), Fluval Flex 9 Gallon (34L) Review (Why It’s The Best), Marineland Contour Vs Portrait Aquarium (NEW REVIEWS! Ordinarily, many bacteria are already present in a healthy aquarium and cause no harm to healthy fish. In fact, lumps on certain parts of your betta’s body are most likely not tumors at all. (Main Causes Explained), Corydoras Catfish And Bettas (Tank Mate Guide), Do Guppies Eat Their Babies? ☹️ for cancer there really anything you can do but make your betta as comfortable as possible. These include a poor diet, unsanitary water, and viral infections. While these are common places for your betta to have a tumor, anywhere on their body is susceptible to tumors. I rescued this betta fish from a daycare that provided him with about an inch of algae-filled water and only fed him when they remembered. And that’s a lump! (Complete Guide), Best Decorations For Betta Fish (2019 Guide). Unfortunately, with these, there’s usually nothing you can do to save your pet. One place that people tend to notice a tumor is on their bettas head. You can cure constipation by withdrawing food from your betta for a couple of days and then offering live or frozen food, such as bloodworms or mosquito larvae, rather than dry pellets or flakes. Gill hyperplasia normally occurs when the gills have been damaged. If you notice lumps or bumps on or under your betta fish’s skin, that’s most likely a tumor. If left untreated, an abscess will continue to grow until the fish’s skin is no longer able to contain it, at which point the abscess will burst. Tumors: Usually incurable. Once the abscess has ruptured, the fish will be left with a large, open sore on his body, leaving him vulnerable to further attack by bacteria, and so the whole cycle begins again. In these circumstances, it could be an abscess. You can often treat swim bladder disease successfully by withdrawing food from the fish for a few days to allow his digestive system to process any food that’s still inside. Stop feeding for 3-4 days. You should also add an aquarium antibacterial product to the water. Internal tumors usually impact on the fish’s ability to eat and swim. The swim bladder is an internal sac filled with gas that helps the fish to move up and down in the water, in the same way as a diver might use a buoyancy aid. That’s the most common cause of this condition. Abscesses are caused by bacterial infections. You can monitor the salt levels in the water by using a hydrometer. This could be by a physical injury, parasitical or bacterial infection, or by toxins (like ammonia, nitrates, and nitrites.). If you can't, you can find them online. I'll do all I can to help. It’s the most effective way to euthanize your betta. You may have heard that clove oil and alcohol are two ways to do it, however, they’re not recommended. I operate My betta fish try to remove her tumor. I’m glad after reading your article that my boy might live a longer life than I thought even with the tumor! As well as being a tumor, a lump could be a sign of swim bladder disease. They mainly affect the reproductive organs, gills, tail, and abdomen, and are caused by genetic mutations and viral infections. Then, one morning, the swelling was gone, his color was good, he was active, and was hungry...and there was a pea sized white ball hanging out of his right gill by a thin string. To be honest, there’s no real cure for tumors in betta fish. But you should keep an eye on the area for the next couple of weeks to look for any changes. However, sharks are a type of fish which never develops cancers. Maintain the salt content of the water after each water change by adding 30% of the quantity of salt you originally added. But the location and signs of the tumor can be different for each fish, and depend greatly on the type of tumor. If you’re concerned that your tank is infected, you can try treating the water with an over-the-counter antibacterial product, which should clear things up relatively quickly. This will then allow you to treat the water and the tank for any diseases, without harming your fish. ), Do Betta Fish Need A Heater? If this is the case, then it might not be a tumor at all. However, there is some good news. As well as ulcers and abscesses, a “tumor” could also be lumps caused by swim bladder disease, constipation, and fluid retention! If your betta fish develops a white lump on his body, it’s most likely an abscess, not a cancerous tumor. If you have a sorority of female betta fish in a tank with a male betta and it’s a female fish that is bloated, it’s possible that condition could be caused by eggs inside the fish. And in the case of gill hyperplasia, it’s going to keep the ammonia levels low. Once again though, remember, it’s far more likely this is being caused by another kind of illness. Ichthyophthiriasis is a protozoan disease that causes white spots to appear on your fish. It’s great to hear the lump went down! But don’t panic just yet! That could be caused by a parasitical or bacterial infection, physical injury, or by toxins, such as ammonia, nitrates, and nitrites. Alcohol will burn your bettas gills and insides until he dies and cloves oil can be hard to measure accurately. It’s important to note that all of these diseases are caused primarily by inadequate tank conditions. Finally, always check the tank’s occupants every day for signs of injury or disease. So, it’s vital that you carry out frequent water changes for two to three weeks following the successful treatment of the ulcers. When a tumor is noticeable on your bettas gill it’s often gill hyperplasia. It could be that your betta has sustained an injury by catching himself on something sharp in the tank, or the damage may have been caused by a nip from another fish. Betta tumors are usually cancer lumps, growths, or minor bumps/cysts under the skin of the fish. Constipation will also have other symptoms. However, there are some times when it’s time to let your betta go. As well as being a tumor, a lump on your bettas head could also be a sign of a bacterial infection. However, there are a few causes of tumors in a previously healthy betta. Betta with this condition should not be kept in shared systems or sorority tanks as it is difficult to determine if it is a non-contagious tumor or lymphocystis. In this guide, we discuss how to identify a betta fish tumor, what treatment could save your fish, and what you can do to prevent more tumors affecting your pet. When a Betta has a genetic destiny to suffer from a tumor, there is nothing that its human parents could have done to prevent it. Cancerous tumors in betta fish are quite rare. If it does burst, then you’re going to need to make sure you move your betta out of his tank if he’s with other fish. If you see a lump or bump on your betta fish, it’s more likely to be an ulcer or an abscess, both of which can look like tumors at first glance. The last one may be introduced into the tank when new specimens are added to the environment. If you notice other fish in the tank getting sick or common symptoms of illness you may want to start treating your betta’s water with medication for bacteria. At first I thought it was bloating, but it is on the middle of the fish, not its underbelly Fungal infections are very contagious, so sometimes if one fish has it, it’s likely it will spread to the others. Spotting a problem early can mean the difference between life and death for your precious betta. Your email address will not be published. Sometimes, betta fish develop ulcers, which manifest themselves as lumps on the skin. When you notice that your betta has a tumor, it doesn’t mean it’s the end.