'Ulcer' On Betta's Head.

Hi, could anyone help me with what I can only describe as an ulcer on my little mate's head? I've attached photos and my fingers are crossed that they upload.

I've had Jezza for around 4 months now, no problems with him at all until a few days ago when he developed a really raw looking patch on the top of his head. My first thoughts were that he'd caught himself on something in the tank. It doesn't look quite so raw looking now but does seem bigger. In all other respects he seems very healthy, his colour is good, he's eating well, he's still very lively and inquisitive. He's had a ragged tail for a while now but no signs of rotting back at all. There are no other lesions on his body.

The nuts and bolts of his care are as follows: He lives in a filtered 38l/47cm Aqua Ecostyle tank. Ammonia is at 0, nitrites are also at 0. I haven't tested for nitrates but hope that as I am really religious about doing water changes and substrate cleaning twice a week, they shouldn't be a problem. He's fed a mixture of flake and frozen bloodworm/daphnia (he won't touch betta pellets!).  Previously there were platys in the tank which where removed when I got him. They left behind fry and 2 females have survived. The platys are showing no signs of disease and although they all seem to get on very well, it was my intention to rehome the platys. I've been treating his tank with Melafix for 3 days now but unfortunately I can't remove the carbon from the filter.

I'd be really grateful for any ideas of what this thing is on his head and also if there's anything else I can do. I have become very fond of the little fella and really don't want to lose him. 

My thanks.

Yes, there is a chance that he could burn himself although that hadn't occurred to me before now (thank you!). There is room for him to swim around it and he does tend to hang around there, sometimes squeezed between the heater and the side of the tank.

This kind of begs the question of how to shield him from the heater and also what I need to be doing to treat what might be a possible burn.

Brilliant, I'll invest in one of those straight away. He's sat up by the heater as I type!

As I've been treating the tank with Melafix anyway, would you advise I continue with it for the time being?

Ah okay, I didn't know that. I won't add any more Melafix!

The filter is one of these trickle filters in the hood. There are two cartridges in it, one side is ordinary sponge, the other is a carbon layer. In addition, I've added some ceramic beads and because the power head isn't adjustable I've also baffled the flow with bits of filter sponge in the intake and outflow. I did this because when I first brought him home he really struggled with the current. He has very heavy fins and being weak from being kept in a small cup in the shop, he was really getting dragged about poor lad.

Will do, and the heater guard is ordered! Fitting it should be entertaining as the heater slots through the hood and sits quite a distance from the sides of the tank.

Thanks all for putting my mind at rest a bit. I'll carry on and keep a close eye on him... which should be quite easy as he's not at all shy. 

I haven't had anything like that in all the bettas I've had over the years, so I am at a loss what to suggest.

I do know that marbles change patterning - my current betta was bought as a white and blue marble, but he only had white for a few weeks and he's been solid blue since then.

It shouldn't be velvet as that shows as a gold sheen rather than white.

From your photos it looks as though the scales are normal, just white; I think this rules out columnaris as I think the scales look as though there is something on them.

You say he is off his food a bit - have you been feeding just dried food? If you have, something like frozen bloodworm would be a treat for him - and if he is a bit picky with that, there is something not right.

Maybe it could be age, bettas dont live that long sadly, 2-3 years is the norm. That said for your sake I hope not, I've fallen in love with my little guy and will be very sad when he goes. Fingers crossed whatever it is will get better.

Thats why I made sure we picked one of the smallest in the shop, there were other prettier ones but some were almost twice Franks size

Do you mean you've never seen him doing a poo or that you've never noticed any on the bottom of the tank?

I have had bettas for over 10 years (not the same one!) and I have never seen any of them actually doing it, though I know they must have because of what is on the bottom of the tank - it is easy to see with sand.

But bettas are not long lived fish, I think mainly due to the inbreeding to get those colours and tails. My current betta, at 21 months since purchase, is the longest lived I've had. The previous bettas have ranged from 10 days to 14 months.

There are two ways to put a fish down. The easiest on the fish keeper is an overdose of anaesthetic eg clove oil. The other way is decapitation followed by pithing (ie destruction of the brain with a needle; this does mean knowing what you are doing)

Put the fish in a tub of tank water, enough to cover him. Put 20 to 25 drops clove oil in a screw top bottle or jar, add tapwater and shake. Then add to the tub with the fish. Wait a few hours before disposing of the body because if you remove the fish too soon, it might not be dead yet and come round.
Clove oil stinks. You won't be able to use the tub or bottle for anything else and be careful not to get it on your hands as it takes hours to get rid of.