could my betta have internal parasites and velvet? how to treat?

Question
hi there, i got a betta at a friend's wedding almost 3 weeks ago. brought him home, set him up in a 3 gal eclipse tank. i do partial water changes twice a week and treat the water with novaqua+ and amquel+ as well as aquarium salt. i noticed my fish started acting strangely about a week after i got him, he was darting around in the tank and running up and even into the wall at times. i thought maybe he was just hyper and checking out his reflection, but i was still concerned and kept an eye on him. then one of the days i shone a flashlight on him and saw gold patches covering the bottom parts of his face and gills, so i suspected velvet. i took the carbon out of my filter, bought a tank heater and set it at 84 degrees, covered my tank with a towel and am treating him with maracide. i also stopped adding amquel+ to my water for the water change as i believe it may cancel out the effects of malachite green. i am following the directions on the label and it says to only treat on days 1, 3, and 5..but it is day 6 and though he seemed to be calmer, it seems like he is darting again. i am planning to switch over to rid ich, which says i can do daily water changes and treat until it is gone.

yesterday morning i noticed my betta was bloated and had a white thing protruding from his anus. i came home later that night and found him to be less bloated, but the white thing is still there. i am not sure if it was the first time it appeared because it seems kind of hidden behind his two front fins. i am worried that this could be a worm? i don't really know his pooping situation as i have never seen him poop but i am thinking about taking the marbles on the bottom of the tank out so that i can monitor his regularity.

thanks,
Anna

Answer
Hi Anna,
 It sounds like he has some sort of intestinal parasite problem.  Do not use Rid-Ich except on ich.  

 You might try feeding him thawed frozen peas.  This can help clear out the digestive tract.

-- Ron
  rcoleman@cichlidresearch.com
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