Do bettas get cancer????

Question

I have a 3 year old betta (Bruiser) that has a growing tumor or something on the tip of his nose. I have another betta (Hogan) in another bowl and I've been noticing that Bruiser's bowl get dirty after just 1 or 2 days, where Hogan's doesn't start to look the least bit dirty until about 4 days. Bruiser doesn't swim much, he just kind of lays on the side of the bowl. He's eating but he seems to have a difficult time swimming up to the top to get his food, so he waits until it falls to the floor of the bowl.
Is there any treatment for his condition (the tumor)?

Answer 1

It seems lately that quite a bit of betta owners have fish with some sort of tumor, I myself have one. As far as I know there isn't a cure for this. Here is a site that shows pics of different types of lumps, maybe you can find one that matches your fish and find out what's wrong and if there is something you can do. http://www.fishjunkies.com/Disorders/lumps.php

Answer 2

It is not ich! Ich presents as spots all over the fish's body and fins. It looks like salt grains.

Everything gets cancer! But it is not cancer either.

Bruiser is an old betta reaching the end of his life. If he has lived with you for 3 years, he is about 4 years old. Betta lifespan is 2-4 years with good care. It seems that Bruiser has had good care.

Fish will get those white spots on their noses when they spend a lot of time against the glass of their bowl looking out at the world or trying to get to another betta. It is more like a callous than anything else.

Do partial water changes for Bruiser rather than 100 %. Do it as soon as you notice the water getting the least bit dirty. Partial water changes are the best thing for any fish. If the fish is healthy, do it once a week. In Bruiser's case, do it like I said.


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As far as removing the white bump, I have heard of minor surgery on fish before. I have never done it, nor would I attempt it without a lot of research first. I understand that the fish are usually sedated with clove oil in the water, but I am not sure how much is used. I do know that clove oil is the most humane way to euthanize a fish. 8-10 drops in a small container holding the fish (two cups of water). Leave them in until all breathing stops.

I have never heard of a betta living 7 years! The most I have even read about was 5-6 years and that was phenomenal.

Good luck with Bruiser, hope he feels better now after his surgery.

Answer 3

Yes they can get cancer. It could also be an infection of some sort. If it's cancer it's possible that a vet familar with fish could remove it. Given his age is about 4 it's unlikely he'd survive the procedure. (Also the tumor has likely spread already.) Even if he did he's elderly for a betta, and doesn't have more than year of life left.

At this point I'd keep him warm, and his water clean. If you've got the money to burn. Adding melafix/bettafix might help prevent secondary infections and give him more time. You could try a round of treatment with trisulfa in case it's bacteria. Honestly it's unlikely to "cure" him even if it's bacteria. (Given his age.)

Answer 4

I always enjoy Nunya's answers. Usually short and very imformative. Bettas can get cancer, just as most fish can. I had one that got a huge lump also. He lived with it for like 6 months and I couldn't find anything to help him either.

Good Luck and Take Care

Answer 5

I'm not absaloutly sure, but he may have swim blatter disease. And as for the tumor, I can't help you on that one. :-( But the dirty water, some bettas just are dirtier. :-) You should change their water every 2 days, instead of four. Sometimes if you feed them too much then the water gets dirtier faster. Nothing really to worry about. Even if the water looks clean, you still need to change it. I don't think that bettas get cancer. ;-) You may need some reliable meds for your betta'. Go to www.bettatalk.com and go to "buy suplies" and then click on meds. I think you will want the betta first aid kit. I have it and it is GLORIOUS! :-D You would be amazed at how well it works!
HIH! (Hope I helped!)

Answer 6

That is some crazy stuff, Im sorry D; i never heard of a fish having cancer but maybe a disease of some type. Check your water condition you might have done a change that majorly shocked your beta fish? 4years is a long time it lived and sounded like a horrible but beautiful death, in his castle. Edit- Dont worry about that guy, he done it in every post. Probably one of those auto Bots advertiser so you go on their website and get a virus.

Answer 7

A similar thing happened to my betta, although he was younger. Name was Hughie. He showed similar problems, ie lack of movement, trouble eating. He showed these symptoms for several months before he died.

I guess I always assumed he had gotten a stroke or the like, since it is feasible that some harmful substance could have fallen in his tank on accident. I never did find out what happened to him, though.

You might want to get your fish some help somehow, or he will probably die.

