I have a male Betta who lives in a ten gallon tank with four zebra danios, a snail and several live plants. There used to be five danios, but a month or so ago one of them developed an abscess and died. Since that time out Betta has developed a really large boil on his right side and a smaller one on the left. His skin is really stretched out, and looks transparent, like inside all there is is fluid. He gets around the tank, he's maybe a little more lethargic than normal, but it seems like it must really suck for him. I gave the tank a full course of antibiotics (on the theory that the other danios were exposed too), and while he might be behaving a little more normally, the boil seems bigger.
So, should I catch him and lance the boil? That's what I'd do if it were on my foot or something, but jeez, this takes up like a quarter of his body! Please help!
2007-01-15 15:53:35 · 7 answers · asked by Chris L 2 in Pets ➔ Fish
Don't lance it. You'd lance a boil on your foot but not if it took up a quarter of your body! You'll just kill your fish.
If I were you, I would try to get a good clear, close-up picture of the growths and show them to an experienced, knowledgeable fishstore employee or post them on www.aquahobby.com for a diagnosis. Big ole cysts like that might be anything from parasites to tuberculosis.
2007-01-15 16:55:03 · answer #1 · answered by ceci9293 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Do not lance it.
It seems it is a parasite. So, go to your local fish store and get a parasite medication. Bettas very often get those. I've had that happen several times over the years with Bettas. Now, I use the medication as soon as I buy a new Betta that way I get rid of the parasites. I haven't had a problem w Bettas since.
Oh, when my Betta died and I finally made an incision to check it, it was all liquid, just like what you wrote..
Good luck!
2007-01-15 16:09:31 · answer #2 · answered by poecilia.r.lvr 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Don't lance it!! Doing so is only weakening your fish and opening him up for infection Do you use carbon in the tank's filters? If so the medications did little to nothing for your fish. Take out the carbon and re-medicate with Melafix.
2007-01-15 17:23:46 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
i won't stress this adequate... do no longer attempt abode remedies or organic remedies. you are able to desire to work out a doctor approximately it. Boils could make you very ill very rapid... it relatively is not any longer something to debris with. purely your scientific expert could desire to safeguard the boil.
2016-12-13 08:23:22 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
no do not lance it, go to a pet store that specializes in fresh water fish and ask them usually they will be right on in diagnosis
2007-01-15 16:04:22 · answer #5 · answered by mycatreads 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Here is info on betta diseases and how to care for them
http://www.bettatalk.com/betta_diseases.htm
You obviously need to sanitize your tank
http://www.bettatalk.com/sanitization.htm
Don't lance it.
2007-01-15 17:44:52 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ohhh poor fish. I feel bad for him - although I don't know what to do for him. Hope he feels better.
2007-01-15 16:03:55 · answer #7 · answered by Miss Marie 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