Betta scales fall off?

[jeremywadejunior]

Hi all, I was wondering for those of you who know, do betta's scales fall off occasionally and what might cause it? Thanks!

[KevinPham123]

I've personally never seen it happen LOL but I have a feeling if the betta ever gets a bad external infection, the scales may come off. Also bettas don't shed their scales... I think.

[lvandert]

Numerous reasons. If it looks all discolored and icky then its a form of rot but if they run into something hard enough scales will fall off. They also just loose the random scale here and there, its like us shedding our hair.

[jeremywadejunior]

Originally Posted by lvandert

Numerous reasons. If it looks all discolored and icky then its a form of rot but if they run into something hard enough scales will fall off. They also just loose the random scale here and there, its like us shedding our hair.

Okay, thanks! My guy has one or two that I've noticed are now missing around his face. But he's acting fine and he looks healthy so maybe he just shed them?

[lvandert]

yeah he could have shed them, hit something too hard, or just plain got his head stuck somewhere he wasn't supposed to lol

[jeremywadejunior]

Originally Posted by lvandert

yeah he could have shed them, hit something too hard, or just plain got his head stuck somewhere he wasn't supposed to lol

He is rather spastic so...! haha
Do scales grow back?

[lvandert]

Yup they do. lol from the sounds of it he just ran into something hard. silly fish

[LebronTheBetta]

Scales do grow back. I think it takes a while, though.