Betta with lump on side

[sharkweek178]

My betta has developed a lump on his side. Sorry that I don't have a picture. He's not cooperating. I'll post one when I can.

I just saw it today when I was feeding him. He still eats well. But he hides more than he used to and sometimes rests in an unusual position. On his side, facing straight up. He seems to swim normally otherwise.

Water parameters are as follows. Temperature: 79.3 degrees F. Hardness: 136 ppm. pH: 7.4. Ammonia: 0. Nitrite: 0. Nitrate: 5.0 ppm.

 

[Innesfan]

Without a picture, and assuming he's eating and pooping, and noting that it's on one side, my informed guess is that it is a tumor. Whether it is benign or not cannot be known. Either way, there's nothing to do about it. If/when his quality of life becomes severely compromised, you might want to consider euthanizing him.

 

[sharkweek178]

 

[sharkweek178]

Without a picture, and assuming he's eating and pooping, and noting that it's on one side, my informed guess is that it is a tumor. Whether it is benign or not cannot be known. Either way, there's nothing to do about it. If/when his quality of life becomes severely compromised, you might want to consider euthanizing him.

The picture I just posted is the best look that I've gotten. It looks bad. At this point, I'll focus on quality of life and euthanize when appropriate.

 

[sharkweek178]

He died last week. I just wanted to check in here to get a timeframe.
He was actually doing pretty well most of the time. Not quite as active but he still had some energy. And he had his appetite, which was encouraging. That declined over time. Then last week I could see him decline fast. Then one morning he was in bad shape. I didn't have time at the moment, but I decided that if he was still like that when I was done with work, I'd euthanize him. He was dead the next time I checked on him.

 

[Innesfan]

Sorry to hear this. But it does tend to confirm that it was a tumor for which there was nothing you could do. The prevalence of tumors in selectively bred bettas is very high.

 

[Back in the fold]

I recently read somewhere that the mass produced Betta’s like you find in PetsMart and most pet shops are suffering from ailments that were unknown even ten years ago . My last PetsMart rescue Betta died in September and I just got a replacement for him last Friday . They don’t live as long as they used to . Time was I’ve seen them go four or five years but now a two year old is really old . I don’t know why I bother with them except they’ve always had a place in my heart . Betta’s were my first success with an egg layer and I like their personality . Has anyone heard of something called diamond eye which plagues them ? I have never heard of it or seen it to the best of my recollection .

 

[Innesfan]

Has anyone heard of something called diamond eye which plagues them ? I have never heard of it or seen it to the best of my recollection .

Yes, but it usually only affects 'dragon' bettas who have that heavy layer of iridescent guanine on their scales. The guanine progresses over time in some individuals to cover the eyes. One of many reasons I don't much care for the dragon mutation.

 

[Essjay]

I once had a dragon betta, but never again.

This is when I first bought him, a good looking fish



Then this happened to his eyes


I made sure that if I moved anything during a water change it was put back in exactly the same place, and I always put the food in the same place. He managed quite well even though he was almost blind.

 

[sharkweek178]

I recently read somewhere that the mass produced Betta’s like you find in PetsMart and most pet shops are suffering from ailments that were unknown even ten years ago . My last PetsMart rescue Betta died in September and I just got a replacement for him last Friday . They don’t live as long as they used to . Time was I’ve seen them go four or five years but now a two year old is really old . I don’t know why I bother with them except they’ve always had a place in my heart . Betta’s were my first success with an egg layer and I like their personality . Has anyone heard of something called diamond eye which plagues them ? I have never heard of it or seen it to the best of my recollection .

I didn't get him from a box store. I got him from a Pittsburgh area store called Elmer's Aquariums. I specifically wanted to buy from them because of their humane display for bettas. They don't keep them in cups. They have a terrific display that gives them each their own little tank. I wanted to reward that with my business.

 

[sharkweek178]

Sorry to hear this. But it does tend to confirm that it was a tumor for which there was nothing you could do. The prevalence of tumors in selectively bred bettas is very high.

Thanks. Everyone loses fish. Bettas only have a lifespan of 3-5 years anyways. Losing fish is part of the hobby and in many cases, is in not always reflective of the quality of care. Sometimes, health problems just happen.

 

[Back in the fold]

Terrible what happened to your nice Betta @Essjay . I always get my Betta’s from PetsMart . Yeah , yeah , I know but it gives me warm fuzzies to rescue one and give him a nice home . My newest one , a nice Cambodian , has a planted ten gallon all to himself with a nice tight lid so he breathes warm humid air and he gets live wingless fruit flies every day . No more harsh store lighting that’s on all day and all night , yes they’re on all the time so the night stockers can work , and no more breezy cold air from the entry doors . He lives in balmy 80 degree water and his light goes on at 10 AM and off at 4 PM . Natural sunrise and sunset starts and ends his day through a window to the outside . Life is much better for him these days .

 

[sharkweek178]

I decided that I'm going to replace him. But first I want to completely redo the tank. This one didn't quite shape out the way I wanted. It was a perfectly fine home for a fish. But I never got the look I really wanted. So I'm going to start all over. I have some Fluval Stratum left over so I'll use that.

 

[sharkweek178]

I didn't get him from a box store. I got him from a Pittsburgh area store called Elmer's Aquariums. I specifically wanted to buy from them because of their humane display for bettas. They don't keep them in cups. They have a terrific display that gives them each their own little tank. I wanted to reward that with my business.

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There is no reason big box stores couldn't have this kind of display too.