Betta Splendens fin problem     1/12/13
Hi Crew
<Hi, Gord!  Sabrina with you again.>
I'm wondering if anyone can tell me what the bulge is on our male Betta's ventral fin please? It is swollen like a pea. He has had a little greenish spot there as long as I can remember but it was that exact area that swelled up. It was first noticed about a week ago.
<I've looked at the photos you provided via Flickr....  This is probably a tumor or cyst of some sort.  Fish can get them just like people can.>
The setup is a heated (to 28C) 19 litre planted tank with a mature 200 LPH filter with spray bar, angled at the aquarium wall to reduce current. The system has been in place for about a year and a half and the Betta has been the only inhabitant, except for a few snails that he seems to enjoy sucking the flesh from. They don't last long!
<Heh!  Sounds delicious.  Seriously though, this is an excellent setup.>
First a bit of history - we had noticed that his caudal fin was looking more ragged than normal, again, about a week ago and it looked a bit more iffy than I'd have liked so we treated with eSHa 2000. It was at this point we also noticed the growth. I tested, since obviously fin-rot is a massive red flag and the parameters were:
NH3/NH4+: 0
NO2: 0
NO3: 5ppm
pH: 6.8KH: not tested GH: not tested
<All good.>
I waited just in case it might have been something the eSHa 2000 could have treated, in addition to the fin-rot. Obviously not, since the bulge is still there. The fin-rot is clearing up nicely though, thankfully.
<Very good.>
Today's parameters were as above, in addition to a KH of 2 and a GH of 4.
<Still good.>
I also got a result of 0.25ppm NH3/NH4+ on an API liquid test kit. I'm a bit surprised at that, since I haven't seen any ammonia in this tank for a long, long time. Looking at the active ingredients in the eSHa 2000, though, I see that two of them are compounds that both have two amine functional groups each so I'm wondering if this might be throwing a false positive.
<Although that's possible, it's also possible that the medication may have interfered with your bacteria, causing the tank to cycle.>
Weekly water change is a Friday, so the full dose is in there still.
(Neale, I know you use this medication, have you had any experience of false positives while using it?)
<Oh!  Shoot!  I should have stuck this in his box.  Well, I've almost finished, so I'll do that anyway and still send this response.>
I've put a few photos of the growth on his fin up on Flickr to give you a better idea. The link is:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/57278801@N04/sets/72157632487552355 
<For what it's worth, it is possible to anesthetize a fish and cut a piece of fin off.  We do this in the lab, often, to get DNA from our fish without harming/killing them.  We are always cautious to get only enough for a good sample, and never enough to make the fin bleed, and our fish always come out of it seemingly oblivious to what's happened.  If this growth were right at the end of the fin, I would consider removing it, but where it's located, I think I would just leave it be, unless/until it becomes necessary to the well-being of the fish to take action.  If he's still swimming well, and still acting well, and still sucking those snails out of their shells, I think I would leave him alone, and maybe give him a fitting nickname....>
Thanks for any help you can give.
<Glad to (try) to help.  I'll toss this in Neale's box, so he can hopefully respond to your specific question about the eSHa 2000.>
Cheers
Gord
<Best wishes always,  -Sabrina>
Re Betta Splendens fin problem     1/12/13
I also got a result of 0.25ppm NH3/NH4+ on an API liquid test kit. I'm a bit surprised at that, since I haven't seen any ammonia in this tank for a long, long time. Looking at the active ingredients in the eSHa 2000, though, I see that two of them are compounds that both have two amine functional groups each so I'm wondering if this might be throwing a false positive. Weekly water change is a Friday, so the full dose is in there still. (Neale, I know you use this medication, have you had any experience of false positives while using it?)
<Short answer is no, but then, I rarely test water these days. In any event, I tend to avoid ammonia test kits and use nitrite test kits instead.
These still reveal water quality problems, but they're less likely to be affected by false positives (chloramine, amine groups on other molecules,
etc). Cheers, Neale.>
Hey, Neale....
I just answered a question from Gordon Keenan regarding a Betta.  Toward the end, he addressed a question to you; had I noticed, I'd have just dropped it in your box, but was nearly through it anyway, so just finished.
 I've placed it in your box now, in case you wish to answer it.  The title is "Betta Splendens Fin Problem".
My apologies!
Best wishes,
-Sabrina
<Thanks Sabrina; did see, have added a comment re: eSHa medication. Cheers, Neale.>
Re: Betta Splendens fin problem    1/14/13
Hi Neale
<Gordon,>
Thanks for that. I see where you are coming from regarding ammonia vs. nitrite testing. Unfortunately I'm Scottish, so if  I bought the ammonia kit, I'm flaming well sure I'm going to use it!
<Fair enough. But if the fish seem happy, and nitrite is zero, then I'd be tempted to ignore, or at least downplay, the ammonia test kit result.>
I tested the next day and NH3/NH4+ was below detection limits, so it was either my eyes or sample contamination. I wish I'd done a nitrite at the same time, though, to see if it was cycling through. Nitrite is my most neglected test since I tend to focus on the start and end products of the N cycle. Ah well, I've gained an object lesson in the usefulness of it.
<Indeed.>
Cheers, Gord
<And likewise, Neale.>
Betta Splendens fin problem - II - 01/15/2012
Hi Sabrina
<Heya, Gord!>
Are you not sick of me yet?!
<Are you kidding?  Terribly!  Actually, no, not at all.  Your emails are a pleasure.>
Thanks for the response. It's a bit of a relief that I don't have to do anything, yet, at any rate. Medicating fish terrifies me, let alone cutting bits off their fins, and this one, especially, is more of a pet than any of the others we have. He's a brilliant, intelligent, personable, aggressive little killing machine and we love him as much as the cats. We like aggressive little killing machines in this house!
<Heh!  Why do I see Protopterus in your future?>
Hmmm, could be interference with the filter although the instructions do say it is safe to keep bio-filtration in place during treatment. They say that, but it is a bactericidal formulation, so I'm taking it with a pinch of salt and I think it contains copper sulphate.
<Yeah, that can doom your bacteria.>
Wifey-o is sleeping and the medication is in the bedroom, so I'm not risking the wrath to double check, but there is definitely a Cu compound, anyway. If I remember correctly CuSO4 pretty much nukes any aquatic life at a fairly small concentration, but the higher the life the more tolerance. I read some case studies back in college to do with downstream areas from pig farms (high copper demand in food, high copper output in effluent) and they were quite alarming on the invert and algal populations within the plume.
So, like I say, a pinch of salt.
<I think your thought process is quite sound, and, yes, copper is toxic to aquatic life.  Fortunately for fish, it's more toxic to parasites than it is to vertebrates.  But once you start playing with shrimp, please be certain not to let this or any other copper-containing drug come into contact with the shrimp or their water (or decor, substrate....).>
I spoke too soon on the fin-rot. The ventral fin is now showing some holes and raggedness on the edges, nothing extreme but it's there, despite medication.
<Damn....>
I've seen you mention more than once that when fin-rot hits a Betta they're basically plagued by it for life.
<Can be.  Those long, flowing fins (which are selectively bred and unnatural) that we think are so pretty do come with their own set of problems.  The worst - WORST - that I've seen is the most gorgeous Halfmoon Betta, imported from Thailand, stunningly gorgeous for all of a month, and then decided to eat his own tail.  Boy, that sucked.>
I've also heard tell on the internet that water conditioners bind eSHa 2000, so there is an option to use water that's gassed off the chlorine (not chloramine) to do a hefty water change and re-medicate. I'll admit when we got him neither of us had a clue what we were taking on and he got hit pretty badly with fin-rot while we learned our painful lessons. Based on that, would you repeat the medication after a massive, but slow and careful, water change with non-treated water?
<I, personally, don't like to treat Finrot unless it is definitely bacterial and definitely not correctable without medication.  It's tough to say, not seeing the fish in person.  Were I you, I would make the call based upon his current appearance as compared to how he was prior to treatment, and if there is some improvement, might consider continuing....  If no improvement, or if it has worsened, I would perhaps consider another antibiotic.  Nitrofurazone or one of the Sulfa drugs might be good options.>
My gut feeling is that it wouldn't do any harm and might not do any good <Frankly, you're the one seeing the fish - and you've proven yourself knowledgeable and sensible - I would trust your gut.>
but I thought I'd ask since I'm writing back anyway and you seem to like to talk about fishy stuff and I like to learn about fishy stuff...
<Uhh, I think we both share both of those traits, actually!  *grin*>
Regardless, the fish is just his usual self, he eats heartily, he builds nests, he swims about, he gill flares at me if he's in the mood and he stops and displays ("Ta-dah! Look at how awesome I am! Now feed me!"). My main worry was that the growth was something malignant, e.g. like cancer in humans.
<Actually, it can be.  There really is no way to know.  Nor is there any way to know that, once removed, he would not still suffer ill effects either of the growth (if cancerous) or the removal thereof.  Fish can and do get cancers.  We see melanomas in our fish at the lab from time to time (though they do not appear damaged by it).  I think the best we can do is try to ensure the best quality of life and, if the animal is unbothered by it, leave it be.  It may well be nothing to be concerned over, and if the fish doesn't care, I don't think you should stress over it.>
I hope the Flickr link was a more convenient way to send WWM images,
<I found it to be just fine.  I have no idea of Bob's opinion.><<Mighty fine. RMF>>
only they were attached to your reply and was worried that I'd clogged your inbox. I suspect not, and it is probably just Hotmail trying to be "clever" and reading the link but I wanted to double check in case I'd caused any inconvenience.
<Ah!  No, none at all.>
Thanks again for all your advice.
<And thank you, as always, for your kindness and interesting conversation.>
Cheers
Gord
<Wishing you and your Betta a splendid day,  -Sabrina>

