Help!! Does My Betta Have Ammonia Burns?

I’ve seen some conflicting information around about ammonia burns in Betta fish and now I’m not sure, and need a second opinion.

For some background info: He is kept in an approximately 3 gallon tank, along with a heater and working filter. I change about 20% of the water every week and also do water tests weekly, which indicate ammonia is “0-0.25ppm.”
He also only has silk plants. He is fed three pellets a couple of times a day and I make sure he eats all three each time so there is no leftover to decay.

He recently made a bubble nest which I originally assumed meant he was happy and healthy. However now I have heard some different information and would like a second opinion? I’ve attached a photo of him because I honestly cannot tell at this stage. He has two slightly red stripes on his gills, but he also just generally has red colouring? I don’t know if I’m just overreacting! Thanks in advance!! An urgent reply would be great, as I don’t want him suffering!

 

I’m actually also going to attach a photo of him on the very first day that I got him, in which he appears to have similar red “stripes” on his gills. Before he came home with me he was kept in a very small jar at a pet store.

 

Many bettas will have red stripes on their gills, it's a natural colouring. If he did have ammonia poisoning, he would be showing more behavioral symptoms.

 

Many bettas will have red stripes on their gills, it's a natural colouring. If he did have ammonia poisoning, he would be showing more behavioral symptoms.

Thanks for your response! Is it worth getting some sort of ammonia neutralizing liquid from the pet store to be safe? I believe an ammonia level of over 0 is considered toxic?

 

With long finned bettas, the first symptom of poor water quality is usually fin deterioration. Your lovely boy looks fine to me.

I would read up on the nitrogen cycle when you get the chance, though. If you're getting any ammonia readings when you test, your tank is likely not fully cycled. If you have access to it where you are, I'd get a bottle of Seachem Prime water conditioner. It'll help neutralize that trace of ammonia if you dose it once a day while you work on your cycle, and then is still a very good dechlorinator once you're done.