Need Advice!! Swollen Belly And Growth Near Face.

I have a male betta who was an import. I’ve had him since the end of April of this year along with a female he was paired with. She’s doing great. Full of vigor, a piglet and a spunky little thing.

When I first got the make I noticed he had a wonky gill on one side that seemed stuck in a flare position, and a bent spine. I think the seller swapped fish on me and sent me a less fortunate looking one but anyway...I kept him happy regardless. He was never very active, but he’s a long fin HM and those males tend to be a bit sedentary because of the weight of fins. He did flare at his neighbors and bubblebest when he felt like it.

He was doing well up until a few weeks ago when I noticed his belly swelling. His poop was brown and long thin strings. I fasted him for a few days on two separate occasions but he would never eat peas, so I gave him his normal diet of live white worms and live wingless fruit flies so that he was getting some kind of nutrients.

Recently, I would say since one or two days ago I’ve now noticed a growth in his face. He never used to float on his side but now I noticed he’s doing that as well, which I attribute to swim bladder. He hasn’t been fed for two days now to try and help that. I don’t think he has dropsy. I’ve experienced that before so know the signs. No pineconing and he had an appetite but only for the white worms/flies.

Attached are some photos because I’m very perplexed what these growths are. I dosed his water with Seachem KanaPlex thinking it might be fungal.

Looking for any thoughts or insight into this. Thanks!!

 

I have a male betta who was an import. I’ve had him since the end of April of this year along with a female he was paired with. She’s doing great. Full of vigor, a piglet and a spunky little thing.

When I first got the make I noticed he had a wonky gill on one side that seemed stuck in a flare position, and a bent spine. I think the seller swapped fish on me and sent me a less fortunate looking one but anyway...I kept him happy regardless. He was never very active, but he’s a long fin HM and those males tend to be a bit sedentary because of the weight of fins. He did flare at his neighbors and bubblebest when he felt like it.

He was doing well up until a few weeks ago when I noticed his belly swelling. His poop was brown and long thin strings. I fasted him for a few days on two separate occasions but he would never eat peas, so I gave him his normal diet of live white worms and live wingless fruit flies so that he was getting some kind of nutrients.

Recently, I would say since one or two days ago I’ve now noticed a growth in his face. He never used to float on his side but now I noticed he’s doing that as well, which I attribute to swim bladder. He hasn’t been fed for two days now to try and help that. I don’t think he has dropsy. I’ve experienced that before so know the signs. No pineconing and he had an appetite but only for the white worms/flies.

Attached are some photos because I’m very perplexed what these growths are. I dosed his water with Seachem KanaPlex thinking it might be fungal.

Looking for any thoughts or insight into this. Thanks!!

You have tried most everything. You mention he was imported and not completely healthy upon arrival. Have you tried... as a last resort.. deworming him? My first thought was constipation but you have fasted him twice with no resolve.the face thing bothers me. Some type of fungus or bacterial infection going on. Other than kanaplex what have you used to treat?

 

You have tried most everything. You mention he was imported and not completely healthy upon arrival. Have you tried... as a last resort.. deworming him? My first thought was constipation but you have fasted him twice with no resolve.the face thing bothers me. Some type of fungus or bacterial infection going on. Other than kanaplex what have you used to treat?

He was definitely not a show quality/form when I got him, but he at least had some moments of having personality. Since his belly started swelling he just sits on his leaf to rest. Floating on his side has just recently happened since this morning. I use Indian Almond Leaves in all the water, I even tried to add vitachem drops.

As far as mediations this is the first time I’ve gone that route. I thought he was just constipated and didn’t want to be medicating him unnecessarily. And he didn’t have this face growth become so obvious until very recently. What dewormer would you suggest to try? I can give that a go tomorrow and see if it gives him some relief. I’ll keep fasting him in the meantime and hope he stops floating on his side.

Thanks for the input!

 

also take a sample of your water and pictures and see what they think. They shouldn't charge you for testing your water.

He was definitely not a show quality/form when I got him, but he at least had some moments of having personality. Since his belly started swelling he just sits on his leaf to rest. Floating on his side has just recently happened since this morning. I use Indian Almond Leaves in all the water, I even tried to add vitachem drops.