QUESTION: Bumps/Lumps in Male Betta's Tail? 12/9/11 Hi guys, <And gals> My male Betta, The Stig, has a terrifying grouping/row of lumpy bumps on/in his tailfin. I thought it was just a slightly weird fold in his finnage at first, but the bumps have been getting larger and now swell out on both sides of the tail. The right side of the bumps also seems to have a few reddish dots here and there on them, but they don't look like open sores or wounds, as my fish's base fin color is red (underneath the teal-green). <I see this, these> He does not nip his fins at all, nor do they seem to be rotting or disintegrating. In fact, they appear to be healthy and flawless except for the row of lumps. His appetite is still fine, and he's as active and curious as ever. The lumps don't seem to be bothering him at all, but they're really worrying me! I am also including a "questionnaire" that I found on another forum; it should provide you with most other details you'd need to know! <Thank you for this> I appreciate any and all theories and advice. Thank you! ------- 1. Size of tank? 7.9 gal., 14 " x 11.5 " x 11.5" 2. Water parameters: a. Ammonia? 0ppm b. Nitrite? 0ppm c. Nitrate? 0ppm <How is NO3 rendered 0.0 ppm?> d. pH, KH and GH? pH 5.0-6.0, KH 1, GH 24 e. Test kit? Tetratest Laborett 3. Temperature? 76-78 F 4. FW (fresh water) or BW (brackish)? FW 5. How long the aquarium has been set up? Mid-June 2011 6. What fish do you have? How many are in your tank? How big are they? How long have you had them? One male Betta, 1 1/2" long. He has been in there since I set up the tank in mid-June. 7. Were the fish placed under quarantine period (minus the first batch from the point wherein the tank is ready to accommodate the inhabitants)? No 8. a. Any live plants? Fake plants? Several live plants: One Amazon or a Red Melon Sword (Echinodorus species), one Vesuvius Sword (Echinodorus Angustifolia), one small ball of Java Moss (Vesicularia Dubyana) b. Sand, gravel, bare bottom? Gravel c. Rocks, woods, fancy decors? Any hollow decors? One ceramic "cichlid cave" (hollow, one opening), several smooth rocks 9. a. Filtration? Yes, the filter that came with the tank b. Heater? Yes, a Fluval A771 E50 (50 watt) 10. a. Lighting schedule? What lights are used? I use the light that came with the tank (a "13 watt daylight compact fluorescent light"), and it is on from 10am-8pm (10 hrs) b. Any sunlight exposure? How long? No exposure to natural sunlight 11. a. Water change schedule? Weekly b. Volume of water changed? 25% - 50% c. Well water, tap water, RO water? Tap water d. Water conditioner used? API Tap Water Conditioner e. Frequency of gravel/sand (if any) vacuumed? Weekly 12. Foods? A variety of the following: frozen Mysis shrimp, bloodworms, and brine shrimp; Tetra freeze-dried bloodworms, Hikari freeze-dried daphnia; New Life Spectrum Betta food pellets. All food is soaked in his tank water and H20 Life V3 triple-strength vitamins prior to feeding. How often are they fed? Once a day. I fast him on Saturdays and Sundays. 13. a. Any abnormal signs/symptoms? No physiological or behavioral changes or symptoms other than the tail lumps. b. Appearance of poop? Normal c. Appearance of gills? Normal (as far as I know!) 14. a. Have you treated your fish ahead of diagnosis? No b. What meds were used? N/A ------- -Crystal <Mmm, well, nothing in your details "jumps out" as a probable cause of/for this condition... I suspect this may simply be a matter of genetic disposition toward tumour proliferation; though grubs/Trematodes might account for the bumpiness here. IF you suspect the latter, I'd peruse WWM re these worms and dose w/ an effective Anthelminthic (also gone over on WWM). If tumours, there is naught one can do to treat. Do read here re: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebIndex/BetDisViralF.htm Bob Fenner>

