Ayla

I have had my female betta for a little over a year now and about 3 months ago, shes developed dropsy. Shes always been a little fat for a betta, I assumed this was because of her appetite or something, but after reading about dropsy online I thought the dropsy was likely caused by a tumor. Well after several days (about a week and a half) of treating her with Maracyn2, she went back to normal.

Well about 5 days ago now she started developing the signs of dropsy again, so I quickly started treating her with the maracyn2. Her body never fully got to the "pine cone" stage, right now very few of her scales are displaced. Shes in a fairly large filtered tank, and the water parameters are normal, just like last time and none of my other fish are sick, so I'm pretty sure at this point her odd shaped mass is a tumor.

My question is, if this were your fish would you just continue to treat the
dropsy symptoms every few weeks (which I can't imagine feels good for the fish) or would you kindly help it along to the other side?

I feel really bad for my fish.

kra-z-fishmumm

Is there any chance she is constipated? They get large like that, but don't get pine coney. Is she eating? Pooing? Change in activity? Change in color? Just an idea. Sorry she isn't well.

Ayla

Theres a change in activity when some of her scales start sticking out, color too, but I assumed that was symptomatic of dropsy. She still wants to eat though, and I gave her a bit of pea even though she is pooing like normal. I just don't know whats kind/unkind when it comes to treating dropsy. And it seems like I'm going to be treating her every 2 months.

kra-z-fishmumm

That would be a tough call. Wait to see what more experienced ppl. say before doing anything you can't undo. Keeping my fingers crossed it turns out to be treatable.

COBettaCouple

Do you have a picture to post of her? It's a hard decision and each owner can only make it themself if it's best to put a pet fish down.