As far as mediations this is the first time I’ve gone that route. I thought he was just constipated and didn’t want to be medicating him unnecessarily. And he didn’t have this face growth become so obvious until very recently. What dewormer would you suggest to try? I can give that a go tomorrow and see if it gives him some relief. I’ll keep fasting him in the meantime and hope he stops floating on his side.

Thanks for the input!

I just looked at my pictures again and it looks like just up near his fin is another lighter circle. only on ring not 2. hmmm. none any where else. Maybe he got a bad pleco attack before I bought him. both rings fairly close to each other. Interesting. I'll be watching this close.

 

For the bloating feed him a pea and fast for 2-3 days. I'm not really sure about the other stuff but I can ask Rtessy and Repolie Gypsy13

 

for internal parasites I use prazipro it's about 6.00. Internet has it for 3.99 but not sure if with shipping you would save anything. Pet stores usually carry it.

of a side note.. I'm having a problem with my leopard puffer. I think I missed this when I bought him. Not sure if it's a parasite or a bite from a pleco. I took pictures to the store I got him from and one guy said parasite and wanted to sell me 10.00 medications. But puffers are very sensitive to meds bc they don't have scales. I asked the owner and he said it looked like maybe a pleco bit him before he got him in the store and to watch it. I don't own any plecos so I know it didn't come from my tank. I have a panda cory a neon tetra and a few ghost shrimp. Non of which would harm him. My little Panda was brave today and swam over him and touched him on the way. I thought for sure he was going to get nipped but he didn't. anyway...what do you think?

I do see two rings as well. Does a pleco bite another species that aggressively go leave a mark? And twice. I wonder if it’s some parasite or maybe a blemish from when he was young and something happened.

For the bloating feed him a pea and fast for 2-3 days. I'm not really sure about the other stuff but I can ask Rtessy and Repolie Gypsy13

His belly is definitely too swollen to feed, I don’t think he will be interested in peas since at the moment poor thing looks quite miserable not able to be upright. However, if he does improve I will feed him peas over live foods. I’m also trying to figure out what’s on his face. I hope the medication I gave will work. Right now I have him in about 1.5-2” of water so it’s easier for him to manage and get a breath of air.

It’s hard dosing meds in such small water amounts. KanaPlex says to do every two days but I wondered about dosing again tonight. I did a 100% water change last night to make sure the meds were going in clean water.

 

On his face looks like a lesion of some sort. Had he injured himself before this?

 

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On his face looks like a lesion of some sort. Had he injured himself before this?

No injury, he didn’t scrape his face or anything which is why it’s perplexing. I’ve added a silk plant which he’s found a way to prop himself into to stay upright instead of curving downward like C. I have another photo of him today which might be easier to see it seems like it’s changed since yesterday. More like it might have been something built up under the skin that now opened? I wonder if the KanaPlex brought that about...

 

It kinda looks like his gill is rotting away and I think you should keep treating with Kanaplex because most diseases are caused by gram negative bacteria and most fungus looking things are actually bacterial. Kanaplex should treat for mostly bacterial and some fungus things. If that doesn't work, you should try treating with Methylene Blue because it's more meant to treat fungus things.

 

It kinda looks like his gill is rotting away and I think you should keep treating with Kanaplex because most diseases are caused by gram negative bacteria and most fungus looking things are actually bacterial. Kanaplex should treat for mostly bacterial and some fungus things. If that doesn't work, you should try treating with Methylene Blue because it's more meant to treat fungus things.

I’ve never seen anything like it. I have a close up photo. There was also no indication of anything and then one day it shows up and looks worse progressively.

 

I do see two rings as well. Does a pleco bite another species that aggressively go leave a mark? And twice. I wonder if it’s some parasite or maybe a blemish from when he was young and something happened.

yes pleco fish are very aggressive. I would never have one in my tank. They also get very large.

I lost him today. Pet store owner agrees that he thinks a pelco got him prior to me bringing him home. I tired everything but it just wasn't meant to be.

How is your baby doing?

I noticed in the thread that you feed him live food. What are you feeding him. I've found that live food sometimes carries bacteria or worms/parasites. This may have been the introduction. He looks like he is in so miserable. I hope things have gotten better since the last picture. Not sure why my posts posted 3 times like that.

 

If it’s not too late can you get furan2 to add to your treatment?