Betta splendens tumor? 02/12/10 Hi, I'd like to get your opinion regarding a growth on a Betta (pictures attached). I work at a pet store, and this Betta came in with this growth. It's not like any infection or disease I've ever seen before. I'm thinking it's a tumor of some sort, <I agree> or perhaps something viral (it reminds me of a plantar wart I had for several years, only blue). <Many popular theories link viruses with/as tumors> In any case, we couldn't sell him in this condition, but since he appears otherwise healthy and I didn't want to euthanize him, I adopted him. I just wanted to get a second opinion on it. Have you seen anything like this before? <I have> Should I try any antibiotics, just in case it is bacterial, or should I just leave him be? <For myself, this last. IF you had several such specimens... and particularly if you were a student of pathology... I might excise this mass, do some culture, histological work...> I'm leaning towards the second option, I prefer not to medicate if it's not necessary. Thanks for any input, Tamla <Thank you for sharing, caring Tamla. Bob Fenner>

Sick Betta Fish 3/30/09
My Betta fish is three years old possibly older he's always been very big. For the past few weeks a lump has been growing on the side of his body above the anal fin toward the back close to the tail fin if that makes sense. it's starting to grow in the same place on the other side of his body. it's a silverish white-green color. Now he is also sitting vertically in his tank breathing hard. He swims to the top of the tank for air then sinks back to the bottom. He has some brown stuff hanging between the two ventral fins, but I think that is just poop. I don't know what to do. I clean his tank once a week, and he's been eating the same food for three years. Please help!?!
Thank you,br /> Jessie
<Hello Jessie. Three years is a very great age for Bettas, and my assumption would be in this case that he's simply getting old and "bits" of him aren't working as well as they did once. Since the lump here is growing close to the tail fin, and by that I assume further back the pelvic fins, it isn't going to be constipation. For obvious reasons, constipation occurs in the abdomen where the guts are, between the head and the pelvic fins. The part of the body between the pelvic fins and the tail is all muscle. Any lumps that develop there are likely to be cysts (which are harmless) or tumours (which are not). There isn't much you can do about either. Stringy faeces on the other hand can be (and usually are) caused by constipation. Constipation is dealt with by abstaining from dried foods (including freeze-dried foods) completely, and instead concentrating on cooked (or tinned) peas, live daphnia, and live brine shrimp. All these foods contain a lot of indigestible matter that helps clear out the alimentary canal. In fact, Bettas generally are very prone to constipation because of the limited diet and minimal physical exercise most specimens get compared to their wild ancestors. So doing this every few weeks for a week at a time is a good idea anyway. Cheers, Neale.>

