Is my Betta fish sick?

[Laylamariem]

I just recently got my betta and I noticed it looks like some of his scales are turning blackish. He didn’t have any when I got him. Could this be some kind of sickness or is this normal? He acts like he’s okay, he is always hungry and swimming around, every time I walk by he rushes to the front of the tank and swims around excited. So he seems okay. But I’ve never had a fish before so I just want to make sure he doesn't have some sort of disease or fungal infection. I attached some photos of when I got him and now.

 

[bettafairy]

What are your water parameters and tank size?
Seems to me like he is just changing his color!! Some bettas have a gene that cause their scales to change color over time, usually in a marble pattern. When I first got my betta Iris, he was pure white. Now he is half blue, with dark scales in a pattern similar to the ones your betta has. His fins look extremely healthy, and if he is still active and eating I wouldn’t worry too much. If anything is wrong, he is just changing his color due to stress. If you want to, you could get some almond leaves or cones to release some tannins to ease his stress levels if you deem necessary.

 

[NotSoAggressiveAquatics]

What’s your tank size and water parameters? I don’t see any clear signs of disease although he does look a bit bloated

 

[flopperfrog]

if your water parameters are good and he’s happy, honestly i think you don’t have anything to worry about. lots of bettas color changes, i’m pretty it’s just something that some bettas have and some bettas don’t. he also might be stressed from moving and that’s why his colors are changing- but again if he doesn’t seem stressed i wouldn’t worry too much just keep and eye on em

 

[Laylamariem]

Thank you for all the replies and thoughts! I have a 5.5 gallon tank all the water parameters are good, tho the PH is around 8.0 which I read can be too high so I've been putting in almond leaves and I have some drift wood in there to see if that can help with it

 

[bettafairy]

Thank you for all the replies and thoughts! I have a 5.5 gallon tank all the water parameters are good, tho the PH is around 8.0 which I read can be too high so I've been putting in almond leaves and I have some drift wood in there to see if that can help with it

What test kit do you use? Does it also read nitrates and nitrites?