raised scales on bettas gills

Question
QUESTION: I have my betta in a 10 gallon filtered and heated aquarium. The temp is around 78 degrees. The tank has been set up for about 5 weeks, the water is slightly cloudy, very mild case. This cloudiness has lasted almost two weeks, and the gravel and ornaments were well rinsed when tank was set up. The betta, his name is Indi, seems to be fine. He is eating normal, 2 pellets in morning, 2 in evening, and i skip one feeding day a week. I do a 30 percent water change every two weeks, and use water conditioner. He is swimming around, making bubble nests, hes not gasping for air, but on just one side , over his gill his scales are raised, just in that one spot, and no he is not bloated, and the rest of his scales are not raised, just this one spot, on on side.

ANSWER: Hi Jacqueline,
Do not worry  about your tank being cloudy, this should go away in a week or two.  This is because your tank is cycling.  It is called Bacterial Bloom.  Do more water changes of 20% twice a week to help your water chemistry
Raised scales is never a good sign.  This is water under the skin.  If you added aquarium salt to your water, remove it by making a good water change.  It is very hard to say why this happens, what really causes this, as nobody as found the right answer to this.  He may be constipated, so feed him a cooked frozen pea with the outer layer removed, and cut into small pieces.  If he doesn't waste in a day,  I would treat him with "Kanamycin" which is a good antibiotic, but hard to find.  If you cannot find it, try Tetracycline, or Furan 2.  
Follow the direction on the package, be careful not to overdose.  This could be the beginning of dropsy...like I mentioned, raised scales need attention.  Bettas get sick very quickly.  They are fine one minute, and the next, they are very sick, it is better to prevent or catch this sickness in the bud.
I hope that Indi gets better, and that the raised scales will disappear.  Always feed him a cooked frozen pea on the day that he fasts, this helps him clean out his system.
I hope this helps.
Lynda

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

QUESTION: i know he is not constipated because he has been going to the bathroom (so to speak) regularly and he is not bloated. So what else could it be?

ANSWER: Hi!
The cause for Dropsy is not always constipation.  It can also be a Bacterial infection.  It can also be kidney problems.  Dropsy is very hard to diagnose.  We are sure it isn't constipation.  Check your water for ammonia.  Ammonia is the number one killer of fish.  You may have bad bacteria in your water.  If you find ammonia in your water, do a 50-60% water change, and keep changing the water until you are rid of it.  Bad Bacteria could be the cause.  Your water is cloudy, it is going through Bacterial Bloom, it is cycling, but you may also have bad bacteria in your water that is causing your Betta to have raised scales.  Make sure you have no ammonia in your water.
Hope this helps, and that the water changes will help Indi.  Let me know if you have ammonia in your water please.
Lynda

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

QUESTION: Okay, so i had the water tested today and there is no ammonia problem, although the ph is a little high, i did a 30 percent water change yesterday, and the water has been more clear since then. My fish still has that problem spot, but he has had it for three days now, and it has not spread anywhere else on his body, and he is acting normal and eating fine.

Answer
Hi Jacqueline,
The fact that your Betta is eating is a good sign.  A sick Betta will stop eating.  Keep an eye on him, and maybe this will go away on it's own.  If your water is more clear today, that means there was bad bacteria in your tank.  Do another water change tonight of 25% to get your water very clear.  
Wait and see what happens, and if this spot gets bigger.  I hope it goes away on it's own, but if it doesn't I would treat with a good antibiotic.  
I was thinking too, that it could be a tumor.  Tumors are often benign on fish, and they live long, and happy lives with them, nothing can be done to remove them.  If I could see a picture of your Betta, it would help.
You could also feed him medicated food.  It might help if he has a bacterial infection.
For the time being, do another water change.  I hope this will disappear.
Lynda