Is this hole in the head?

[Mariac1990]

I have a Betta and he was purchased at a petco. He was looking miserable. I noticed some redness on his head recently. He’s also swimming erratically and sometimes swims all the way to the top of the tank and swims straight down towards the rocks. Could this be hole in the head? His water is testing fine with the strips, I haven’t cycled the water yet. He’s eating fine but has sprite where he is super energetic and then he gets lethargic.

 

[Back in the fold]

Nope . Just his coloration from what I can see in your pictures . @BettaFishGirl ?

 

[BettaFishGirl]

A full picture would be helpful. Is there anything sharp in the tank (like plastic plants, sharp rocks, etc.)?

How big is the tank?

My Betta has coloring similar to that, so as back in the fold mentioned it might be his coloring.

But, there is other problems. You say the "water is testing fine". What is the exact ammonia, nitrite and nitrate? I find test strips to be inaccurate, the API Liquid test kit is the best IMO.

You said that you haven't cycled the water, and that's a big problem. You either need to do a fishless cycle, or a fish-in cycle. If you don't cycle the tank your sweet Betta will have serious problem and suffer, or worse. Get some Tetras SafeStart or Dr. Tim's and add the appropriate amount. That will help with the cycle.

 

[Mariac1990]

A full picture would be helpful. Is there anything sharp in the tank (like plastic plants, sharp rocks, etc.)?

How big is the tank?

My Betta has coloring similar to that, so as back in the fold mentioned it might be his coloring.

But, there is other problems. You say the "water is testing fine". What is the exact ammonia, nitrite and nitrate? I find test strips to be inaccurate, the API Liquid test kit is the best IMO.

You said that you haven't cycled the water, and that's a big problem. You either need to do a fishless cycle, or a fish-in cycle. If you don't cycle the tank your sweet Betta will have serious problem and suffer, or worse. Get some Tetras SafeStart or Dr. Tim's and add the appropriate amount. That will help with the cycle.

I will
Have to get back to you with the strip test results, I will have to order the other ones you stated. He has a live plant, and a fake plant that is made of some sort of fabric material and a soft hiding rock.

 

[BettaFishGirl]

I will
Have to get back to you with the strip test results, I will have to order the other ones you stated. He has a live plant, and a fake plant that is made of some sort of fabric material and a soft hiding rock.

How big is the tank? A picture would be helpful. Do you have a filter and heater?

 

[Colin_T]

Bettas don't normally get hole in the head disease, it's more of a cichlid health issue caused by dirty tanks. If your Betta is acting odd, test the water and do a big water change, gravel clean the substrate, and clean the filter.

 

[Mariac1990]

I temporarily have him in my sons old 1.5 gallon tank while his new 5 gallon tank gets here. But I see some brown spots on the front of his head and red spots on the top of his head. I don’t see him being able to get injured with anything.

 

[Mariac1990]

How big is the tank? A picture would be helpful. Do you have a filter and heater?

How big is the tank? A picture would be helpful. Do you have a filter and heater?

he is temporarily in a 1.5 while I get his 5 gallon situated. I should’ve waited but he was miserable looking at the store and I felt bad. He has a heater, he has a filter. He eats pretty good.

 

[Colin_T]

Hole in the head disease starts out with small white worm looking things sticking out of the fish's head. After a few days to a week, the white worm like things disappear and small holes are left in their place.

 

[Mariac1990]

Hole in the head disease starts out with small white worm looking things sticking out of the fish's head. After a few days to a week, the white worm like things disappear and small holes are left in their place.

This sounds terrible. I did not see white worm looking things in his head so now I’m wondering if it’s just the color changing. my son has a beautiful Betta and he is so active and playful but this guy just seems to get zoomies and then lays around, more zoomies, lays around.

 

[GaryE]

He's been in a cup for a while, and his muscle tone will be terrible. Cupped bettas start out out of shape, and with the drag of the big fins, they have problems til they work it out a bit. He goes to the surface to breathe, and probably sinks down because he's exhausted by it.

Imagine you have never exercised in your life, because you couldn't. You are suddenly dropped into 2 metres of water, and have to swim to breathe. Oh, and you are wearing a soaked wedding dress.

Yeah. They tone up and do better, if their basic health is good. It's a dangerous time for newly bought bettas.

The head is probably just pigment.

 

[Mariac1990]

He's been in a cup for a while, and his muscle tone will be terrible. Cupped bettas start out out of shape, and with the drag of the big fins, they have problems til they work it out a bit. He goes to the surface to breathe, and probably sinks down because he's exhausted by it.

Imagine you have never exercised in your life, because you couldn't. You are suddenly dropped into 2 metres of water, and have to swim to breathe. Oh, and you are wearing a soaked wedding dress.

Yeah. They tone up and do better, if their basic health is good. It's a dangerous time for newly bought bettas.

The head is probably just pigment.

Thanks I didn’t think of it like this. He seems overall healthy he’s always swimming around. I am just paranoid that something will happen to him.

 

[Back in the fold]

@GaryE I’ve been in my cups before .

 

[GaryE]

@GaryE I’ve been in my cups before .

That explains the photos with the soaked wedding dress and the snorkel.

 

[Colin_T]

it could also be getting old