Betta beard or lump?

I’ve had this little guy for almost 9 months now and for the past month I’ve noticed that this area under his chin is becoming more prominent. I’m a very paranoid person so I wanted to get other people’s opinions on this, does this look more like a lump or is his beard just growing or something?
It doesn’t look like a parasite, fungus, or injury to me and he’s still just as spunky and fresh as he always is
Tank parameters are
Ammonia: 0ppm
Nitrites: 0ppm
Nitrates:10ppm
pH: 7.8 which I know isn’t the best but I’m gonna make a thread about that problem some other time
Sorry if the pictures aren’t too good my cameras skills are subpar and the baby boy thought he was getting snacks

 

Not his beard. As to what it could be... abscess or tumor, as any raised surface could be. Given its proximity to his gills could also be an inflammatory reaction secondary to a parasite such as gill flukes. Unfortunately, I cannot even begin to guess which of those it is, or maybe something I haven't thought of.

If his behavior remains unchanged and the rest of him remains in good condition, I would assume for now that it is benign and although might get bigger, is still nothing you can do much about, unfortunately.

 

Not his beard. As to what it could be... abscess or tumor, as any raised surface could be. Given its proximity to his gills could also be an inflammatory reaction secondary to a parasite such as gill flukes. Unfortunately, I cannot even begin to guess which of those it is, or maybe something I haven't thought of.

If his behavior remains unchanged and the rest of him remains in good condition, I would assume for now that it is benign and although might get bigger, is still nothing you can do much about, unfortunately.

He doesn’t display any symptoms as of now, if he does would it be a good idea to treat for flukes though? I have a spare tank I can use to quarantine him since I’d be using API General Cure
I should mention that he used to have neons with him but they started nipping at his fins and while I was waiting on the person I was rehoming them to he was in a quarantine tank that had a small ammonia spike in the beginning. This happened last week so it was long after I originally noticed this raised area but I thought I’d just put that out there, his fins are healing well albeit a bit slow(probably because of the ammonia issue in the qt which was why I put him back in this 10 gallon)

 

He doesn’t display any symptoms as of now, if he does would it be a good idea to treat for flukes though? I have a spare tank I can use to quarantine him since I’d be using API General Cure
I should mention that he used to have neons with him but they started nipping at his fins and while I was waiting on the person I was rehoming them to he was in a quarantine tank that had a small ammonia spike in the beginning. This happened last week so it was long after I originally noticed this raised area but I thought I’d just put that out there, his fins are healing well albeit a bit slow(probably because of the ammonia issue in the qt which was why I put him back in this 10 gallon)

Api general cure will not cure flukes. It may kill some but not completely eradicate them.

 

Api general cure will not cure flukes. It may kill some but not completely eradicate them.

Do you have any recommendations for medicines if it is indeed flukes? I’d at least like to be prepared in case it ends up being those pesky little things

 

Do you have any recommendations for medicines if it is indeed flukes? I’d at least like to be prepared in case it ends up being those pesky little things

Prazipro may work, and I think copper is what most people use. You could probably find a video on it somewhere.

 

Prazipro may work, and I think copper is what most people use. You could probably find a video on it somewhere.

I’ll go looking in a bit as I’m in the middle of something, thank you for the advice though!!

 

I highly doubt it is fluke-related and I have never seen that happen because of it, just a shot in the dark on my part... I would treat him for flukes if you see him flashing or gasping at the surface or shaking his head. Seconding API isn't the best, I would use prazipro if you did choose to treat for flukes.

 

I highly doubt it is fluke-related and I have never seen that happen because of it, just a shot in the dark on my part... I would treat him for flukes if you see him flashing or gasping at the surface or shaking his head. Seconding API isn't the best, I would use prazipro if you did choose to treat for flukes.

Okay thank you!!
I just want to prepare in case it is flukes, I generally need to stock up on medication for my fish as well and that’d at least be a step in the right direction