Betta Abscess let’s discuss how to identify treat and even prevent Betta Abscess.
I won’t bore you with a heavily descriptive introduction of how beautiful betta fish are; you already know this. Or how amazingly inquisitive Betta are with their quirky personalities we all love again you already know this. You are reading this because your mate betta has a white lump or bump that’s appeared we’re here to discuss all things Abscesses.
What Is An Abscess
Betta Abscess is usually a white-looking lump. This lump or bump is formed by the grouping together of cells that are trying to heal your fish after being scratched bitten or burned. After your fish receives a wound the cells group and fill with PUSS which in turn forms a lump on the fish.
What Causes Betta Abscess
Some form of trauma is the root cause of an Abscess. When a fish hurts itself say a scratch cut or from being bitten. The muscle and tissue surrounding the wound become severely inflamed.
PUSS Filled Abscesses
After becoming inflamed the cells group together and PUSS is filled to protect the fish and to start the healing process. Believe it or not, this PUSS is usually white or green.
Dirty Water Causes Bacteria
However, your Betta can also be infected via different bacteria. These pesky bacteria can infect wounds and even reinjure healing wounds causing more abscesses to form. This is caused solely by dirty water hence why we must always keep our water clean.
Test And Clean Water For Healthier Fish
A good test kit to stay on top of water parameters and regular cleaning and water changes will only help you keep your betta or any fish for that matter healthy.
Can Betta Fish Have Multiple Abscesses
Now regarding Betta fish and multipole abscesses yes your betta can have multiple abscesses. This can be distressing as we know our little friend prides himself on his/her appearance as all betta are born divas.
Internal Abscesses
Abscesses can also appear inside the body anywhere where there are muscles and tissue. If the fish injures him/herself there’s a chance of an Abscess forming so we also have to be vigilant of our buddies’ overall behavior.
Are Abscesses Cancerous
No Abscesses are not considered cancerous.
Abscesses are caused by sores cuts bites and on some occasions, bacterial/parasitical they are always treatable as we will discuss later.
Tumors & Cancerous Cells
However, they are not cancerous as this would be a growth on the tissue which would normally be referred to as a tumor. A tumor isn’t white like an abscess it’s more commonly seen as a lump under the skin of the fish. So a tumor would blend in and be a lump that’s the same color as the fish itself.
Other similar lumps, Swelling & Or Bloating
This brings us nicely to other symptoms as we have read here Abscesses are a white-looking lump on the skin or scales of our fish. This lump will be full of puss and should heal with treatment (which will be explained later) there’s a much more serious lump that is under the skin and blends to the color of the fish a Tumor.
Tumors
Tumors are more dangerous and need diagnosing as can be cancerous but other swellings can appear to be lumps but are actually swelling or bloating here are a few examples to look out for.
Swim Bladder Disease
Betta fish like all fish have what’s known as a swim bladder which regulates gasses. Inside the bladder is a sac this sac regulates the gasses if they are infected in any way the fish will be unable to control swimming and buoyancy.
Im sure you’ve seen in the past a fish swimming on its side finding it difficult to swim right side up just barely swimming on its side.
This condition we call swim bladder disease makes the fish look bloated and a little lumpy under its belly and sometimes its side.
Swim Bladder Cause
Overfeeding
Swim bladder disease is caused by fish overeating and the gas exchanges becoming out of whack. Fish tend to lose buoyancy and will sink to the bottom or float to the top of the tank.
Also, they will have a crocked and or strange swimming style finding it difficult to stay upright and can be seen swimming on their sides.
Infection
An infection of the bladder can also cause swim bladder disease. Parasites or even bacterial infections can inflame the bladder causing a knock-on effect.
Water Temp To Low, Enlarged Organs Cysts, Impact Injuries
Yes, occasionally a cyst may grow and move organs or enlarged organs may pressure the bladder moving it out of place. Water temperature getting too low slows digestion resulting in gas changes and or enlarged bladder.
