Darting Betta, Rubbing Gravel

[Kaprese]

I'm new to Betta owning, love my little Peachy. I've only had him for a few days now, but he's been darting around the tank rubbing on a variety of things. I don't see parasites, though that's not to say that he doesn't have any. I'm heading out first thing tomorrow to get some stuff for him. He's currently in a 2.5 gallon tank, filtered and heated, upgrading soon. Been treating him with BettaFix for fin rot. Using aquarium salt as well.

I've been trying to get a good picture for him, but either my camera won't focus properly or he moves before I snap. He has flecks of white on the sides of his face (only a couple) they look like silver/white scales. His lower mouth/throat looks white, but not cottony. He's entirely orange aside from parts of his tail, but there are areas on his body that look like black lace. (Black outlining the scales.)

He eats his tiny portions well, and obviously has energy... any thoughts? Thank you all in advance for your kindness and advice.

P.S: Didn't know where to put this, but figured I should go into a little more detail on his actions. He darts, rubs, and jolts his head side to side. This is not constant, but often, and not in that order.

 

[loraxchick]

try some ich/whitespot medication and see if he improves. do a good gravel clean and big waterchange before/after using the meds. up the temp slowly to 86 degrees if you are able while treating.
cheers.

 

[WILDER]

Size of tank.
Is the betta on it's onw. If not please add stocking list.
Water stats in ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, and ph.
How long did you climatise the new betta fish for.

Any tiny bubbles on the betta body or gills.
Any tiny white spots on the fish.
The mouth area does it look bleached out.

Black patches on fish can be ammonia burns that are healing.

 

[Kaprese]

2.5 gallon tank. On it's own due to their nature and tank size. (Wants to upgrade soon.) Fresh water so I haven't checked, but will hop on that. Adjusting heat didn't take long, our weather has been ridiculously hot so far this year, the heater didn't have much to adjust. I'd say it was done in a day.

No bubbles that I could see. There's a tiny black piece from the gill and one, but I figured that would heal. The shops around here really treat them poorly.
No white spots like Ick, just a two or three white/silver scales on either side of his head.

Yes, lower mouth/throat area looks bleached out.

Poor guy, he was in an absolutely tiny cup and was the only one that looked like he'd live the day. I've called management to complain, but haven't gone back yet to see if anything was done.

Thank you both for your reply.

 

[WILDER]

Poor thing.
First thing to do is test your water quality.
Was the tank cycled before you added him.

If the mouth bleach out It sounds like columnaris.
What's your location.
Also white edging to scales can be columnaris.

Not totally convinced yet the fish does have whitespot.

 

[Kaprese]

Ammonia came up between 0 and .25 (he was due for a water change today). The tank wasn't cycled.

Poor guy, I hope he has a good and fast recovery. I will get him whatever needed.

I'm in Pittsburgh, PA.

(Still working on tests.)

 

[WILDER]

Really need full water stats.

Keep doing water changes. Increase aeration.
Also add two teaspoons of salt to his tank. Just get some tank water in a jug and stir the salt till it disolves, then add to the tank.

This med will knock your water stats even further. Maracyn is the name of the med.
If you have to preform a water change just add the correct amount of med back to water removed.

Also keep a eye on whitespot signs.
Maracyn also do a whitespot med. So if the fish does break out in whitespot, you can still use it with maracyn.

Do you know any fish keepers who could donate you a mature filter sponge.

In the united states you can buy bio spira.

 

[Kaprese]

Ammonia 0-.25, Nitrite 0, PH 7.2 (My boyfriend keeps moving my tests and I can't find them all now. ) Thank you very much for your advice and patience.

 

[WILDER]

Once you treated the fish try and get hold of some bio spira. Do search on the product.
Let me know how you get on if you don't mind.
Good Luck.

 

[Kaprese]

Alright. I haven't gone out yet, but here are a couple of pictures of the silvery/white scales on side of face and under gills. Finally got him in decent lighting and holding still.

 

[WILDER]

Are the little white dots on the fish or glass of the tank.

I would take the bacterial route for now.
Keep an eye on parasite symtoms.
Fish can also flick and rub, dart, in bad water quality.

 

[loraxchick]

i would chock it up to bad water quality, or non-appropriate acclimation. from the photos, that is normal coloration under the "chin" for many red bettas. sort of a golden yellowy tone to them.
water change water change water change for the next week and see if he improves. i wouldnt use meds as of now. see if improving water quality helps the chap. keep an eye out for what looks like grains of sand on the fish (=ich).
cheers

 

[WILDER]

Hows the fish doing.

 

[Kaprese]

So far so good. I've been talking to my cousin about the wiggling and gravel bit, let her witness it. She thinks it's excitement and looking for food. So I've been watching out of his sight and he doesn't do the gravel wiggle thing. Seems like that's what it was. He even quits for a while after I feed him. His fins are coming back beautifully and he's even making bubble nests now. I'm still on the watch though, you never know.

Thank you so much for your help and check up. I really appreciate it, especially as a first timer.

 

[WILDER]

That's good. I would still keep a close eye on the betta.
If any changes get back to the board.
Thanks for the update.