Answer 8

go to a pet store and describe it to the salespeople, there's lots of fish medicine

Answer 9

Possible causes

Ich/White Spot: This is probably one of the most common fish diseases. Ich looks like literally white spots all over the fish. This is a Protozoan disease caused by Ichthyophthirius in fresh water aqauriums (Cryptocarion irritans in Marine). It is a parasite that attacks the eyes, fins, gills, skin and mouth interior.

Symptoms: White spots all over the fish. The fish may attempt to scrape itself against objects in the aquarium, have a loss of appetite or a stressed-rapid breathing. The parasite can only be affected by treatment during the free-swimming stages of the cycle.

Treatment : A Copper Sulfate or Copper Formalin medicine should be able to kill most infections. There are many medicines all do the trick. If the fish are salt tolerant give your fish a salt bath. Also raise the temp this ups the life cycle of the disgusting parasite.

Velvet Similar to ich except the white spots appear 'dusty'.

Symptoms Same as ich except dusty spots

Treatment Same as ich

Dropsy : One of the most disturbing of fish diseases, and is rarely cureable. Dropsy is an internal bacterial infection.

Symptoms: The fish's scales will stand out, making it have a pine comb look. Sometimes eyes can .blow up'.

Treatment : Use Kanamycin or Tetracycline and raise the temperature to about 80 degrees/ 30 deg C. This helps remove the fluid note this is rarly curablee.

Fungus:: Common disease that effects all kinds tropical fish. Fungus mostly infects in poor water conditions in which there are unacceptable levels of ammonia or nitrites. Fin nippers will damage the fins of other fish making them more susceptible to fungal infections and external bacterial infections such as fin and tail rot.

Symptoms A white cottony fluff will appear on fish. Can be around body or in mouth. Fin rot appears as white on ends of fins.

Treatment: Relatively easy. Add appropriate medication (Available for all fungal infections). If fish are salt tolerant add salt. Raise the temp to 30 deg C or 80deg F.

Swimbladder: This is a disease that effects the fishes swim bladder.

Symptoms: Fish swim side-ways or rest on bottom and can't go to surface.

Treatment: Raise the temperature, add appropriate medication for swim bladder. Note this is a disease that is rarely curable.

Cysts This is a uncommon disease. Fish infected by systs should be ethunaised before the cyst bursts.

Symptoms: Large balls appear on fish internally or externally. They look full of fluid and are relatively large

CataractsCataracts are fungal growths on the eyes. Treatment with any aquarium fungicide should work. Its probability increases with water rich in ammonia or nitrates.

Symptoms:White or gray material covering the eyes only.

Treatment:Special attention should be made to assure that ammonia and nitrite levels stay within accepted measures. Add anti fugal treatment. Raise the temperature and if fish are compatible with salt add it.

CorneybacteriosisCorneybacteria causes swelling in the head which will push the eyes outward. It is caused by overcrowding and water of poor quality, having an excess of ammonia and / or nitrites. (YOU KNOW SEE WHY WE GO ON AND ON ABOUT AMMONIA/NITRITES )

Symptoms Bulging Eyes

Treatment:There are a few commercially available products which treat corneybacteriosis Penicillin and tetracycline are among them.

Black Spot Black Spot, or diplopstomiasis, often follows the addition of new aquarium fish. All fish are susceptible, especially the Silver Dollar and Piranha. It is fairly easy to diagnose and treat.

Symptoms Small black spots on the body.

Treatment Black spot is generally easy to cure. There are a number of commercially available treatments and preventatives.

VelvetVelvet looks similar to Ich, but there will be many more small white spots that appear dusty. This Protozoan disease in fresh water environments is caused by Oodinium limneticum and Oodinium pillularis. In marine environments by Oodinium occellatum. The parasite attacks the eyes, fins, gills and skin.

Symptoms: Similar to Ich more white spots that appear dusty

Treatment As for Ich

Fin Rot Can be either bacterial (fins rot with red [blood] outline on edge) or fungal (white, cottony grows on edge of fin)

Symptoms The fins will have a ragged, uneven appearance that will eventually, if left untreated, disintegrate to the point where only a stub remains.

Treatment There is a range of medication including penecilin.

Hole In The Head (HITH): This is a common disease among larger Cichlids such as Severums and especially...Oscars. It appears as small holes on the face and around the eyes, that may have a white material growing inside them.

SymptomsIt appears as small holes on the face and around the eyes, that may have a white material growing inside them. Loss of appetite and whitish feces are another indication that may appear before the development of the holes.

Treatmeant A range of medication including Aquarium Pharmaceuticals-General Cure, Aquatronics- Hex-a-Mit, Aquatronics- Hex-A-Vital (especially for Discus, Angelfish and Oscars)

Gill Flukes Parasite livign in gills. Gills become inflamed.

