Hey everyone,
I have a friend with a 4-year-old fin_tank in a 5-gallon planted tank, and I'm hoping for some advice. A few weeks ago, he developed this tumor on his side, and now his owner thinks he might have a fungal infection too. His head's got some weird texture going on - I'll try to show it in the photos I post. What really caught my attention was his eyes - at first, I thought it was cataracts, but it was just a white spot on the eye, not the pupil. Now there's this white ring around the pupil. His fins aren't looking great either. His owner's been treating him with Seachem meds and doing water changes, and all the parameters seem fine. Any help or ideas on what's going on would be great. Sorry if the pics are a bit off, he's really dark and it was tough to get a good light on him.
assistance with a friend's betta
Re: assistance with a friend's betta
Looks like a tumor, fungal infection, fin rot, and possibly popeye.
Honestly, it doesn't look great for your friend's fish. I'm going to be upfront about it.
Can you tell me more about the tank maintenance? How often does your friend clean the tank, and what are the water parameters like? Also, how frequently does he clean the filter?
Honestly, it doesn't look great for your friend's fish. I'm going to be upfront about it.
Can you tell me more about the tank maintenance? How often does your friend clean the tank, and what are the water parameters like? Also, how frequently does he clean the filter?
Re: assistance with a friend's betta
I agree with kingrise, your friend's fish isn't looking the best. Considering his age of 4 years, it's not entirely surprising. He's been around for a while, and these health issues can be tough to tackle. I think @coltin might have some valuable insights to share, it's worth reaching out to them for help.
Re: assistance with a friend's betta
She's generally pretty on top of maintenance, but she was away for a week on an internship and had someone else cover for her. That's probably when things started going downhill. As for meds, do you guys have any suggestions that might help him out?kingrise wrote: ↑Mon Apr 21, 2025 3:23 am Looks like a tumor, fungal infection, fin rot, and possibly popeye.
Honestly, it doesn't look great for your friend's fish. I'm going to be upfront about it.
Can you tell me more about the tank maintenance? How often does your friend clean the tank, and what are the water parameters like? Also, how frequently does he clean the filter?
Re: assistance with a friend's betta
I'm not holding out much hope. A tumor, combined with the other issues he's got going on, doesn't look good. If anyone can shed some light on this, it's @coltin - we could really use his expertise.bronx wrote: ↑Mon Apr 21, 2025 2:42 am Hey everyone,
I have a friend with a 4-year-old fin_tank in a 5-gallon planted tank, and I'm hoping for some advice. A few weeks ago, he developed this tumor on his side, and now his owner thinks he might have a fungal infection too. His head's got some weird texture going on - I'll try to show it in the photos I post. What really caught my attention was his eyes - at first, I thought it was cataracts, but it was just a white spot on the eye, not the pupil. Now there's this white ring around the pupil. His fins aren't looking great either. His owner's been treating him with Seachem meds and doing water changes, and all the parameters seem fine. Any help or ideas on what's going on would be great. Sorry if the pics are a bit off, he's really dark and it was tough to get a good light on him.
Re: assistance with a friend's betta
Daily 75% water changes are a must, and don't forget to clean the substrate. I'd also recommend adding rock salt, pool salt or aquarium salt - 2 heaped tablespoons per 20 litres of water should do the trick. What are the water parameters, by the way? Poor water quality is often the culprit behind these diseases.
Re: assistance with a friend's betta
Considering his age, it's likely he's nearing the end. Keep his water clean and add some aquarium salt for comfort. Focus on making his remaining time happy. If he stops eating, that's when you'll know it's time to consider euthanizing him. Once they start going downhill, it usually doesn't take long.
Re: assistance with a friend's betta
I've asked her to send the params, and she said ammonia and nitrates are zero. Not sure about pH though, she didn't mention that one.aquagone wrote: ↑Mon Apr 21, 2025 7:55 am Daily 75% water changes are a must, and don't forget to clean the substrate. I'd also recommend adding rock salt, pool salt or aquarium salt - 2 heaped tablespoons per 20 litres of water should do the trick. What are the water parameters, by the way? Poor water quality is often the culprit behind these diseases.