My beta fish has developed a kind of growth on his side.?

Question

This growth it is raised and blue on the outer ring and it gets white in the middle. It's gotten bigger in the last two weeks, and now I've noticed that fish lost his appetite. I've been changing his water biweekly 100%. He is in a flower vase which holds about a gallon of water, no plants just glass pebles and a piece of coral. I've been using filtered water but not using any additives or conditioners for the water. What can this "growth" be and can it be treated? I also take some advice about the kepp of the beta fish. Thanks

Answer 1

8 months is NOT a long time for a goldfish to live! Goldfish can live 10-20+ years if properly cared for.

Without seeing the growth or knowing more, I can't real tell you exactly what it is. It could be a cyst, a swollen gland, bacterial infection (but those are usually reddish), and I really don't believe its a fungus (fungal infections do not usually swell that much) etc.
I do not believe that it is a parasite or a fungus, however, he may benefit from a little bit of AQUARIUM salt in the water. Disolve a pinch (use directions on label) of aquarium salt in a cup of his water and poor it in (don't put it straight in - undisolved salt will burn his gills). Don't but any more than 1tsp per gallon of water - bettas come from freshwater, and a high change in salt in the water can mess with their osmotic regulation.
Try administering the antiobiotic Maracyn-2. You can also try the betta-fix remedy, which is kind of a universal betta remedy which may or may not do anything.

Unfortunately, this may be a tumor, in which case their is nothing you can do. Keep up with water changes. I think you'd be better off replacing the piece of coral, which is messing with your pH (coral makes high pH, and bettas are from low- to mid- pH) and put in a plastic plant to help him feel safer. Also, do 50-70% changes 4 or 5 times a week. Without a filter, your water isn't cycled, and the ammonia is just building up, which certainly isn't helping anything. Bettas kept in jars are recommended to have their water changed almost daily.

A great item to use is dried sweet almond leaf. You can find it for sale on e-bay or a some fish stores. You put a piece of leaf in your jar; it has anti-bacterial properties which will help even if it's not a bacterial infection. It will also taint the water slightly brown, which will help your betta feel safer.

Frankly, the best thing you could do for your betta or any future bettas is to invest in a proper, cycled fish tank with a filter and heater (5gallons would be sufficient).

Also, when you say 'filtered' water, what do you mean? Do you mean just like filtered through a brita filter? Because that isn't removing chlorine or heavy metals and you should be using a dechlorinator (in fact, some Stress Coat or Amquel+ would probably help him right now). If you mean spring/pure water, then it's fine.

Good luck with your fishy. Updates are welcomed!

Answer 2

First, do you have the piece of coral in the vase to buffer your pH? Because if you just have it in there for decoration, you should take it out, because it buffers the pH of new water, which has the potential to keep the pH very high, and I've found that betta's aren't very tolerant of a really high pH, and that could be the cause of the stress.

Right now, add a little more than half a tablespoon of freshwater aquarium salt per gallon of water to his vase to reduce stress and then go to a couple of web sites on fish diseases and try to diagnose his problem. That should be easy, just type "fish diseases" or "betta diseases" into a search engine. It is probably either a bacterial infection or a fungal infection. The problem is that some bacteria look like fungus, so you need to make sure you know what you have before you treat him. If you think it is a bacterial infection, I recommend treating him with a combination of Maracyn and Maracyn-2. If it is a fungal infection, you can treat him with MarOxy. If he is getting worse after 1 or 2 days of treatment with the medication, I would consider that it is misdiagnosed. Change his water, and start on the other type of medication.

In the future, betta's are less likely to get sick if they have 3 gallons or more to live in (preferrably 5 gallons), as well as a heater to keep the temperature warm and steady (around 75 degrees), and a filter to keep the water clean and oxygenated. Changes in temperature can cause lots of stress for a betta, and small amounts of water can foul quickly, especially without a filter.

Answer 3

Well, I think Ann and Zoe got it covered! Good answers guys!
There might also be the possibility of it being a tumor...? And just a note... I use Indian Almond leaves to I put a half leaf in 5 gal tank and a whole leaf in a 10 gal tank. I recently got a new male Betta and the "Tea" the leaves make in the water seem to have made him more aggressive but it hasn't done that to any of my other males so, maybe it just depends on the fish...? But don't get me wrong - I love what the leaves do for my fish!!! I hope your fish will be alright!

Answer 4

I easily have a male beta in my 72g with 2 female betas, 2 large silver money, 6 discus, an iridescent shark, 3 convicts, a hand finished of black neons and 2small plecos. he's doing basically high quality, no person bothers him. that's a non violent tank don't be attentive to lots approximately purifier shrimp and betas in spite of the undeniable fact that

Answer 5

use "betta fix" its a fungus. that should clear it up. And give it a plant that might d-stress him a little.

Answer 6

don't worry my goldfish had the same thing and he lived for 8 months!