Sick or healthy betta?

Question
QUESTION: Hi there Lynda.

I'm a first time betta owner.I have a crowntail betta named Artemis, but I'm worried that he might be ill. I keep him in a glass 2.5 gallon bowl which is kept at room temperature and rarely goes below 76'F. I'm not sure what my water specs are as I haven't had them tested recently. There is a wide plastic plant, and a live plant in his bowl.

I do water changes twice a week, feed him frozen blood worms in 2 small meals ( 3 worms each ) in the morning, and before bed.

I noticed this odd silver-green metallic stuff ( scales? ) along his gills and head, and also that his gills are black and always part-way open.

Are his gills supposed to be that way?

Then I took a closer look I noticed his fins looked like they were ragged as well. Are they supposed to be that thin in color near the base/in between the bones? You can almost see through them!  Could he have fin rot? and could he possibly have ich or velvet too?

He doesn't linger in any particular place in his bowl so he's active, but he isn't always flaring either - he often swims around with clamped fins. He eats normally and never spits up his food, never has a swollen tummy for very long after he eats, and his eyes are fine.

So my question is this:

Does my Betta look alright to you :(? I'm worried about the metallic scales around his head and his fins. I have pictures below.

Thanks for your help!!

Artemis - Left Side View
http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h194/Midnight__Rose/DSC07503.jpg

Artemis - Right Side View
http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h194/Midnight__Rose/DSC07508.jpg

Artemis - Closeup of Gills (Left)
http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h194/Midnight__Rose/Betta_fin_shine.jpg

Artemis - Closeup of Gills (Right)
http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h194/Midnight__Rose/Betta_shine.jpg

Artemis - Closeup of Tail Fin
http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h194/Midnight__Rose/Betta_fin_rot.jpg

Artemis - Closeup of Dorsal Fin
http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h194/Midnight__Rose/betta_thin_fin.jpg

ANSWER: Hi Tamara,
I cannot see the pictures unfortunately.  I wish I could, as this would be the only way I could help you.  I can tell you that when a fish has clamped fins, it indicates parasites.  If you look closely at your betta at night, using a flashlight, you might see something that looks like yellowish golden powder, this would indicate Velvet.  However, I must be sure of this, before I can tell you what to do.  Split fins indicate fungus...but this too I must be sure.  If you could send back the pictures, it would be a big help.  Maybe you will have to send them to me one by one depending how the system works.
Bettas should be kept in 80-82 degree water, and their water should never fluctuate.  They need a heater (Thermostat) When bringing up the temperature for Bettas, this must be done very slowly.  One degree every two days, as bringing up the temperature too quickly would be deadly.  Under 80 degree water, the betta is cold.  He is a tropical fish, and lives in warm waters.  He should also have a varied diet.  Here is a list of food that a betta should have:
Betta Pellets  ( These are very important as they have many vitamins that fish need)
Betta Flakes
Plankton Flakes
Daphnia ( This is very important because it helps the betta with his digestive system)
Bloodworms  ( only as a treat, now, and then)
Glassworms
Mealworms
Frozen Brine Shrimp
One cooked pea a week with the outer layer removed, and cut into tiny pieces.  Feed the pieces to your Betta one at a time, making sure he eats them, and that they do not fall to the bottom of the tank.  This is so he can clean out his system, and avoid Swim Bladder Disease to which the betta is prone.  On the day you choose to feed him the pea, feed him nothing else.
Betta must not be starved, but must have small meals.  You may feed him 2-3 times a day in small amounts.  2 pellets, or 2 flakes for one meal.  Small meals, and never big meals.  His tummy is the size of his eye, and we must always remember this when feeding them.
Clean water, and good food, go a long way in preventing disease.
I hope you will be able to send me the pictures, so I will know for sure if something is wrong with him.
Lynda

P.S.  I finally got in to see the pictures.  He looks healthy to me.  His fins are normal for a crowntail betta, however if you ever see white edges, then it would indicate fungus.


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank you for answering so promptly. It puts me at peace of mind in knowing that nothing is wrong with him - from what others can see. So his gills are meant to be like that, those shiny spots are supposed to be there, and his fins are not too thin or curling?

I'll save the list of food you gave me - I'll be sure to buy some to give Artemis a bit more variety =)

ANSWER: Hi Tamara,
Clamped fins would indicate parasites.  I would like you to take a flashlight, and check him carefully.  If you see yellowish brownish spots, much like dusting powder, then this would indicat velvet. I could not see this in the pictures.  Ick, you would know, because his whole body would have white spots, much like salt.  Check this, and hopefully everything will be fine.  You can also look up pictures of Crown Bettas on the net.  You will see that they look much like yours.  Write back to me once you have checked him for velvet.
Lynda

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: i shined the flashlight on him and there's only shiny metallic spots around his gills/face - but they're not one colour, they're green, silver AND a rusty/copper colour. Could this still indicate a problem, or because he's red and blue, is this his natural colouring? Are betta scales SUPPOSED to be metallic like that when in light? it doesn't look like he's been dusted...theres just patches of metallic.

Answer
Hi Tamara,
I just wanted to make sure that he had no yellowish dusting powder on him.  Your betta is normal, and he is beautiful.  Yes, it is normal for some Bettas to have thick metallic scaling, some more thick than others.  They are called Dragon Bettas.  They are rare, and more expensive than other bettas.  No worries, he is healthy, and beautiful.  
Lynda