What Is This On My Betta?

[Mikaila31]

My only betta Monty has had some spots around his head for a long time. Like months. I treated him with a few different meds(fungal and bacterial) at first, but none had any affect at all. I stopped treatment, cuz other than the spots he is happy and otherwise appears to be healthy. Eats, builds bubblenests, and comes up to me when I'm by the tank. The larger marks are the old ones, and the smaller ones are the new ones. None of them have ever gone away, they change really slowly too. The two largest ones are a couple months old and haven't really changed at all since they first appeared. The spots are smooth and slightly raised. Any idea what these are and how to get rid of them?

 

[ReMz]

wow. this is a new one for me. appears he has a good home... ... and a very competent owner.

but i have to ask:
Tank size?
Other fish in the tank?
Maintenance?
exactly how long have you had him?
anything that may have started these symptoms (changes in the tank) or has he always had the spots?
How long did you treat with the meds and what did you use?

I'm a bit thrown off by this one... but answering those question should at least point myself and others in the right direction.

My only betta Monty has had some spots around his head for a long time. Like months. I treated him with a few different meds(fungal and bacterial) at first, but none had any affect at all. I stopped treatment, cuz other than the spots he is happy and otherwise appears to be healthy. Eats, builds bubblenests, and comes up to me when I'm by the tank. The larger marks are the old ones, and the smaller ones are the new ones. None of them have ever gone away, they change really slowly too. The two largest ones are a couple months old and haven't really changed at all since they first appeared. The spots are smooth and slightly raised. Any idea what these are and how to get rid of them?

 

[Mikaila31]

The tank is a 15gal. He currently shares it with 9 young german blue rams, cherry shrimp, and snails. They all get along great, but he has his own tank for when the rams grow up. 50% water changes every week. I've had him around a year. I can't think of anything that could of caused the spots. He first got them when he was in his own 3gal tank. He has been living w/ other fish for over a month and all the other fish are still 100% healthy and happy.

Meds tried where Melafix and Primafix used seperalty. Each for one week @ slightly higher than recommended dose. Tried some salt baths and just keeping the water really clean and feeding good food. I haven't done anything but keep him in clean water and feed good food for the last month. Not much has changed. The spots very very slowly get larger and Monty continues to act healthy and happy.

Also the spots are all around or on his head, no where else.

 

[ReMz]

why is he in with 9 young gbr's? just curious... ur rehousing them later right?

I'm baffled. I really hope someone knows more then me on this one... only thought that comes to my mind is tumors... and there is nothing you can do in that case.

don't 100% rely on that diagnosis though. im hoping someone can offer you another opinion

 

[Mikaila31]

why is he in with 9 young gbr's? just curious... ur rehousing them later right?

Because they currently all get along. He's been with the rams since they were .5" long. They are starting to hit 1" now and there adult colors are starting to come in. Its a temporary set up. I know Monty will most likely have to go back to his own tank, and the rams will have to be split up in different tanks once they are young adults and start pairing off. I am prepared for this. Most of the rams will be sold, but I could still house 3-4 pairs if I needed too.

 

[Mikaila31]

any other opinions?

 

[heygetsmart]

MAYBE OLD BATTLE WOUNDS? OR SOME FINGUL ISSUES.

 

[Cdarmychi]

Is he bumping up against his heater? I had one that was getting burns that looked kinda similar to that....I ended up having to take his heater out and put his tank on a reptile heating pad...

 

[eggy]

well tell us if any symptoms are recognizable in the list below





A SICK BETTA Does not eat at all or eats reluctantly and may spit out his food.
Is not active. May lay at the bottom and come up only for air, or may stay at the surface in a corner.
May darts and purposely runs into anything he can (gravel, rocks, etc) in an effort to scratch itself.
Looks paler, color is dull, may turn gray
Tail and sometimes fins are clumped, closed, stiff looking or falling apart
Body may have: open sores, white cottony patches, red spots, lumps or white spots.
One or both eyes are protruding and swollen
One or both gills do not close all the way and stay half open (swollen/inflamed). They may look red.
Scales are raised (like a pine cone)
Belly looks too hollow or on the contrary is abnormally swollen and big.

 

[loraxchick]

fish herpes (seriously)... look it up.... do the lumps look similar? Fluid filled?...if so it might be this. My male betta get "bubbles" on his tail from time to time. i did LOTS of research on this because it alarmed me. it turns out it is herpes, and is very unlikely to effect other species of fish in the tank. Water quality or temperature do not seem to effect his "outbreaks"... it is not fatal, usually, kind of like cold sores in humans (a herpes virus)...IME they come and go with no adverse effects on the fish as far as eating, activity, pooing, or overall general health or activity/habits of the fish.

 

[Mikaila31]

He looks and acts like a healthy betta. Has no signs of disease and chows down his food. He is still in the 15gal tank, but the rams are gone and its got like 50 endlers of varying ages. He spends most his amongst the floating plants, but comes out the moment he sees me. The spots do not look fluid filled.

 

[Night61]

my first betta had a similer thing on him, i actually called it a betta zit. i just used melafix on him until it went away. it didn't hurt him nor did he have any other health problems until his death two months later.

 

[alisonjaney]

My only betta Monty has had some spots around his head for a long time. Like months. I treated him with a few different meds(fungal and bacterial) at first, but none had any affect at all. I stopped treatment, cuz other than the spots he is happy and otherwise appears to be healthy. Eats, builds bubblenests, and comes up to me when I'm by the tank. The larger marks are the old ones, and the smaller ones are the new ones. None of them have ever gone away, they change really slowly too. The two largest ones are a couple months old and haven't really changed at all since they first appeared. The spots are smooth and slightly raised. Any idea what these are and how to get rid of them?

My betta has two spots like this on his head too - I didn't notice them when I first got him, but that doesn't convince me that they weren't there before. (my memory is terrible!) He seems completely happy though - no abnormal behaviour. humhum. Did you ever come to a conclusion over this?