Bettas Head

[Bengilbey]

Hey

I was looking into my tank earlier and noticed what appears to be a missing scale on my bettas head, there is nothing in the tank that is sharp and all the plants are real, any ideas at what this could be / how it could of happened? Worried about the little guy

 

[gavinjayanand]

Is it the same tank as in your signature? If it is, he could have got it from a scrape on the driftwood. Alternatively, he might have jumped up for some reason and knocked against the hood or filter.

 

[Bengilbey]

Yeah its the same one, he cant reach the hood or the filter, he never jumps so couldnt of hit the lights, the neons never bother him so I doubt that its them, maybe it is down to the bogwood, any suggestions on how to help him heal up?

 

[gavinjayanand]

If it is indeed a superficial injury, I think he should patch up just fine without any medication. A few water changes and time would have him as well as any vet could.

If it gets any worse, putting him into a quarantine tank with a small amount of salt would do wonders. Bettas are extremely hardy and yours shouldn't be an exception.

All the best and good luck!

Gavin

 

[Bengilbey]

Thanks for the advise Gavin, he seems to be slowly getting better in the community tank so I think that he will be okay now

 

[Louiseness]

You mentioned he's in a community tank - what with?

My Betta showed up with a few missing scales along the top of his head like that and I assumed they were from fighting with the dwarf gourami (plus, his fins looked bitten off in places).

 

[Bengilbey]

He is in with 6 neons

 

[Louiseness]

Hmmm. Maybe someone who knows more about neons than me can tell you if they're likely to be that nippy. I only assumed mine's missing scales were the gourami as they did have a few face offs and flaring/nipping matches with each other anyway. Glad to hear he's healing though!

 

[Kelly-Jo]

I highly doubt that neons would nip at him. I'd bet that he just caught it on some decor or hit himself against the glass. When kept in a shoal like yours, neons will keep themselves to themselves.