Phishies Inn

My betta has been looking pretty bad lately. For a long time he had this patch of lighter scales - not white, just lighter, and I assumed it was just part of his colors because he's a pet store "mutt" betta. But now the white scales are...missing. He has a huge chunk of his scales gone on his side - a red hole! If I didn't know better I'd say one of the other fish was hurting him, but my betta is king of the tank..the neon tetras are afraid of him, the zebra danio never pay any attention, and the cory catfish never leave the ground.

If I can get a good picture I will, I'm worried he's got maybe some kind of parasite? I looked up the disease page on fishlore and nothing seems to match.

I do 50% water changes every week because my tank is a bit overstocked...none of the other fish seem to be affected. The betta doesn't "flash" (rub against the tank or decorations) ever...I'm not sure what to do

COBettaCouple

It does sound like he's being picked on, or that he's had a fungus issue. Just guesses at this point, but you would want to find him liquid vitamins, a garlic supplement or a slime-coat enhancing product.

Phishies Inn

Hmm well, I've had this tank set up since Thanksgiving and his tankmates have never bothered him. They usually freak out and run away if he even hints at flaring. I'll watch them a bit more though.

I'll try the vitamins though. Does most pet stores carry them or they specialty kind of stuff?

COBettaCouple

Some stores will carry Vita-Chem or another liquid vitamin, but we usually have to order them online at thatpetplace.com, petmountain.com or drsfostersmith.com.