Betta fish question, tumour 11/24/08
Hi,
I believe that my beta fish has a tumor. There is a pea sized black cauliflower looking growth on the bottom of his fin. He is still eating
normally and acting himself. I found little on the internet about this and I was wondering if there is anything I can do to help him. Is there a cure?
Is this some sort of fungus? I did move his tank to a table next to a window. Could this be the reason for this growth?
<Hello. Tumours are not uncommon on Bettas, perhaps because they are so inbred. Environmental conditions may be a factor too: a lot of Bettas are kept in marginal quality habitats, such as very small bowls. So in terms of prevention, getting good quality stock and keeping him in a heated, filtered tank around 5 or more gallons in size is the way to go. Cure is more difficult; just as in humans, benign tumours come and go at their own rate, and short of surgery there's not much you can do to speed things up. Distinguishing tumours from Lymphocystis is difficult; Lymphocystis is common among certain groups of fish. Lymphocystis is a viral disease that causes (usually) off-white to coffee coloured nodules or tumours with a distinctive cauliflower-like texture. Again, there's no cure, and Lymphocystis tends to go away by itself, albeit over a period of many months, even years. Lymphocystis is likely caused by similar things to tumours, i.e., environmental conditions. Fungus is usually very obviously different: it is fluffy, with white cotton-like threads and is usually associated with obviously decaying skin or fin tissue. Cheers, Neale.>

Betta with Ulcer 7/16/07 Hi, <hello> I just found your site and saw you answered questions about sick Bettas. My Betta has been sick for a while and I am getting very desperate. I believe he has developed an ulcer on his side (at least that's what they said when I brought him into the set store). They gave me medicine and I was using the appropriate dose for about 3 weeks and one night he just got sooo much worse. He could only float on the top and couldn't keep himself upright, only on his side. It turns out his carbon filter was rendering the medicine inactive. <Maybe, but sounds more like an environmental problem.> I took out his filter and continued using the medication (BettaFix). <Worthless, Tea Tree oil.> He initially seemed a lot better but for almost a week has made no other progress. He still rests on his side without moving and doesn't eat much. He looks uncomfortable and struggles to keep himself upright and to move. I have tried everything the pet store has recommended (very little) I have even attempted to find a vet that will look at him (without luck). <Almost impossible.> This fish really means a lot to me and is a special part of me life. It is killing me that he is sick. Please any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thank you, Lillian <95% of all Betta problems are either genetic or environmental. In this case I would guess environmental. In this case I would greatly step up water changes, 50% every couple days and if the wound seems infected treat with a broad spectrum anti-biotic. During treatment remove the carbon and change the water often, as the bio-filter will likely be destroyed.> <Chris>

Re: Betta with Ulcer Hey thank you Chris for your response. <Welcome> I just wanted to let you know what ended up working really well for my Betta with the ulcer. I finally found someone at the pet store who knew what she was talking about. She recommended using a medicine with Nitrofurazone, Furazolidone and potassium dichromate in it. The brand Jungle sells a product that is called "Fungus Clear" that has all of these in it. It has worked great!! Everyday my Betta is getting better and has recently begun eating again and the ulcer appears to be healing. <Good> I had no idea about what to do and I'm sure other fish lovers whose pets get ulcers will be writing you and I thought this would be a good thing to let you know worked. Thank you. <Thanks for sharing> <Chris>

Re: Betta tumor part II: Lugol's Solution 03/18/07 Dear Crew (Bob?) <Michelle> Thank you for your response. Can I administer the Lugol's solution (found it on-line) to the 40 gallon tank, thus dosing all inhabitants (i.e. baby whale, Corys, Otos, gouramis, tetras) or should I isolate the Betta & treat him as an individual. I'd rather not isolate him if I don't have to. Gratefully, Michelle <Can be administered to all... BobF>

