Betta Fish: Is this fin rot or just damage? First-time betta owner unsure

Hi everyone,

I posted a few weeks ago about my betta and was told it looked like very mild fin rot. I treated him with eSHA2000 and everything seemed to go back to normal.

Recently, I moved him to a larger tank with more plants. At first glance there are no sharp or dangerous objects, but for the past couple of days I’ve been worried that his tail fin is starting to look off again.

His water parameters are good, he has catappa leaves, and he’s alone in a 30L (8 gallon) tank.

Since he’s my first betta, I’m really struggling to tell the difference between mechanical damage, fin rot, or something else.

He is active, alert, and eating well, but his tail looks a bit frayed and I’d really appreciate a second opinion to confirm if everything is okay.

I currently have Dajana Betta Salt Balsam, aquarium salt, Sera malachite green, and eSHA2000 available in case treatment is needed.

Thanks again!

Just to clarify: the marks on his head are not hole-in-the-head. I panicked at first 😅 but checked very closely under direct light and it’s just the shadowing from the natural coloration of his scales.