What’s wrong with my bettas mouth and gill?

HI everyone. Got my newest betta into my planted 10g. He is the sweetest giant, doesn’t bother the shrimp at all an is very timid/sweet. I have noticed he has this weird thing between his mouth and face, almost like a thing piece of skin connecting them. Idk if this is normal because I have never seen it, but this is also the biggest betta I have had so maybe it just looks more prominent? Also the right side of his gill does not flare. I tried to look in it and it looks like it isn’t even there or is folded and tucked up in his gill. This makes me think it was an injury or happened because of bad water before I got him? Thanks.

 

If the connecting piece you mean is the area between his upper lip and his head then that's normal I think. I see what you mean about his lips being sort of prominent compared to other fish and I agree, but I see similar on my own betta so I don't think it's anything bad. As for the gill it may be from poor water early on, I saw a different thread with someone responding that it could be related to ammonia burn or bad water when he was in the store. Try to keep the water quality stable and within healthy parameters. How long have you had him?

 

If the connecting piece you mean is the area between his upper lip and his head then that's normal I think. I see what you mean about his lips being sort of prominent compared to other fish and I agree, but I see similar on my own betta so I don't think it's anything bad. As for the gill it may be from poor water early on, I saw a different thread with someone responding that it could be related to ammonia burn or bad water when he was in the store. Try to keep the water quality stable and within healthy parameters. How long have you had him?

Thanks for the response. His mouth area is really weird looking so I am just unsure about it. My other bettas have that little connecting bit too, but this guys is so obvious that it kinda freaked me out. I got him december 12. He was severely bloated, had swim bladder issues, and I believe he was exhibiting early signs of dropsy. The store had also been getting a lot of bettas in that shortly died of dropsy. So I know for a fact he was in bad water, he is also so big he could barely turn around in the betta cup. Went into a hospital tank and was treated for all those problems. Got moved into the 10 gallon on the 26th.

 

HI everyone. Got my newest betta into my planted 10 gallon. He is the sweetest giant, doesn’t bother the shrimp at all an is very timid/sweet. I have noticed he has this weird thing between his mouth and face, almost like a thing piece of skin connecting them. Idk if this is normal because I have never seen it, but this is also the biggest betta I have had so maybe it just looks more prominent? Also the right side of his gill does not flare. I tried to look in it and it looks like it isn’t even there or is folded and tucked up in his gill. This makes me think it was an injury or happened because of bad water before I got him? Thanks. View attachment 647458View attachment 647459

Honestly the weird connection piece on his face looks okay, it looks like it's either from a previous injury or he was just both with it. The gill thing is probably from previous ammonia burns, since that affects the gills the most. By the way, he is absolutely beautiful!!

 

Honestly the weird connection piece on his face looks okay, it looks like it's either from a previous injury or he was just both with it. The gill thing is probably from previous ammonia burns, since that affects the gills the most. By the way, he is absolutely beautiful!!

I almost thought that maybe he had been in a fight previously? Maybe ripped that part of his mouth and it healed weird and ripped part of his gill out? Who knows with how bettas are treated behind the scenes. Appreciate the info/opinion! Thank you, he was such a steal! His purple/blue iridescent scales are becoming more prominent and spreading over the paler part of his body. He also has the sweetest personality of all my boys

 

I almost thought that maybe he had been in a fight previously? Maybe ripped that part of his mouth and it healed weird and ripped part of his gill out? Who knows with how bettas are treated behind the scenes. Appreciate the info/opinion! Thank you, he was such a steal! His purple/blue iridescent scales are becoming more prominent and spreading over the paler part of his body. He also has the sweetest personality of all my boys

He sounds absolutely lovely, I hope you'll have a long good time with him

 

He sounds absolutely lovely, I hope you'll have a long good time with him

Thank you!