Betta scratching against aquarium decoration

So I got my betta last week in a properly cycled tank and he has been great since then. He is active and eating well. But today morning I saw him scratching against aquarium decorations. I know this is a sign of ich parasite, but I don't see any white spots on him. Also, his fins are a little ragged and torn so I have done partial daily water changes but it doesn't seem to help. What is it then? And why is he scratching? I really want to help him!! Any suggestions would be great!! Thanks

 

fish can be irritated by metals like iron, copper in the water. or it could be other parasites like flukes. Have you tested the water? Raised levels in anything?

 

It will take a while to see the effects of water changes on fin growth. But it is helping! You will start to see the new tissue growth. One of my betta's had a really long tear on his dorsal fin when I got him, it was completely split almost down to his body. I got one of the magnifying apps for my phone, and I was able to check the new tissue growth that way until I could actually see that he was mending.

As far as the scratching, look for loss of appetite and lethargy. The scratching can be ich or flukes. If you are not seeing the dusting of white spots you may eventually.
If it's ich, you'll be salting the tank.

 

Testing the parameters would be a good idea just to confirm nothing has gone haywire.

I agree with iamgoldfish that it could be an irritant or parasites. I'm leaning more towards the latter though. You may want to look into perhaps trying API general cure if its available to you.

In my experience I find aquarium salt more effective when used in baths and I like that I don't have to worry about overdosing it. I have also read a few accounts on people reporting it doing more harm than good which may have set off my paranoia. I'm not saying don't do it though, just suggesting you do a bit of research and decide from there.

If it is ich you can actually deal with it with just using an adjustable heater if you have one. There is a tutorial in the disease section of the freshwater forum.

 

Testing the parameters would be a good idea just to confirm nothing has gone haywire.

I agree with iamgoldfish that it could be an irritant or parasites. I'm leaning more towards the latter though. You may want to look into perhaps trying API general cure if its available to you.

In my experience I find aquarium salt more effective when used in baths and I like that I don't have to worry about overdosing it. I have also read a few accounts on people reporting it doing more harm than good which may have set off my paranoia. I'm not saying don't do it though, just suggesting you do a bit of research and decide from there.

If it is ich you can actually deal with it with just using an adjustable heater if you have one. There is a tutorial in the disease section of the freshwater forum.

I think what I found that was so interesting about the salt, is that IF fish medications were ever banned because of human consumption that salt will be one of the only few medications that we have to combat illness in our fish. That's why I mentioned the video about salt, it gives a lot to think about. But you do really need to know ahead of time, just how much salt your fish can tolerate and that's by plain old research.

When I come across something in my research on the fish I keep, I started a spreadsheet so that I could look back and see things that I had come across. Medications/treatment that work for them, as well as diseases and signs that I know I should be looking for. I think this hobby is all about learning and learning something new every day, and going through the experiences. This is why I love this forum and the people on it, it's so great to see other's perspectives because it causes me to go back and look at my own research with a closer eye.