can this fish be helped or is it time for euthanasia
- Thread starter Soupysteve
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- Aug 24, 2008
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- Stephen Hess
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Aside from work and an occasional trip to a sandwich shop, I only manage to venture away from my house on the weekends. I'll give everyone an update the next time I visit my buddy [owner of the fish]. I linked this thread to his facebook wall so he could follow along.
I did a bit of reading on the anabantoids/bettafix issues - and will advise my friend to make sure he doesn't exceed the recommended dosage if he decides to go that route. Last week, I gave him a brand new bottle of Amquel plus - so doing a few water changes shouldn't be an issue at all.
Thanks for the constructive comments, everyone.
I did a bit of reading on the anabantoids/bettafix issues - and will advise my friend to make sure he doesn't exceed the recommended dosage if he decides to go that route. Last week, I gave him a brand new bottle of Amquel plus - so doing a few water changes shouldn't be an issue at all.
Thanks for the constructive comments, everyone.
The fish, whom I've affectionately (and no doubt quite originally) named Darwin, seems to be doing OK. He doesn't appear to have any difficulty with swimming, eats his food well, and responds to "feeding-type" stimulus (e.g., reaching behind his tank to fiddle with stuff elicits the same response as if I have retrieved his food which is kept back there). One issue of potential concern to me, however, is the amount of time that he hangs out amongst the plants in his tank. Without knowing much about betta behavior (or fish in general) I'm unsure whether this is a natural occurrence - do fish sleep? - or if this is the fish version of an illness-induced bedrest.
At the very worse case, it can be cancer. I had one fish develop it on his head, he lived at least 6 months before it killed him. Not pretty, but he was a happy fish and never knew he was "different".
- Aug 24, 2008
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- Stephen Hess
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So the growth on this poor betta's face is getting bigger. It looks like the growth originates in the betta's nostril.
Based on my years of fish-keeping, my over-active imagination, and need to form an explanation that I can be satisfied with, I say that it's cancer or something similar. My buddy (the betta's keeper, edward2020) single-handedly keeps cigarette prices high through supply and demand
While edward2020 and I were looking at the betta, I suggested that that its exposure to second hand smoke throughout its life had something to do with the growth - especially since the growth is located where the betta makes contact with the water's surface - and the air of the room. I have NO data to back up my impromptu hypothesis - but it sounded good to me.
The fish still ACTS fine. The growth isn't trying to cover the eye of the betta - which I guess is a relief. To look at the fish, you'd think you could pull it out of the water and "pop off" the growth with little or no force - except the fish would lose 1/2 of its snout.
The extra water changes don't seem to affect the fish at all - but the plants sure seem to have benefited from them. I looked at various treatments at some of the LFS - it's a real bummer that the cost of the CHEAPEST one I found would cover the cost of 2 bettas.
Based on my years of fish-keeping, my over-active imagination, and need to form an explanation that I can be satisfied with, I say that it's cancer or something similar. My buddy (the betta's keeper, edward2020) single-handedly keeps cigarette prices high through supply and demand
While edward2020 and I were looking at the betta, I suggested that that its exposure to second hand smoke throughout its life had something to do with the growth - especially since the growth is located where the betta makes contact with the water's surface - and the air of the room. I have NO data to back up my impromptu hypothesis - but it sounded good to me. The fish still ACTS fine. The growth isn't trying to cover the eye of the betta - which I guess is a relief. To look at the fish, you'd think you could pull it out of the water and "pop off" the growth with little or no force - except the fish would lose 1/2 of its snout.
The extra water changes don't seem to affect the fish at all - but the plants sure seem to have benefited from them. I looked at various treatments at some of the LFS - it's a real bummer that the cost of the CHEAPEST one I found would cover the cost of 2 bettas.
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Lupin
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- Sep 21, 2006
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- Paul
GMOB, yes, they can. Cancerous tumors to be more exact but most tumor cases are benign and as long as it is not cancerous, the fish can live until it meets its end. Cancerous tumors on the other hand will eventually take over and kill the fish.
Steve, how big is the betta? I was going to suggest dabbing the growth with iodine solution carefully using a Q-tip and see if this might inhibit the growth. Use gloves to handle the fish or apply stresscoat on your hands as rough human skin will only peel off the slimecoating and leave the fish vulnerable to skin issues.
Steve, how big is the betta? I was going to suggest dabbing the growth with iodine solution carefully using a Q-tip and see if this might inhibit the growth. Use gloves to handle the fish or apply stresscoat on your hands as rough human skin will only peel off the slimecoating and leave the fish vulnerable to skin issues.
- Aug 24, 2008
- 92
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- 6
- Real Name
- Stephen Hess
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Here's another pic I took yesterday while at my buddy's house. This betta is "adult" sized - and nice and plump/muscular looking.
thanks, i never would of thought that this was possible with fish, maybe whales but not fish.
