My fish has a tumor in his belly and I don't know what to do! Help!?

Question

At first I thought it was overfeeding, then I thought it was dropsy, but now I'm sure he has a tumor. The fish is a betta, if it helps. This fish has always had a very swollen belly, but it's grown a ton now. It almost looks like he's pregnant! I'm sure I'm not overfeeding. I haven't fed him for 3 days now to see if it helped. I'm not going to be sad if he dies, I just don't want him to be in any pain. Is it really a tumor, and what else can I do but watch and wait?

Answer 1

Your fish is merely constipated. If it were a swim bladder problem, he would not be swimming normally. It's very very unlikely that he has a tumor, and if he had one, it is even less likely that it would be located right where his stomach is.

You did good by fasting him for a few days, but you haven't given him enough of a chance to 'make a movement'.

Betta fish can go several weeks without food (although they certainly don't like it very much), so don't worry about starving him. In the situation, it is appropriate to go as long as one week without any food. If after a week has passed you see that he still hasn't pooped, feed him a bit of cooked, peeled pea. It's a natural fish laxative. If he refuses to eat it at first, take it out and try again later. Out of hunger, he will eventually have no choice. Don't offer him ANYTHING but pea until he poops.

If it's possible without much stress on your fish, put him in a bare-bottomed tank (no gravel) so it's easy to see if he's pooped.

Please reserve the epsom salt bath until it seems like a desperate case. Epsom salt baths are VERY stressful on your fish as they physically draw out moisture from your betta.

In the future when you're feeding him, keep in mind that bettas' stomachs are about the size of one of their eyeballs. I feed all my boys 3-5 pellets a day and no more (a couple first thing in the morning, and a 2 to 3 more in the evening). Limit treats like bloodworms to 1 or 2 worms on a weekly basis in place of a meal. Bloodworms are notorious constipators if fed in large quantities. Also, it's never a bad idea to fast your bettas for one day once a week or so to give him a chance to 'clean out' his system.

Good luck. Send me a message if you need anymore help.

Answer 2

Listen I am sure it's not a tumor fish don't get cancer. Their phiseology is completely different than humans. And I think that it's a swimbladder infection like she sed.If your fish has ever fallen out of the tank he might have hurt or maybe even ruptured his swim bladder.

If it is a viral infection you can't do anything about it.

And if it's a bacterial infection then you could buy anti-bacterial or medicated food. Or an antibiotic like KanaPlex or Maracyn-Two in the water.

And like you said it might be overfeeding and or constipation. an Epsom salt bath can be performed. This is very stressful on a betta but a betta can die from constipation, so if no poo is seen after withholding food for one week and feeding tiny pieces of a frozen (but thawed) pea after 3-4 days of fasting, then this is worth a try.

Epsom Salt Bath for Betta Constipation:

1 Tbsp. Epsom salt
1/2 gallon conditioned water

Mix equal parts of your fish's current water with Epsom water. You can use just about any measurement, e.g. 1 pint, 1 quart, etc., just as long as you use an equal amount of Epsom water and tank water. Do not use Aquarium or other types of salt.
Make sure that you have enough of the old water left to put the fish back into, replacing the missing water with new conditioned same-temperature water.
Add your betta to the Epsom/tank water mixture for 15-60 minutes or until he poos (whichever comes first). If after 60 minutes in the water, he has not pooed, take him out and put him back in his old tank water and watch him over the next few hours.
Even if he does not poo in the Epsom/tank water, usually he will poo later after he has been removed.
If at anytime, while in the Epsom/tank water, he rolls over and stays there (such as on his side or upside down), then you will need to remove him immediately and put him back into his tank water.

I sure am glad that i can't die from constipation. Listen if you rly loooove your fish you should do this. But i recommend that you try the anti bacterial food first wait a few days (3-5) and if the swollen hasn't come out then do the bath.
Happy betta fish care taking!!!!!!!

Answer 3

it could be a swimbladder infection. is he swimming funny? layin on the bottom of the tank, or flipping over?

for other fish, they reccomend feeding peeled frozen peas or husked corn pieces for three days. don't feed any other food, but i'm not too sure what your'e supposed to feed betas in that situation........ you can try it.... you might call your vet or petco and ask.... or, call a fish store, they'd know what to feed him.

good luck, and i doubt it's a tumor, just his swimbladder..... don't feed regular food for a few days, it just gets in there and expands.

Answer 4

Not a tumor most likely. he is probably constipated, and this can be cured by adding a couple peas, chopped in half, in his tank. He will bite at them and it'll help him get rid of waste.