Betta question / can fish get cancer? 10/7/06 <<Good morning. Tom with you.>> Can fish get cancer? <<Short answer? Yes.>> I've had my Betta since May 2002. <<A long time in Betta-terms...>> He's had a normal appetite and behaviors, but overnight, between his front side fin.. in front of the fin and face (the part they can flare out) there's a huge lump on the one side. <<I would venture that this is not cancerous in nature but more likely the result of an infection/abscess. Consider that cancer, in overly simple terms, is an irregular/abnormal growth of cells. The host's body develops (ironically) additional blood vessels to feed, and remove waste, from these new cells. (When the "waste" removed from the growth contains cells capable of duplicating similar growths elsewhere in the body, the cancer is categorized as malignant. If not, it's considered benign.) The point here is that such a development is unlikely to occur "overnight" while a pathogenic infection very well might produce the lump you've observed.>> He's swimming upright, and eating, but appetite not as good as yesterday/normal. He's swimming less (but if I didn't feel good, I probably wouldn't either) he moves okay and his color is still vibrant. With a sudden huge lump this got me wondering if a fish can get cancer, or if he has another disorder in light of his age. <<I would recommend treatment with a product such as Maracyn-Two, which is effective against internal infections. Treatment is best-performed in a hospital tank but I would guess that your Betta is kept alone so this isn't as critical as it would be in a community environment. Follow the directions very closely and pay attention to any collateral effects such as cloudy water that might accompany its use. Might answer some questions for you in advance.>> Thanks <<You're welcome and good luck with your pet. Tom>>
Update/reply on My Betta with a "Tumor" - 10/10/06 Over the weekend, I re-set up a one gallon heated & filtered hospital tank for my Betta and moved him out of the community tank. The one gallon was his first home for almost 2.5 years with regular water changes. Only thing it doesn't have is aeration/bubble maker, but with the labyrinth organ and clean water, I hope that little detail won't be an issue. <<I like the move. Should be easier on you and your Betta.>> His tank mates all appear healthy including a couple of surviving molly fry, now about 3 weeks old and good at hiding in all the plants! I'm wondering if perhaps Mr. Betta over indulged himself on fry in the last 3 weeks? He has eaten plenty before without a problem. <<Easy for Bettas, as with any fish, to over-indulge when the food supply is plentiful. One of the leading causes of problems that we encounter is when Bettas have been overfed.>> I've added the Maracyn-Two, but no apparent changes in the lump. Since Mr. Betta is about 4+ years old, I'm accepting the fact he's older than most, and his time to go may be near. He's been a fun friend for sure. <<Sad as it is to watch a pet approach its time, its nice to know that the experience of caring for it was time well-spent and fun.>> The lump is a smidge bigger today (I'm going to *try* and get a picture to email if I can figure out how). He's been making a small bubble nest, took a nibble on his Betta pellet and blood worms this morning, but definitely listless and less appetite and activity from what was norm. Also, whenever he got frightened a couple times in the past, his bottom fin would turn whitish at the seam near his body.. and has intermittently changed like that, so I think it's a sign he's not feeling good. <<I agree. I dont know what it would take to frighten my Betta since hes come to think that any activity around his tank means chow time. In Mr. Bettas case, I think the age and health issues may make him more skittish than youre used to seeing. If you havent already done so, Id recommend keeping him in a very low-traffic area to keep potential stress to a bare minimum.>> At this point, in light of his advanced age, I'm pretty sure my little friend is going to pass. Any suggestions in terms of "comfort measures" or what I can do to make his transition to passing on as easy for him as possible? <<I would normally recommend some aquarium salt for Bettas but Im not sure it would be wise to attempt to acclimate him to this at this stage. Salt does help with oxygen uptake and coming to the surface for that occasional gulp of air may start to become more than hes up to. Of course, keep the water clean and warm, which you already know. And, other than keeping him away from possible stress factors, I think youll have done as much as possible for him. Best regards, Tom>>

Question about Humane Euthanization: - 10/13/06 <<Tom here once more.>> Mr. Betta is quite the fighter, but I think what appears to be a tumor is not good. He swims toward my finger when I put it near the tank and is happy to see me, unfortunately, when he swims, it's in almost a "painful" looking sideway motion (but he floats on top like normal) and cannot seem to swim well. As mentioned in my previous messages (saying again in case someone else is reading/answering this) he is 4 years old and has lived a good life. His quality of life has obviously deteriorated over the last 48 hours with no meaningful recovery foreseen, so I'm wondering, is there something I could add to the water that would just sedate him so he goes into a permanent sleep/passes away peacefully? <<Id like you to take a look at this: http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-the-most-humane-way-to-euthanize-a-fish.htm. Im very sorry that its come to this but there are times when ending a pets life peacefully and painlessly is no less an act of kindness than the loving care youve given for the last four years. Im a little more saddened in your case because Ive yet to personally respond to anyone whos had the wonderful fortune to keep a Betta as long as you have. My very best to you. Tom>>

Update on Betta with a "tumor" - euthanization question - 10/14/06 <<Hi, SK.>> Thank you so much for link. The clove oil cost a little more than my fish did a few years ago, but money well spent. I got your email in time and after give him a couple of final blood worms which he slowly nibbled, I added the clove oil. He kinda just sank to the bottom and not moving, but I'm feeling assured he went peacefully. Added the vodka to be sure the process was complete before sending him the final journey down the toilet. After four years of enjoying such a neat fish, I don't know I can ever find a Betta with the same personality. After 4 yrs, I got pretty attached to him. Not as sad as losing a cat or dog, but I never thought I'd have that heavy feeling inside me over fish! He was a Wal-Mart brand veil tail. The original cup he came in, dated May 2002 (that's how I figured/remembered when I got him) for $2.95. I do have some pictures of him on my camera phone -- I'll share a few when I figure out how to transfer them from the phone to the computer. <<If its not out of keeping, Im glad that all went well. Im confident, as you are, that this was the appropriate action to take. As I mentioned the last time, its really an act of kindness and humanity.>> As for other fish-happenings, I started my first aquarium earlier this year, with Mr. Betta being the first inhabitant. Since then, I've enjoyed some Corydoras and, what I first thought were platies, are gold dust mollies. I discovered one of my mollies' is totally blind. She (was) losing weight and skinnier than I had seen any other. I figured it was a personality quirk that she was often alone in the tank, but noticed she doesn't follow my finger, and at feeding time, just would repeatedly open her mouth hoping food would drop in - but not actually seeing it like the others. She had been surviving off feeder tablets and occasionally what fell her in mouth! Poor thing. Her eyes look kinda funny, but attached photo is her eating now - at feeding time I put a net up from under her (she doesn't even see it coming) drop food in, and now her piggies of tank mates get their own share but she gets hers. <<Im always fascinated at the adaptability that fish, in general, possess. Amazing creatures>> Even more interesting - my gold dust mollies were female (and already pregnant) when I bought them - now one of them has turned into a male! (I did quite a bit of web searching to make sure I wasn't seeing or imagining things when that happened.) <<Guess he figured that drinking beer in front of the TV was a better way to go! :)>> I have a fry living in there, now for 3 weeks, but she's hard to take a picture of because she is solid black - solid black from a gold dust molly????? I know they come in many colors, but haven't been with others at the fish store/other fish since about June or July of this year when I bought them. <<Female Mollies can/will store semen for months, six to eight months not being unheard of. For that reason, they can produce fry without even having contact with a male but one time. Your Molly might not have mated with another Gold Dust male which could explain the difference in coloration. Theres also the issue of dominant/recessive genes at play but lets not turn this into a biology lesson. :)>> Thanks for letting me share my fish stories with expert enthusiasts who appreciate my swimming friends :) <<Thank you for sharing them with us, SK. We appreciate your friends just as we do our own.>> SK <<Tom>>

