Sos Please

[mybettasgotbumps]

I don't know what to do. Ever since we moved into our new place, a circular white discoloration appeared where his back fin is attached to its body, and got bigger and bigger over the last 6 months. I went to petsmart, and they suggested it was ick, gave me a some medicine, but it didn't help. Seems to me that icks form all over a betta's body, but this was only one spot. Now it got bigger and turned into a bump, and the bump kept getting bigger, and appeared on the other side of the fin. Now my betta is swimming around, with no appearent change in his behavior, but a huge white bump.

It's a 10gallon tank at 80degrees (heater), very small filter that I turn on for 20min every day. I recently removed all the gravel and plastic flowers to isolate him. No other fish in the tank, I used to change his water completely once every other week, now I change 20% water once every week.

i have no idea about what to make of this.... please help.

 

[WILDER]

Water stats in ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, and ph.

Why are you turning the filter off. You should run filters 24/7 or the bacteria will keep dying off, causing bad water quality.

The patch near the fin sounds like columnaris, before it ended up as a growth.
I would use a bacterial med.
What's your location.

Does the bump resemble a cauliflower.
Is it possible to enlarge pic.

 

[mybettasgotbumps]

I turn off the filter, because I read somewhere that bettas didn't like constant current due to the size of their fins (get tired, damaged etc.). Is this not true?

I am at half hour west of Philadelphia.

The "pros" at Petsmart thought it was ick, and gave Mardel Coppersafe, didn't help. This was about 6 months ago, and the bump got bigger gradually, and I think it picked up speed over the course of last week.

I didn't think bettas required supervision of water stats, but I can get the stats later this morning when I drop by PetSmart to get aquarium salt.

The bump does look like a cauliflower; it is actually spot on.

Thank you so much.

 

[WILDER]

You need a filter with betta.
Byt not a strong current.
Buy a filter that you can alter the water flow.
Ask in the betta section of the forum, will get more help over there.

All fish need supervision of water stats.
Bad water quality leads to stress, desease, death.

if the lumps looks like a cauliflower it could be lymthocystis.
Get you some info.

Lymphocystis



Symptoms:

Fish infected with Lymphocystis will present with clusters of whitish, berry-like growths on the skin and fins. These "clusters" may resemble small clutches of eggs or cauliflower (hence, it is sometimes called Cauliflower Disease). They will be clearly visible and may even become extremely large. This disease often affects the fins first.



Cause:

Viral infection. The virus will eventually kill the fish if it is unable to mount a strong enough immune response as the virus rampages through the fish�s tissues, destroying its cells.



Treatment:

As with all viral infections, there is no suitable cure or efficacious treatment; however Quick Cure claims to be helpful. I have also heard of people who trim the fish's fins, followed by several baths in Malachite Green. Fortunately, this disease is uncommon and in some cases, infected fish are able to recover quickly without treatment.

Lymphocystis is highly infectious. When infected cells from the fish�s skin or fins burst the virus is spread throughout the aquarium and can remain contagious for periods of up to two months. Fish not showing symptoms should be removed from the aquarium and placed in quarantine, away from other fish, for at least 60 days. Note, remove uninfected fish, not the other way around because the aquarium has become contaminated. The infected aquarium should be emptied and thoroughly disinfected before returning any fish to it. Do not use soap to clean the aquarium.

 

[mybettasgotbumps]

Thank you so much, this is very helpful. I was also reading this: http/www.aquarticles.com/articles/management/Lawler_Lymphocystis.html

I will get QuickCure, up the temp to 82, change the water more frequently, run the filter constantly (it's an air-driven filter up to 20 GPH while oxygenating water, so the curent is not much, but he hides in his cave every time i turn it on), and watch the water stats.

anything else I can do? and I'll get aquarium salt today.... the bump has not burst yet, so maybe there is still hope?? he still eats normally, makes his bubbles alright...

thank you for the helps...

 

[WILDER]

Soak the fish food in garlic juice to boost the fish immune system.

Let me know how you get on if you don't mind.
Good Luck.

If it's a tumour there no cure.

 

[mybettasgotbumps]

I just got back from PetSmart, the water stats don't look good unfortunately:

aquarium:
Nitrate 10
Nitrite 3.0
Hardness 300
Chlorine 0
Alkalinity 180
pH 8.4
ammonia 0

tap water:
Nitrate 10
Nitrite 0
Hardness 300
Chlorine 0
Alkalinity 180
pH 7.2
ammonia 0


bottle water:
Nitrate 0
Nitrite 0
Hardness 25
Chlorine 0
Alkalinity 180
pH 6.2
ammonia 0



I bought a mini tube to clean the waste at the bottom, which is apparently increasing the nitrite to dangerous levels. I also got a testing kit, and aquarium salt. It surprises me though that pH level is higher than tap and bottle water as these two are the only water source I use to fill the tank....

 

[WILDER]

Bad water quality can alter ph.
Can you name everything you have in the tank.

It's because your filter been switched off. Once you switch the filter off the beneifical bacteria starts to die off.
Water changes a couple of times a day.
Add some salt if there no other fish in the tank but the betta.

 

[mybettasgotbumps]

I just added one and a half tablespoon of aquarium salt in the 10gallon tank. The Betta is the only fish in the tank.

- a very small filter that is now running constantly, little current throughout the tank.

- heater that is set at 82 degrees

I just added one and a half tablespoon of aquarium salt in the 10gallon tank. The Betta is the only fish in the tank.

- a very small filter that is now running constantly, little current throughout the tank.

- heater that is set at 82 degrees

there is also a cave where he hides sometimes...

I removed the gravel and plastic flowers couple weeks ago...

 

[WILDER]

is the cave hand made from slate, or rock. Is bought from the lfs.

If you have nothing in the tank that lowers ph, or raise ph. Just keep an eye on ph.
It could be due to the bad water quality.

 

[mybettasgotbumps]

Hello Wilder,

I just tested the water again after third water change in a week, and here are the results:

aquarium:
Nitrate 10
Nitrite 0
Hardness 200
Chlorine 0
Alkalinity 180
pH 7.8
ammonia 0

Stats seem to have gotten better, but the bumps kept getting larger... It's been about a year since I got him + however long he's been at the petshop... He seems to have lost appetite and some sight...

 

[WILDER]

Water quality good now.
Have any of the lumps burst.

 

[mybettasgotbumps]

I think he is about to pass away unfortunately. He has come to the surface only to eat a couple of pellets which he can hardly see, and has stayed at the bottom of the tank for the remaining of the day. His bump has spread to his body, and his fins have gotten significantly smaller. It's been about 16 months since we got him...

Is there anything I can do to make it easier/less painful for him? this is really difficult for me too, i never thought i would get attached to my fish this much. thank you for your help in advance.

 

[betta989]

I'm very sorry if he passes let him swim free and always remember him and keep a special place in your heart

 

[BethK]

I would place your betta at around the 2yr mark, which is unfortunately the life expectancy of a LFS betta.

Please keep us updated, hope he makes a recovery x