File :-(, x, )
Anonymous
/an/, i went to feed my betta fish today and noticed something wrong - the skin covering it's gill hole flaps forward like it's peeled off his face every now and again while it's swimming. there aren't any plants in the bowl so i don't know how on earth it could have injured it. is this normal or is something wrong? i'm worried about my fish. :(
>> Anonymous
If the scales are falling off, the fish is probably just shedding old scales to grow new ones.

If its not that, maybe it's an illness.
>> Anonymous
something's wrong. How big is the bowl?
I'm guessing it's probably the water, and you should do a water change.
>> Anonymous
>>145825
it's a decently sized bowl, not sure specifically how big though, since i recieved it for a present... i changed the water as soon as i noticed it earlier
>> Anonymous
Get a picture, if possible. It'll be easier to figure out what it is then. If you can't, I tend to just add melafix to the water when in doubt, though I don't know exactly how safe medication is in an unfiltered bowl.
>> Anonymous
     File :-(, x)
i can't get a good picture of it, so i tried to draw a picture to help... it's kind of crappy, so i dunno. basically it just like peels forward sometimes when he swims, like he has a scab that's coming off almost
>> Anonymous
>>145838
Are you sure he's not just flaring his gills?
>> Anonymous
>>145841
it's just one, though, that's what has me worried... can they do just one at a time?
>> Anonymous
>>145842
Not that I've ever noticed. Is he still eating and active?
>> Anonymous
Yes, this is normal, he's probably flaring at his reflection or something like that. They do that.
>> Anonymous
>>145843
he's still swimming around a lot and he responds to me when i come up to the bowl, so he seems okay. it just worries me because it looks like the scales are almost peeling off... maybe he's just weird?
>> Anonymous
>>145844
phew! i'm glad nothing's wrong with him. :) i've never owned a betta fish before so i'm not used to this sort of thing... thanks so much for your help everyone!
>> Anonymous
>>145849
I used to have a betta once...He would attack my fingertip when I dipped it in his bowl. It tickled! ^_^ Bettas do have teeth, but they're microscopic.

(It had about the same effect on my finger as a human trying to bite a chunk out of a football...In essence, none)