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 it’s not out of keeping, I’m glad that all went well. I’m confident, as you are, that this was the appropriate action to take. As I mentioned the last time, it’s 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.
<<I’m 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. There’s also the issue of dominant/recessive genes at play but let’s 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!
Good luck to you and your fish,
Jorie