[VeryFern]

Yesterday I moved my fish from a 1 gallon to a 5 gallon. As I took him out of the smaller tank, I noticed that around his gills his scales had turned white or silver. I thought it was a stress stripe but now I looked up how those look and I don't think it's that.

Housing
How many gallons is your tank? 5 US Gallons
Does it have a filter? Yes
Does it have a heater? No; live in tropical climate
What temperature is your tank? 78 Degrees Fahrenheight
Does your tank have an air stone or other type of aeration? No
Does your Betta have tank mates? What kind?None

Food
What food brand do you use?Omega One Betta Buffet, Omega One freezedried blood worms once a week
Do you feed flakes or pellets? Pellets
Freeze-dried? Once a week
How often do you feed your Betta? How much?Once a day 3-5 pellets or 3 bloodworms

Maintenance
Before your Betta became ill how often did you perform a water change?He was in a 1 gallon, so three times a week
What percentage of water did you change? 25% twice a week 90% once a week
Do you vacuum the substrate or just dip out water? Dip (purchased a turkey baster to use as a vac yesterday
What additives do you use? Aqueon Water Conditioner, Added SafeStart concentrated bacteria to new tank

Water Parameters
What are your water parameters? Please give exact numbers. If tested by pet store please get exact numbers. "Fine" or "Safe" won't help us help you.

Ammonia: .25ppm, new tank, was told to expect it not to be zero?
Nitrite: The test i could afford only tells ammonia levels
Nitrate:""
pH: ""
Hardness (GH):""
Alkalinity (KH):""

Symptoms and Treatment
When did you first notice the symptoms? When I scooped him out of the 1 gallon to acclimate him to the 5 gallon, yesterday
How has your Betta’s appearance changed? White, silvery scales around gills and on chin
How has your Betta’s behavior changed?He actually is less stressed, not glass surfing as much as before,but still very active with relaxed body posture(not clamped or flaring). I think this is due to the larger tank
Is your Betta still eating?Yes
Have you started treating your Betta? If so, how? I have not
Does your Betta have any history of being ill?Do not know- received him only 2 weeks ago
How long have you owned your Betta? Was he or she a rescue? Two weeks, yes

The pictures are blurry because he started glass surfing as soon as I sat down to take pictures (his behavior is much more relaxed but he doesn't like to pose for the camera) the spot is definitely not fuzzy, I've been observing it.

 

[VeryFern]

(gently bumps)

 

[NickAu]

Ammonia: .25ppm, new tank, was told to expect it not to be zero?

Do a small water change about 25%, The only safe level for ammonia is 0.

 

[VeryFern]

Ok, I'm on it! any advice on the silver scales though?

 

[NickAu]

any advice on the silver scales though?

Without a clear photo no idea sorry. I would hate to guess and give the wrong diagnosis, The water change is a good start.

 

[VeryFern]

He seemed stressed that I woke him up, so I only did a 10%, but Ammonia is at 0ppm now

 

[Aquastar]

I can't see any silver/gray on him in that picture, could you try getting a clearer shot of him?

 

[VeryFern]

Tried to get clearer pictures, do these help?

 

[VeryFern]

Another photo-you can see the silver peeking out just under his gills. His behavior has only gotten happier, maybe it's just more developing coloration? also in some light it does not show at all? Am I crazy?

 

[Aquastar]

I doubt your crazy. For a clear photo we need a super bright, high resolution picture. If you can't provide it that's okay. It's probably normal as I see nothing wrong with him. Here are possibilities:

Parasites, I think you can figure that out yourself.

Beard, a thing (membrane?) under gill covers that looks like a disease. It not a disease though, most Bettas have it.

Colouring, one of mine had shiny silver scales by their chin. No clue what it is or anything, If anyone knows, please tell me. It hadnt hurt him and it has no visible side effects. Apart from some internal illness he was fine with it.

This was my VT Samaki a day before he passed, you can kind of see the silver. He had that since I got him into my house, he had something wrong with his immune system or something. Ignore the redness on his gills, that was only there before he died.