Betta Turning Black; Red Streak

Hello! Wednesday, I began to care for a giant betta. Unfortunately, my friend had a family emergency (had to go across the country) and was unable to take this little guy with her, so I adopted him. He’s in a 14 gallon with no other tank mates. There are a few plants, and the tank is cycled.

A few times I’ve seen him sitting on the bottom (right side up), but he’s been responsive and coming up and begging when I walk by, so I haven’t been too concerned.

Gradually, though, he’s been turning black around the face and gill area. It was especially noticeable this morning.

Also, when he first came to me, he got stuck to the filter. I unplugged it, and he swam away unscathed. He hasn’t been near it since, until just now.

A few minutes ago, I walk by the tank and see him either stuck too or right next to the filter. A moment later, he starts swimming towards me. He seems to be swimming, for lack of a better word, shakily (he’s been doing this on and off since I’ve had him). Then I noticed he had a red streak on his side (seen best in second pic).

So my question is: what’s going on, and should I be concerned? Is the black just a color change, or a disease (does not have velvet or ich)? And what caused the red streak? Could he have ran into some driftwood, or could the filter be to blame?

I don’t know it he was actually stuck to the filter earlier, but if he was, the red mark doesn’t seem to be anywhere close to the right angle, although maybe I’m missing something.

The red streak isn’t bloody, and the scales on/above it seem normal.

As far as the pics go, all of the black/darkness you see is new.

Thanks for taking the time to read this!

Edit: I added more details.

 

So what color was the betta originally? I might have an idea about what it is.

 

Very pretty fish!,
Bettas do change colors, that is likly what the black you described is. fish can get stuck and injured on sharp spiky things. I would remove any sharp spiky things. Keep the cleanest possible water, "should be easy in that big tank!" You could add a one time dose of aquarium sal if it gets worse.

You could switch to a sponge filter and never worry about him getting stuck again.

Make sure he is getting protein rich foods like bug bits, new life spectra ther Plus a , and Dafnia.

 

Thanks for the replies! As far as original color goes, he’s the same color as when I got him, but it seems more like black is appearing over his existing color.

As for the “streak”, I think it may be some new color. It’s possible he hit some driftwood or something, but the scales appear fine, and there are no signs of trauma. I’ll give an update tomorrow.

By the way, his names King Candy (he’s a candy giant)(Wreck-it-Ralph reference).

 

Oh ok nvm that clears some things up.
Oh and I just wanted to say that is such a cute name for a Betta!

 

How old is the betta? they can change colors as they mature. Sometimes more than once. and buy change color, I mean a lot of things. Can just be a shade, or go from blue and red to all one of those colors or just have a new color show up on a certain part of the body.

I also have heard that their coloration darkens when they become more comfortable. So if his face was greyish or just not as black, could be that he's settling in.

 

How old is the betta? they can change colors as they mature. Sometimes more than once. and buy change color, I mean a lot of things. Can just be a shade, or go from blue and red to all one of those colors or just have a new color show up on a certain part of the body.

I also have heard that their coloration darkens when they become more comfortable. So if his face was greyish or just not as black, could be that he's settling in.

The betta is about two years old. I think he’s just settling in, as he took a 5 hour car ride, followed by getting a new tank.

 

King Candy is a little darker today, but that’s just the color change.

The red streak has stayed the same, but as of now, I’m sure it’s just a color change.

Thanks for all the help!

Oh and I just wanted to say that is such a cute name for a Betta!

Thanks!