Silly Betta Scratched His Head On Something?

TaylorP
  • #1
Good evening fishlore friends!
When I came back to my room yesterday, as always, I check in my fish and make sure everyone is alive and well, but I couldn' find my betta, Phrog (Frog). I started to panic because he usually greets me and it was dinner time (I swear they can tell time ).

After a few minutes of searching, I found him on the bottom of the tank wedged between the glass and a rock hideaway( seen below).
I moved the hideaway over so it wasn't against the glass, as it must have got displaced when I did a water change a few days ago.

BUT ANYWAYS my poor little boy seemed to scratch his head peraphs on I'm assuming the rocks?

I'm following the standard protocol of 50% water changes daily dosed with 2-3x stress coat+ and keeping a close eye on him. He seems to be swimming fine and his appetite hasn't changed at all. I currently still have him in the 10 gallon community with 4 neon tetras(2 passed away and I plan to let the others live out their life) and 2 nerite snails. I do have a 3.5 cycled/heated/filtered spare tank if you guys feel I should quarantine him.
Water parameters are:
Ph: 6.4 (usually it is 6.8 or so, but I added fresh IAL the other day )
Ph from tap: 6.8
Ammonia: 0
Nitrites: 0
Nitrates: 0-5ppm
Temp: 78-80(turned up to 80 while he is healing)
Heated/filtered/cycled 10 gallon long
Lightly planted with live plants with large silk plants in background while I'm waiting for the live plants to grow up
Sand substrate

I just wanted to ask if it looks like my poor boy scratched his head on something, Or if it could be something more serious.
 

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cak122
  • #2
HI Taylor,

Looks like it might be abrasions. I know you'll be watching him closely for the next few days after his escapade. Others may differ in their opinions about moving him to quarantine - I'd do what you are doing and simply watch him for now to keep additional stress down. If the rock is abrasive then it was likely that and him wiggling around trying to free himself.
Outside of stress coat, I don't know if there are other things that have worked for people.
He is a handsome one, poor little dude getting stuck.
Keep us updated on how his recovery goes.

forgot to mention - most on my betta's eventually get or have a pale patch on the top of their heads depending on their color.
 

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TaylorP
  • Thread Starter
  • #3
Not much of an update, he is still his crazy self. Will be doing a 3rd 50% water change tonight.
Quick question though.... I want to do a deep clean (scrub everything, rinse off decor, etc) soon, should I wait till he has healed fully or would this bother him at all?

Pictures for your viwing pleasure and recovery tracking attached!
 

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Fashooga
  • #4
You should wait for him to be completely healed until you decide to do a deep clean. I would focus on making sure the water is clean so he can heal.
 
TaylorP
  • Thread Starter
  • #5
Update on his progress.
I finally see some growth I think. He looks much better today.
 

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TaylorP
  • Thread Starter
  • #6
Day 5 I think?

He is healing up very nicely!

Also found this little treat at the dollar store the other day and he loves it. He keeps going in and out and around. Even the neons are curious about it.
 

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