Betta stomach bulge: could be dropsy, constipation, but most likely a tumor 1/8/07 I have had my Betta for a year and a half. Seven months ago he developed a bulge on one side. It grew to the point where his scales were not covering it. This didn't seem to bother him until recently. Now it seems the bulge has grown to the other side and he seems listless. He also does not to seem to be eating. Is there help for him or is it time to let him go? <Sounds to me like it could be a tumor, especially since it was notably asymmetrical at first. Couple of other things to rule out though, namely dropsy and/or constipation...do his scales have a pinecone-like appearance, especially if the fish is viewed from the top? If so, this could be dropsy, which is usually a symptom of a internal bacterial infection. Here's a picture of an fish with dropsy: http://www.fishjunkies.com/Diseases/dropsy.php Alternatively, it could be constipation; have you ever tried fasting your Betta for a couple of days, then feeding a frozen, then thawed pea or two (cut up for the Betta's small stomach)? Also, Epsom salts are particular effective in relieving fish constipation (and may assist if a build up of fluid is present, as is the case with dropsy). However, I suspect, based on your description, length of time the fish has been affected, etc., that this is a tumor - these are really quite prevalent in the Betta fish, perhaps due to the over breeding the species is subjected to. Tumors aren't curable, and sadly, will likely cause the end for an affected Betta one day. In the meantime, keep the fish comfortable in appropriate conditions (i.e., isolated, especially in this Betta's case, in a minimum 2-3 gal. filtered tank, with heater kept stable at 80-82 degrees F, weekly water changes, etc.) Of course, try to get your Betta to eat - what are you feeding him? Have you tried frozen, then thawed bloodworms or small mysis shrimp? All my Bettas go nuts for those foods. Also, you can use a drop or two of pure garlic extract (either from the grocery store, or a product called Garlic Xtreme, made by Kent) to soak his food in, and hopefully re-stimulate his appetite. If all this fails, I'm sad to say his time may be nearly up. I've lost a couple of Bettas over the years to what I suspect are tumors... Once you've made a definite diagnosis of a tumor, the fish can live a while, still eating and swimming. If, the fish has stopped doing even these things, then it may be time, sadly, to euthanize him; best method for that, in my opinion, if pure clove oil...it simply puts the fish to sleep. I'll cross my finger for your Betta - hopefully, at the very least, we can get him eating again. Best regards, Jorie>

Betta, Growth On Body/Fin - 06/22/2006 2 years ago I inherited my Betta from a family member. I knew nothing about fish and have been learning as I go along. Last month I noticed a white spot on his body by his top fin, since then it has grown into a bulge. <Possibly a tumor or granuloma.... relatively common on Bettas....> He still eats and his actions are normal. I have tried adding a small amount of salt to his tank on the advice of a friend and in the last week I have used Furan-2. The bulge hasn't changed at all, it almost seems to be getting bigger. <If it is a tumor or granuloma, it is unlikely to respond to any treatment.> Any help or guidance you can provide would be greatly appreciated. <Mostly, I urge you to maintain optimal water quality for him - ammonia and nitrite ZERO, nitrate less than 20ppm, in a tank of at the very least a couple of gallons.... Though I can't tell you with any certainty what it is without seeing it or a good image of it, it's my guess, from having seen so many Bettas with growths/tumors like you describe, that this is something that will not respond to medication. Fortunately, however, it may not affect his health very adversely. Do keep a close eye on it.> Thank You, -Katie <Wishing you well, -Sabrina>

Do Bettas Get Tumors? - 09/03/2005 Hello There, <Hi.> I've had my Betta for about 2 years and he's always been in good health-- happy, moves around a lot, eats well, etc. and yet over the past 2 weeks he has developed a strange growth by one of his eyes. It started out as a whitish/gray dot, (I actually at first thought it was a piece of food that had landed on him!) but then grew by the day and is now a quite pronounced bubble-looking growth. Do Bettas get tumors? <They can, yes.> What could this be? <Could be a tumor or granuloma, could be Lymphocystis....> His behavior hasn't really changed--he's still acting healthy--but I'm starting to worry about whether his vision will soon be impaired (it's bubbling out right over his eye) and I also think I might be detecting a small white do on his back, which I worry will turn into the same growth. I've been reading everywhere and can't seem to find out what these symptoms mean. <Try a search on "Lymphocystis" and be sure to maintain impeccable water quality, with nitrate as low as possible. This viral disease is often beaten by improving water quality, but is not otherwise treatable. Fortunately, it's very rarely harmful or fatal. Other possibilities do include tumor(s), mycobacteriosis....> Thanks for your time, I love my little guy so much and am starting to get more than a tad concerned! <Understandable. Unfortunately, as you describe it, it does not sound like something easily "fixed" like a bacterial infection. I would just maintain optimal water quality and continue to give him great care. Sounds like he's in good hands.> -Erin <Wishing you and your scaly pal well, -Sabrina>