A couple more possible reasons are females’ eggs getting in the way and shifting the bladder and less likely a sharp impact of the fish hitting something and inflaming themselves.
Swim Bladder Treatment
Firstly swim bladder disease is not contagious and we should be able to treat it in the main tank without moving the fish in question. Secondly, most treatments are cheap and fairly easy fixes that don’t take long to achieve.
Unless you have seen signs of a parasite or you believe it to be a bacterial infection no medication is needed if you do believe this to be the case use this antibiotic swim bladder medicine and also seek medical advice.
Temperature Control Add Salt
Making sure that the temperature is at the optimal range for your fish and adding in some Epsom salts dosage of one (1) tablespoon per every three (3) gallons of water which equates to fifteen (15) liters of water.
Last but not least
Fasting
For most cases it’s just as simple as fasting your fish for three (3) days you should see immediate improvement and the fish will be back to normal swimming around as if nothing happened.
Dropsy
Dropsy in fish is known to be a symptom rather than a disease. In layman’s terms, the tissue of the fish is full of fluid this could be bacterial parasitical or kidney dysfunction.
Some Symptoms to look out for
Swollen belly Ulcers Bulging Eyes Clamped Fins Lack of appetite these are a few of the main symptoms as you can see with swollen bellies and Ulcers which are similar to Abcsesses it’s always worth looking at and ruling out when considering lumps and bumps and Abscesses.
Dropsy Treatment
Similar to above although in this case move the fish in question to a hospital tank. The treatment is relatively simple add Epsom salt at one (1) tablespoon per gallon or per five (5) liters of water.
Feed only high-quality food and use what’s known as a broad negative antibiotic use as advised.
Gill Hyperplasia
This is a fancy way of saying the gills are inflamed. Things to look out for are color changes. Lack of movement from the gills themselves. Tiredness from the fish and of course the reason it’s being spoken about here in this very article Growths. Any lumps or growths on or around the gills.
Treatments For Hyperplasia
Water changes making sure the water is clear and clean, Raise the temperature slightly. Check for any trace ammonia and remove them. If still needed then a prescribed antibiotic may be needed
Ulcers
Yep, Fish including Betta fish can get ulcers. They can also get them on the skin it’s more common for fish to get ulcers on their bodies. Ulcers are open wounds on the skin that can become infected with fungus or puss. Again this is the reason we are reviewing them here.
Fish get these problems IE ulcers from pathogens in the water or parasites attacking when the immune system of the fish occasionally slows down or stops altogether.
Treatment For Ulcers
Again this seems to be a common theme. High-quality water is needed to be checked regularly every week. The highest quality food let’s not skimp on foods. Keeping the stress levels down as this aggravates ulcers we all know that.
Quarantine the fish and continue with the treatments as with Abscesses.
Treatments For Abscesses In Betta Fish
Betta Abscess Treatments
We now know how to deal with all of our lumps and bumps as well as swollen lumpy looking bellies and sides even inflamed gills that may have growths. Ulcers tumors but let’s recap and finish off by treating these pesky Abscesses. How to treat an Abscess on our Betta fish.
To treat an Abcess we will have to remove our fish. This is because abscesses usually come with the chance of secondary infection.
So quarantine our little buddy add a tablespoon of Epsom salt per gallon or per five (5) liters of water. Do a 30 percent water change every day and make sure to re-add the lost salt.
Betta Abscess Some Final Thoughts
Awesome we now know how to beat Betta abscess
Firstly I hope to have conveyed the best ways to seek out symptoms and how to determine between different situations that have similar problems. lumps, bumps, etc hopefully you can now tell which of the above is relevant to your fish.
Whether a cyst an ulcer or an Abscess. Or even dropsy and or a swim bladder issue as you may have noticed most problems can be treated or even prevented by keeping your water super clear and clean.
Regular water changes good food and less stress on the fish by giving them plenty of room and lots of hiding spaces. I hope you take time to have a look around our site and feel free to give some constructive feedback thanks again.