Betta Disease Identification      2/8/19
Hi there! I noticed you guys haven't posted an answered Betta question in a while, but I wanted to give it a shot anyway, as I'm at a loss with my current boy. I've done SO SO much independent research, but I'm coming up short.
<Let's see>
I have had this fish (Hans Gruber) for 5 weeks now, and he has what I initially suspected was a fungal infection covering half his head and his left gill/left pectoral fin.
<Does look like some sort of infectious agent at work here...>
I had my eye on him for a month at the pet store before I finally brought him home, and he has had this then entire time, so at least 2 months.
<Mmm; then, perhaps genetic/developmental. IF a pathogen at work, very likely this fish would have died long ago>
I brought him home hoping I'd be able to treat him and re-home him. (He is a Twin Tail Half-Moon, with a dulled red color for now)
He lives in a heated, filtered, and cycled 5.5 gallon temporary/hospital tank. I didn't cycle it traditionally, but instead added cycled bio-media from a previously established tank.
<I (too) prefer this method>
My tank water didn't contribute to the development of the disease, but in case the water stats may be affecting treatment, here they are:
-Ammonia:0
-Nitrites:0
-Nitrates: 5ppm
-pH: 7.6
-Temp: 80F, consistently
-Added Indian Almond Leaf, no carbon in the filter.
-No live plants while medicating.
Since initially believing I was dealing with a fungal infection, I gave Gruber medicated baths daily with a mixture of Methylene blue and aquarium salt, for 3 weeks. There has been no change at all, and the meth blue isn't dying the "fungus" blue at all, which leads me to believe it's not a fungus. It isn't fuzzy at all, but more of a "mushroom-y" growth.
<Mmm>
I moved on to try treating for a bacterial infection, knowing that was a long shot, but hoping maybe that was the nature of the illness. Two weeks in to that, and there isn't any improvement. In fact, it appears to be worsening. The bacterial treatment I'm using (Artemiss Microbe-Lift) treats several kinds of infections, so I had high hopes, but no luck.
Gruber's demeanor, thankfully, doesn't seem to be affected at all by his condition. He is extremely happy and active, eats like a little pig, and loves to play and get attention. His diet consists of Fluval Bug Bites
Betta formula, along with frozen bloodworms, mysis shrimp, and brine shrimp. He gets lots of variety, and eats twice daily. No bloating, or constipation.
At this point, my main concern is cancer ("cauliflower disease" is as close as I have come to a diagnosis). I know that's really common for Betta, and not treatable.
<Yes; and almost always lethal w/in a few weeks max.>
However, I haven't been able to find pictures that match exactly what I'm dealing with. It's not a huge obvious tumor (yet, anyway), but it isn't responding to fungal or bacterial treatments, so I wanted to
get a more professional opinion. The attached photos are chronological, taken weekly with the last one being the most recent.
Thanks for taking the time to review this, sorry it's so long! Any input is appreciated!
-Katelyn
<Well; other than you, or having someone else make a sample, look under a powerful-enough microscope... possibly culture, stain for a causative agent, I'd not treat this fish further. I suspect the issue here is not-treatable, nor (very) deleterious. Thank you for sharing. Bob Fenner>

Re: Betta Disease Identification      2/8/19
I was afraid of that. Thank you so much for the quick response! I really appreciate it!
<Likely all will be well Katelyn. Anima bona fac; be of good life. BobF.>

Betta Bloating/Tumor?    1/15/19
Dear Wet Web Media,
<... 12 Megs....>
I have a Betta named Dublin who is almost two years old. He is set up in a 10 gallon tank with heater, filter and an uv light. His
temperature is set at 80 degrees. All water parameters are normal. I feed him pellets regularly, along with frozen blood worms
<I'd cut these. Search, read on WWM re>
and brine shrimp occasionally. He still eats well. Lately, I have been giving him a cooked pea because his stomach is swollen. His scales on one side seem slightly raised in the area of the swelling. Recently I tried treating him with Betta Revive for seven days. I have also given him an Epsom salt bath. Please see my attached pictures. Please note his stomach is swollen and at the bottom of his stomach it seems to be silver - grayish in color. I also noticed that he swims away a lot, he used to be very nosey. Can you please give advice to what I should do for him? Thanks, Jean
<Yes: Read here: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/fwsubwebindex/BetDisViralF.htm
and the linked files above. Bob Fenner>

Unknown Betta Issue      11/21/18
Hello,
My Betta fish has become increasingly sick throughout the past couple of months. I have tried a new filter, bottled spring water,
<Mmm; need to know about this... pH, hardness especially. You may be missing useful mineral content here>
stress coat, salt treatments, frequent water changes, Kanaplex and fungus clear, cleaning the entire tank and turning the heat up. Nothing I have tried seems to help, he continues to get worse. He still eats,
<What? Have you read on WWM re Betta health? Care?>
swims around and flares. He does not seem to be impacted by this much.
I have attached photos below from when it began until now.
Thank you in advance for any suggestions you have as to how to treat this or what it might be.
<... Please respond to my concerns above. Bob Fenner>

Last Hope for my Betta     11/21/18
Hi,
<Danielle>
I have a 2 year old Male Betta living in a 5 gallon planted, heated tank with a sponge filter. I am guilty of falling behind on cleaning the substrate and I think that might be to blame for his current condition.
<Oh? Do you use nitrate concentration as a guideline here?>
About 2 weeks ago I noticed he was unable to "catch" his food(pellets). He would keep trying and missing. I foolishly ignored this.
For the last 3-4 days he has been laying on his side at the bottom of the tank. Yesterday I moved him into a shallow "hospital" tank. I thought it was just his time to go at first, but his condition has lingered too long for it to be a natural death (I believe). He has no signs or symptoms other than previously mentioned.
Is there anything I can do for him?
<Yes! Check your water quality; switch out a good deal (like half) of the system water for new (best from another established aquarium); and add in a bit of frozen/defrosted food to the fish's diet>
If not what is the best way to euthanize him?
<Mmm; I am hesitant to suggest this at this juncture. I'd hold off. This fish may well rally... return to robust health. IF you feel otherwise, please read Neale's piece on the topic:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/euthanasia.htm>
I can't let him suffer like this much longer. Thank you for your time and consideration.
Danielle
<Cheers, Bob Fenner>

