Is Something Wrong With Him, Or Is It Natural?

[ICEEGRL]

I just couldn't resist this betta. I usually look at them at Wal-Mart and leave them there. It really makes me sad to see them treated like that.
This one stole my heart though. His water was really bad though and I didn't see this until he was home and in clean water.
I need to know if the black around his gills and a few places on his body are natural or if something is wrong.
I know he has a couple of sores on his head and upper body. It looks like holes in him. There isn't anything (that I can see) in the holes though.
I need to know if I should just treat for the sores or what ever the black is too.
Here are the 4 pics that I took last night when I got him in the clean water. (sorry... not the best pics I have ever taken.)
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I hope the pics are good enough for you to be able to see what I am talking about.
If I am to treat him to get him better... I need to know what it is I am treating.

Thanks for helping!

edit: I need to know if the black is something that could affect other fish. I am going to be treating in a 10g with another betta and a new (only about 1") pleco ( with dividers) This way I can treat them all at the same time... unless it is a problem.

He is eating well and very active so far, but I just got him so I really don't have much info to go on.

 

[Danno]

Looks like a healthy Betta. That is just his coloring.

 

[ICEEGRL]

Thank you.
I just took a few more shots that I hope are much better. I was just so afraid of something being wrong. It kind of looks like there is something in his gills. I freaked.

Thanks again for taking the time to help me.

 

[liz2]

He is beautiful. There are 2 beauties in a shop near to me. But, I couldn't make my mind up so I left them both! Apart from the fact I also need to buy a small filter for my goldfish!

 

[Amerce]

The black thing is just the frill males have under their gill plate, if you can get him to flare you will see it get raised, supposed to scare the other male and make them look big and strong. :shifty

Check out this website and you will see what I mean, scroll down to the section call The "Beard"

http/www.bettatalk.com/betta_anatomy.htm

Other than being skinny he is a lovely fish, really like his colours

 

[devon_charm]

He's lurvly, really love his colour. He looks fine to me, the darker colours in him are just part of his colouration.

Give him a nice meal of bloodworm or some thing to fill his lil belly as he is a little on the slim side.

Nice find and good on you for giving him a good home

 

[x_leanne_x]

yeah he's a very pretty and healthy looking betta!

 

[Bubblenester]

The black is just his coloring, and I often notice that my bettas have what look like little sores or holes on their head and back. I'm not sure WHY they have those, but they always live long, healthy lives... maybe they have them just to worry us.

He's a pretty boy! Now you just have to spoil him a little.

 

[Amunet]

Ditto what everyone else has said.
Lighter color ones, you'll usually notice most of them will have dark spot coloring on them.
My newest boy is very light but has a few black spots here and there.
It would be rare to find a pure (no black dots and such) lighter colored betta in a petstore. I'm sure one pops up every once in a while though

Your new lil guy is really gorgeous though! Great colors

 

[ICEEGRL]

I put a divider in a 10g for him and my other one... I finally saw him flare. It is really pretty. "Red" refuses to flare at him though. Red almost never flares at anything.

The new one doesn't have a name yet. My little girl named Red. She wants to give him a girl name because of his colors. I need to come up with a name soon or it will get stuck with Lilly or something. I just can't come up with anything that fits.

He is eating very well. It shouldn't be long until he is fattened up. I really don't think they feed them at the store. They were all thin. It is so sad. I am always so tempted to bring them all home just so they will get fed and a decent place to spread their fins. It is so hard to leave them there.

I have a ton of pics that I need to get off my camera. I hope a few of them come out decent. My camera is doing strange things lately. If there is one good enough... I'll post it.

Thanks Every one!