Symptoms: The gills may turn red and swollen. The fish may scratch himself against objects and breathe rapidly.

Treatment Use appropriate medication and raise the temp and if possible give a salt bath.

Flexibacter Flexibacter is a gliding bacteria. These bacteria are long, thin, and flexible. One end of the bacterial cell is attached to the fish, while the other end if free floating.

Symptoms: Looks like fuzzyness basically. Balls that look like mold.

Treatment Appropriate medication (Maracyn and Maracyn II used together). Increased aeration, and decreased temperature.

Tumor There are 2 types of tumors. The Benign and Cancerous tumor.

Symptoms: The benign tumour will have something that looks like an infection around it. A Cancerous tumour will keep growing and some scales around the area will protrude when it grows big enough.

Treatment: Sadly no cure. Either euthanise the fish reccomended or let it live in agony for its remaing days.

Clamped fins The fish clamps its fins close against the its body. Experienced aquarists use this to quickly spot problems with their fish.

Symptoms Like the name clammped fins.

Treatment: Water change (Like with all diseases) add melafix or some sort of appropriate medication. If possible add salt to compatible fish.

Remember all Infected fish are to be removed and put in a hospital tank. And water changes should be done without question.

Septicaemia
This condition can follow on from skin infections such as finrot or may occur independently as a result of dirty conditions. Bacteria enter the blood stream and circulate through the tissues causing inflammation and damage. Blood vessel and heart tissue damage result in leakage of fluids into the abdomen, prpducing dropsy. Inflamed blood vessels in the skin and at fin bases stand out.

Things To Look Out For
Reddening at the bases of the fins
Small haemorrhages around the eyes
Very dull, listless behavious
Lack of appetite

Treatment
Seek vetinary guidance. The vet will prescribe antibiotics. Check the aquarium for the cause and eliminate it.

Tuberculosis
A fairly infectious bacterial disease, tubercolosis is becoming incresingly common. Affected specimens must be removed from the aquariym immediately so that other fishes aren't infected. A tubercular fish usually feeds normally, but loses weight as it's internal organs become damaged. Some fish develop nodules under the skin which eventually ulcerate, in other nodules develop behind the eye, causing "pop-eye".

The bacteria that causes the disease prefers cooler temperatures than most bacteria that infect humans. However, fish tuberculosis can affect people, usually in the for of an infected nodule on the skin, but there is a small chance that it will cause a serious internal infection. nce diagnosed in one of your fish, strict hygienic precautions should be observed. A definate diagnosis is only possible by a post mortem.

Things To Look Out For
Appears dull in colour
Weight loss
Folded fins
Ulcerous skin wounds

Treatment
Seek vetinary advice. Affected fish should be removed and euthanized. Don't allow them to die in the tank as other inhabitants will eat them and become infected too. The tubercular fish's contacts should be treated: move them to a separate hospital tank, and disinfect the original aquarium. If other fish succumb, don't introduce any new specimens, euthanize all affected fish then clean, disinfect and re-stock the aquarium.

Anchor Worms (lernaea)

This is a parasitic copepod that attacks mainly freshwater fishes, but have also been found in marine habitats. These parasites can be seen with the naked eye. Females are 10-12mm, males are 0.8mm.

Females are parasitic and embed themselves into the hosts flesh. They are held in place using a 'holdfast', where they begin feeding on the fishs' flesh, organs and fluids. Reproductive potential is seen by the development of two egg sacs on the exterior/exposed part of the parasite, giving them that Y/T-shaped appearance. Young copepods are free swimmers, but soon attach themselves to the gills. Adults and eggs are introduced via live foods, infected water, or plants.

Symptoms: Fishes infected with these parasites can be seen 'flashing' on surfaces. This is the underside of the fishes as they attempt to rid themselves of these parasites. Other symptoms include localized redness, inflation of the body of the fish, breathing difficulties, lethargy, ulcers, dropsy, weight loss, loss of scales, gill and fin damage. Puncture wounds often introduce opportunistic, secondary infections.

Treatments : Infected individuals should be removed into a quarantine tank, as to prevent females from releasing their eggs into the main tank.

1) Salt has been recommended as the safest form of removal for effected fishes. 10-30 grams per litre.
2) Trichlorfon, Dipterex and Dylox (toxic to fishes and invertebrates - use with care)
3) Current treatments involves Dimilin

Sources:
http://www.pondsandpumps.co.uk/artanchorworm.htm
http://uk.msnusers.com/FishHealth/lernaea.msnw