Tumor-like growth on Betta Hello, <HI...Jorie here> First I'd like to say your web page is very helpful and informative. Thank you for making this resource available. <You're welcome. I can honestly say that I learned almost everything I know about aquariums and fishkeeping from this site, so I, too, am grateful for it!> I've a Betta that has a problem. He eats fine, but his demeanor is somewhat erratic. He startles easily at times, makes darting grabs for his food and circles the bowl at speed. <Hmmm...I'm not sure that this behavior by itself is odd for a Betta, unless you've recently noticed a change. Bettas all seem to have their own little personalities, and this doesn't sound unlike some of the ones I've kept in the past.> He's developed a swollen tumor-like growth on his side, discolored black and his tail is diminished, also with black along its outer edge. Is there anything I can do to treat him? <OK, this is obviously the sign of a problem. First of all, have you tested the water you keep your Betta in for ammonia, nitrite and nitrates? Also, a bit more info. would be great...how big is the tank you keep him in, how long has it been set up, what's the temperature of the water and also the pH, and does he have any tankmates? With regards specifically to the growth, is it symmetrical or not? Are his scales protruding? If so, that could be a sign of dropsy, which is in fact a symptom of myriad diseases. Or, more simply, the fish could be constipated...have you noticed if he's pooping? If it is constipation, adding one or two tsp. of Epsom salt per 5 gal. of water should help, along with trying to feed your Betta a frozen, then thawed, pea (some go for it, some don't). You would want to fast him for a few days prior to the pea, as well, which may make it more enticing and should also help with the constipation. If this is an asymmetrical lump, or tumor, as you said earlier, it could also be a tumor. How long have you had this fish (how old is he, if you know)? Many older Bettas (normal lifespan is between 2-3 years) do seem to develop tumors as they age, and I have yet to find anything that will cure it. As long as the affected fish is swimming normally, eating normally, and generally looks OK, I think he's fine...it's when the fish starts losing his appetite, laying on the bottom, etc., that I would start to recommend euthanasia.> Regards, Lee Cutler <Hope this information helps. If you can get back to me with a little bit more info., I can better help you diagnose the problem, but right now, it seems as though it could be one of several things. Good luck! Jorie>
Re: Tumor-like growth on Betta Hi Lee, I'm trying to envision what this growth looks like, and I'm having trouble, based on your description. I don't think I've personally ever seen anything like that. What I meant by "protruding scales" can also be described as a "pinecone effect"...if you look at your fish from the top, does he look like a pinecone? Doesn't sound like it, from your explanations, but just wanted to clarify. I would suggest you step up the water changes in that 1 gal. bowl...personally, I'd suggest doing a 50% change 2 times per week, optimally. If you can't do that, at the very minimum do a weekly change. Keep his water clean and hopefully his "sore" won't get infected. As I said earlier, if he's eating, swimming, pooping, etc. normally, I think everything is OK. Perhaps this is yet another manifestation of the tumor-phenomenon I've seen in older Bettas...sadly, there isn't much you can do when that happens. I'd like to do some research to figure out exactly what is causing this in captive-bred and raised Bettas - maybe some genetic deficiency resulting from overbreeding? Who knows...when I get some spare time, I plan to investigate! Jorie

Lumpy Betta It could just be old age...I've had him over 1 1/2 years and I know they're often 1+ years old when they're in the pet store. In any case, here's his history. Lex lives in a 2 gallon tank w/ some rocks on the bottom and a plastic plant (at first I tried live plants but they died and mucked up his water). I've been changing his water every 1-2 weeks and dechlorinating it. Shortly after I first got him he developed fin rot but I gave him medicine and put a heater in his tank and now he's been fine ever since. In the last 2 months I've gotten another beta and I've begun adding aquarium salt (1/2 t) to each of their tanks. I keep them in separate tanks right next to each other. At night I put a piece of card board between they're tanks and feed them (3 beta pellets each). During the day I take the card board away (between 3-4 days a week) so they can flare at each other if they want. Lex continues to be active, eats voraciously and always comes up to say hi when I'm there. About 3 months ago I noticed a white spot on one of his fins so I put more medicine in his water. The spot hasn't gone away but it hasn't increased in size, multiplied or affected his behavior any. Then last night, when I had a lamp on next to him, I noticed that he has a lump on his side past his gills - it must've started to develop within the last 1 1/2 weeks - that's the last time I changed his water. Could it be that the new beta is stressing him out? Could it be the addition of aquarium salt? Could it be old age? What, if anything, can I do? Thank You!!! <<Hello. The fin spot sounds like fish pox, or Lymphocystis. . It is a viral infection that generally goes away on its own. Probable cause is stress. Same with the lump. You could try separating them to see if it helps. In any case, I don't think your white spot is a parasitic problem, three months is too long for it to be ich or any other parasite. One thing you should do is get both tanks' water tested. If there are filters, test for nitrates, if there are no filters, test for ammonia. High toxin levels can be a serious cause of stress. Better yet, test both tanks for all three: ammonia (should be zero), nitrites (should be zero), and nitrates (keep as low as possible with waterchanges, like around 20ppm) -Gwen>>