Re: Fwd: Last Hope for my Betta     11/21/18
Hi,
<Little Dani>
Thank you for the fast reply! I gave up my tanks and all of my water testing supplies a while back. I adopted this Betta from a poor situation after the fact. Yes, I feel confident that nitrates are to blame for the issue. I am keeping the water in the hospital tank "safe" by using Seachem's Prime. I did acclimate him very slowly when switching over. I've rehabilitated fish in the past this way successfully.
<I see>
If he pulls through, I will absolutely make the diet changes you suggested.
As for right now, he is showing no interest in food whatsoever.
<Too likely there are "cycling issues" w/ the current situation. Just adding Prime won't do... I'd place this fish back in its water changed system w/ the filter, substrate...>
Is it safe to assume that the best course of action is to keep him in the shallow tank, continue daily water changes and hope for the best?
<No; see above>
He has been without food for at least 4 days, but probably longer since he was having trouble catching his food before turning lethargic. My fear however is that he is slowly and painfully starving to death :'(
Thank you again,
Danielle
<Welcome. BobF>
Re: Last Hope for my Betta     11/21/18
Will get on that right away. I just got home and noticed that he is looking a little "bloated" now. Is this a clue to a different issue?
<Likely all related to environmental stress. IF biological, secondary in origin. Bob Fenner>

LAST Hope for my Betta     /Neale's go       11/23/18
Hi,
<Danielle, apologies for delay responding.>
I have a 2 year old Male Betta living in a 5 gallon planted, heated tank with a sponge filter. I am guilty of falling behind on cleaning the substrate and I think that might be to blame for his current condition.
<Understood.>
About 2 weeks ago I noticed he was unable to "catch" his food(pellets). He would keep trying and missing. I foolishly ignored this. For the last 3-4 days he has been laying on his side at the bottom of the tank. Yesterday I moved him into a shallow "hospital" tank. I thought it was just his time to go at first, but his condition has lingered too long for it to be a natural death(I believe). He has no signs or symptoms other than previously mentioned.
Is there anything I can do for him?
<Likely not. Two years isn't a bad innings for a Betta. Anything between 2-3 years is far better than most experience in captivity. So don't be too hard on yourself.>
If not what is the best way to euthanize him?
<Personally, I prefer the "30 drops clove oil in 1 litre of aquarium water" approach. Evidently painless; fish relaxes in seconds, stops breathing within a couple minutes, and certainly dead within half an hour. Do read here:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/euthanasia.htm
Do note that some traditional methods (like ice) are not considered humane by vets.>
I can't let him suffer like this much longer. Thank you for your time and consideration.
Danielle
<Hope this helps. Neale.>

Betta Question; attachment        11/1/18
Hi there. I have a few questions about my Betta fish, which reference the attached picture.
Should I be concerned about
1. the fish's pale color,
2. the clumping at the end of the fins, or
3. the prominent bump near the end of the torso?
<Only the last semi-concerns me>
This fish was dumped off with me about 4 months ago. For about a year+ before then he was kept in a very small, unfiltered fish bowl.
<Ugh!>
He's been moved into a 10 gallon, filtered, and heated tank that's changed about 20% every week. He's become a lot more active and eats regularly. Are any of my concerns warranted?
<Again, not much appears "off" concerning this fish, considering its previous care. I would do nothing in the way of treatment, environmental manipulation>
Thank you so much!
Shannon
<Thank you for sharing; glad to help. Bob Fenner>

Re: Betta Question; attachment     11/2/18
WetWebMedia is an amazing website and I've just made a small donation.
Thank you, Bob!
<I thank you for your kind, encouraging words and donation. Cheers, BobF>

Possible Betta Tumor?      10/16/18
Hi guys
<Hello,>
I’ve been reading your page for a while and have managed to so far keep my three beloved Bettas happy and content... a few months ago one of my boys however started developing a black growth as you can see in the photo that is definitely getting bigger...
I don’t know if this is a tumor or something treatable?
<Almost certainly not.>
He seems active and just as daft as always and the tank is testing normal, regular changes and weekly tests etc all as they should be...
Is there anything I can treat him with or is it just a matter of letting him carry on until his quality of life reduces and then letting him pass quickly?
<Precisely. Tumours and other sorts of growths, whether benign or malignant, are not uncommon in Bettas. There's no obvious explanation beyond inbreeding, and certainly no clear treatment. Often benign tumours cause no immediate problems, and if your Betta is otherwise happy, I would not be overly concerned just yet. Cheers, Neale.>

Re: Possible Betta Tumor?
Thank you for confirming what I thought - I really appreciate it!
<Welcome.>
Even when you think you know then knowing that you can’t do any more is reassuring and to be fair most vets look puzzled when I ask them so it’s really really appreciated. And thank you for all the fish guides! When I first got my boys they were immensely helpful as I hadn’t had Bettas for about 15 years and frankly I probably could have created better conditions for them last time compared to the mansions they have these days ��.
Have a lovely evening!
Tinx
<Wow! Thanks for these kinds words, and taking the time to write us. We do appreciate that. Hopefully your Betta will live a happy life, if not perhaps quite as long as it might have otherwise been. Cheers, Neale.>