Dying betta

B

bleeding

AC Members
Nov 17, 2006
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My betta began having a growth behind and near his gill about a week or two ago. I normally am on the monsterfishkeepers site, and posted about it there, but at the time he was acting normal (feeding a freely swimming) and they said it may be a tumor and if he is acting normal, then dont worry about it.

Now, the growth has become large and he is crashing on the bottom, hides in ornaments, and isnt feeding. It appears it is affecting the gills function as well.

Now he is having trouble swimming, and is basically just laying on things, and looks dead (not yet but he is probably very close.) Others have seen this picture and have suggested it being a tumor, or mabye fish TB.

What is your opinion, and how should i treat this as well as the rest of the tank. The other community fish are guppies and platys, in a 55 gallon.

I forgot to also mention, the growth started above the gill area, but wasnt actually on the gill like it is now. About a week into it (as you can sort of see on the first pic) his belly began swelling and looked as if it had some sort of internal growth as well.

He has been in this tank with these fish for almost a year now.

Fish_16e.JPG Fish_17e.JPG
 
Me personally, I'd remove him from that big tank and set him up in something with much shallower water. When a betta is sick, just swimming up to the surface for their gulps of air can prove to be a strain and cause them to drown!!

Set up a small tank, no filter or spong filter, and a small submersible heater if you can afford it. If not and if you keep your house relatively warm (close to the temp of your aquarium), just take him out and place him in a bowl or other shallow container. If he's too tired to keep himself upright, he's gonna drown when he stops trying to go all the way up for air.

If you feel he's suffering, a quick way to end his pain is to put him in a shallow bowl and place him in the freezer. He'll slow down, pass out asleep, and then pass away painlessly. The only other option I've ever heard for euthanizing a betta was dropping them into boiling water!! I think the freezing thing is much more humane. But to let you know, you have to wait until they are frozen solid in their water. Bettas are sometimes just too hardy for their own good. *sniffles*

Sorry... I'm a huge affectionado of betta splendens...
 
A lot of fish experts recommend clove oil prior to freezing, to ensure they are really unconcious before the ice crystals take over. Other recommended options are freezing some water first, taking it out before it's frozen solid, and shocking the fish into unconciousness, before the ice crystals also take over. Clove oil is apparently found at the drug store and used by tooth ache medications. My local health food store also has it. Drsfosterandsmith also sell a specially formated version for fishkeepers, that mixes easily in water. (Otherwise, you have to really shake it to get it to mix with the water to be effective.)

I am so sorry about your betta. Those pics are heart breaking. I wish him and you the best. <3
 
looks like tumors, could be fish TB but it does look pretty bad

the humane way of euthanizing fish is clove oil, NOT FREEZING OR BOILING. freezing is an extremely slow and painful way to die. the fish will be in shock before succuming. never freeze a fish if you want to euthanize it. clove oil is available in supermarkets and is often used either anesthesia or euthanization, depending on its dosage amount. it will quickly put the fish to "sleep".
 
OK,

So it appears that the only replys i am getting on either site is how to properly dispose of this fish.....

If everyone thinks this is an untreatable condition, I can handle that, but i would still like to know mabye what this is or what i can do to ensure this does not happen again. I would like to replace the betta, so i would hate for this to happen 2x.....Thanks for the replys

AND

What do i do if this is FISH TB??? isnt that extremly "contaigous" between not only the fish but the fish keeper?!
 
If it is fish TB it is uncurable and yes it can be transmitted to the rest of your fish as well as to you. Another reason not to start a suction to your siphon with your mouth. Here is a website about it: http://www.4qd.org/Aqua/disease/tb.html Even if not the cause of your problem taking a look would certainly prove informative.
 
Probably Lethal

From the pictures looks like he is on his way out. As far as putting him down, the most effective method ive found is beheading. Just take a sharp knife and remove the head in one stroke. Instant lights out. No suffering/no expensive oils/no time wasted. Fish that small wont bleed all over either. Just do it on a paper towel or something. Hope that helps and good luck.
 
seeing the pics...thats some tumor goin on in there... I would in all honesty put the fish down. It wont live a happy life if it survives.
 
Poor guy :( Do the clove oil... for the poor fishes sake :( Put him out of his misery and pain...
 
I also think this looks like an untreatable tumor. The humane thing to do would be to end the suffering.

Unless your other fish are showing symptoms, I'd say this is not communicable and won't spread. Bettas are prone to tumors. In all likelihood, you did nothing wrong, could not have prevented this, and basically just got a genetically inferior fish.
 
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