Re: growth on female Betta Bob, I am aware that bettas do not generally live longer than 2 years or so, I do know people who have had them for 5 - 9 years, believe it or not, an exception to the rule *smile* <Yes... I washed Betta bowls for two years (some involvement in the trade now! My hands are still dish-panned...) back in the 60's overseas. We had a few prized male breeders that were 4 to 5 years old> HBH do not make any medicated foods and when I looked at the tetra site, I was not sure which medicated food you were referring to. They have bacterial/fungal and parasitic, which do you suggest I start Morgana on? <The first, not the parasitic> Also, would it be beneficial for her to include frozen or live food in her diet? <Yes, even to soak same in vitamin, HUFA supplements for fifteen minutes plus before offering> I try to feed them within my financial means and I will find a way to obtain these foods if it will benefit her. <Good> Returning to the medicated foods, should I use Romet B or one of the tetra foods? <I would utilize the Tetra antibacterial, ant fungal> Many thanks again for your prompt response. Anthea <You are welcome my friend. Bob Fenner> Re: growth on female Betta Bob, From what I have found out so far, the HUFA supplements are for marine life. Could I rather use the Kent Zoe Freshwater supplement? <You could, yes. Very similar> I have included an email link with a variety of options if this one is not a good one. If you could advise the best option I would appreciate it. http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/sc_view.cfm?siteid=6&pCatId=4245 <Thank you for this. In my order of preference: Multi-Vit, Bio-Vit, Zoecon. Bob Fenner> Many thanks Anthea

Re: Betta has "lump" and sinks After looking around on your page some more I found a picture of exactly what this guy looks like (except yours is a female. http://www.geocities.com/stariel25/sick.html I will start with the Epsom salt in the a.m. and hope (and pray) that does something. Wish I knew if this female in the picture survived. Thanks, Sandra <<Hmm... Im still not positive even after seeing the picture. :o( Its possibly just a side effect of the SBD so try the Epsom salts and see if that helps. Sorry, I wish I could be of more help! Ronni>> Re: Betta has "lump" and sinks Hello, I just ran across your site and I am very impressed with all the knowledge. <<Thank you very much!>> I have been looking for any information that might help me in my quest. I have several Betta's (mutts) from the pet store and they are doing fine but a friend has one that I am baby sitting right now that has a lump on his side. I guess the best way to describe it is it looks like someone shoved a pea down his throat it sticks out really bad on one side and then just slightly on the other side. He is eating very well but doesn't get off the bottom of the bowl. I have been treating him for swim bladder but it's now been 2 weeks without any change. <<The sitting on the bottom sounds very consistent with swim bladder disorder but I'm at a loss on what would be causing the lump. If you could send me a picture I may be able to tell more. If it is swim bladder disorder, this is very hard to successfully treat. Generally, regardless of treatment, the fish will continue to just rest on the bottom. However, the fish can and often do live very happily even with this problem. I had a female that lived for quite some time with it and she was one of the happiest Bettas I ever had. She always displayed the best colors and always got very excited whenever someone walked near her tank. I did have to make sure to change her water quite often as it became fouled very rapidly due to the low level I had to keep it at but that was the only exception I ever made for her.>> I started him on a treatment of AMPICILLEX with the hopes that it was something bacterial. But no changes yet. <<Epsom salts has been used successfully in some cases of SBD but most of the time there is nothing that can be done. It's worth a try though, use the Google search box at the bottom of www.wetwebmedia.com to search for either swim bladder or Epsom salts for more info.>> I am keeping in a very small bowl with just enough water to cover him plus about 1/2 an inch above him so he can get to air. I am at a loss. He did come from one of the "Betta death lily bowls" so I am not sure what kind of conditions he was in all the time but I am sure they were not good as I saw the plant and it was all full of fungus when she took him out. Any help would be wonderful. <<Thank you (and your friend!) for rescuing him! These lily vases are quite beautiful but I feel so sorry for the poor fish that are kept in them. After reading this it's possible that he has a tumor of some sort due to the poor water quality that he was in before. Still do send a picture if possible though.>> Thanks. Sandra <<You're welcome. Ronni>>

Betta has "lump" and sinks I thank you again for your information. I am amazed and very thankful for your site, it is incredible. I just have one small question. I am keeping this guy in only about 1 cup of water total and how do I do a salt bath? Is there a time frame as to how long he should or should not be in the salt? Thanks, Sandra <<If you mean a salt bath with aquarium salt then it should be done in a separate container and he should be left in for 3-5 minutes. If he starts looking overly agitated, take him out sooner. If you mean the Epsom salts I'm not sure as I've never used it, search www.wetwebmedia.com and you should be able to find the correct procedure. Good luck! Ronni>>

- Brown Lump on a Betta - Hello, my name is Vanna, and I have a question about my Betta Fish. <Hi, Vanna, JasonC here...> Well, A couple of days ago I've been noticing a lump under my fish around his fin area. Just recently the lump has gotten really big. It looks brown and I think it's growing still. Maybe it's a parasite or a fungus but I've been on sites and there's nothing that they have that describes what my fish has. <Yeah, it's hard to find data on 'a brown lump', but some other looking around leads me to believe this might be a tumor of some type.> I don't know what it is but I'm really worried about my fish. It lays on the bottom of the tank and it's not really aggressive as it used to be. <Depending on the nature of the growth, it may be moving in multiple directions - inward and outward.> I fed my fish 3 pellets 3 times a day. Sometimes it won't eat it all and other times it will. Now I think I'm over feeding him so I'm only feeding him 3 pellets 2 times a day. He still blows bubbles so I don't know if he's okay. I only had the fish for about 3 months, I got it on my birthday. Well if you know what is wrong with my fish can you please help? <Well... best to just keep on with the feeding and keep the water quality tip-top. The lump may rupture revealing itself to be something else, perhaps parasitic in nature that would respond to treatment, but if it's a tumor there is no treatment for it.> I'm really attached to this fish and I would like to help him because I know it's not his time to go. Thank you. <Sorry to be the bearer of no-so-good news. Cheers, J -- >