Got Betta only 4 days ago and need help!

Hi! We recently brought home a new betta this past Monday. He is in a cycled 5 gal tank, no other tank mates. Live plants. Parameters this morning are pH 7.4, amm 0, nitrite 0, nitrate 5.0 temp 79°. Over night he developed this white patch behind his eye, looks almost like when a snake sheds it's skin. He's acting normal, very curious, swimming, exploring. Great appetite. I have tannis in the tank. I turned off the lights, turned off the air stone, and will continue to watch. Anything else I should do? Seachem Stressguard? My kids will be so upset if we loose him.
Some of the photos have a glare.. those are the best I could do.

 

It looks like he might have scaped some scales off. It could be from the rock caves or other potentially sharp decor. I would suggest replacing the caves. I had a similar pair of caves and my betta also managed to scrape some scales off his body. I quickly learned how to "betta proof" a tank after that lol.

I suggest keeping the water extra clean via 30% WCs every 2-3 days which will help him heal and prevent infection.

edit: is the white patch fuzzy at all?

 

Hi! Thanks for your response. It is not fuzzy and he has it on both sides by his gills. If it's injury do I just treat it with IAL and water changes? Thank you!

 

It looks like an injury. Take out the decorations and get panty hose. Put panty hose over your hand and rub inside and all around the decor. If it snags the panty hose it can hurt your betta.

It will heal in time just keep the water conditions pristine. I love to do extra water changes for my injured fish. The extra water changes (water only not gravel vac) encourage healing.

 

The fact that he has it on both sides is a bit odd and makes me rethink the injury hypothesis although clean water could never hurt. Usually scrapped off scales will show pink flesh where the scales are missing.

I'm wondering if it is the beginning of a color change? Or columnaris?

 

Meet Milo!
I adopted him around 6 months ago. When I first got him he was all blue with the white trim, then one week later some of his scales turned red. I really think that is what is going on with your Betta.