hard to get a still shot. If anyone can tell me what's going on with him, I'd really appreciate it. I'd also love to know if his fin rot is recovering okay. And, since this is my first pet betta, I'm getting a bit worried that I'm doing something wrong - is there anything I should be doing differently?

Images:
1 & 2: pictures from about 10 days ago, showing the silvery-white patch on his head that's since faded a bit. The aquatic specialist at Petco told me his fin rot was fungal.
3, 4, 5: pictures from now, showing the shiny white spot on his head, the red spot on his body, and his fin rot, which seems to be recovering. I tried to get a picture of the gold near his scales, but it's hard to see unless the lighting is really bright.

I'm really worried about your betta, flamen. The gold you're seeing sounds like it could be velvet disease, which is often fatal if not treated properly. I'd strongly advise against continuing to use melafix or pimafix - I've heard they can be toxic. I'm not entirely sure what medication is needed to treat velvet disease, but I'd recommend doing some research by Googling "velvet disease betta" - that should give you a good starting point.

I think I can try to help you out, flamen. To start with, I'd recommend doing a 75% water change and giving the gravel a good clean every day for a week. This should help get your tank's water quality back on track.

I have to admit, I couldn't make out too much from the pictures you posted, but I think if you increase the lighting in the room and over the tank, you might be able to get a clearer shot. Using a flash on your camera could also help.

The white patch on your betta's head looks like a scale has lifted, which isn't usually anything to worry about unless it starts to turn white and fluffy or red like an ulcer.

If you do think your betta has velvet, one way to treat it is by raising the temperature in the tank to 30C (86F) for three weeks, then slowly bringing it back down to 24-26C. Make sure to do a 75% water change and gravel clean every day during treatment.

Also, just a heads up, I've heard that using Melafix or Pimafix on bettas isn't a good idea, so it's probably best to avoid those.

As for the finrot, it's usually caused by poor water quality and a buildup of gunk in the tank that lets bacteria thrive. To prevent this, try increasing your water changes to 50-75% twice a week, and always do a gravel clean when you change the water. Having a good filter on the tank can also make a big difference. Just make sure any new water you add is free of chlorine and chloramine.