Betta fish has small bump on right side

[CrazyCrab12]

My betta fish seems to have a lump under the skin in the middle of her right side. It's slowly increasing in size over about a month, maybe 2. I want really sure I was imagining it or not at first, but I can't deny it anymore. It's under the skin but i estimate the lump itself(not including skin) is about the size of capital O in 12pt times new roman printed paper. I know her half brother(same father different mother) had about 6 tumors before he died, and i'm wondering if it could be related. I really love her dearly.

I found a fish vet who lives near my hometown and I would have to bring brooklyn (the betta fish)home around mid december anyways and the vet said it's best not to stress her if i'm coming up later in the year anyway.

it doesn't seem to be causing her any other pain. She swims fine and has a healthy appetite. The ammonia is at zero and the rest of the water parameter's haven't seemed to change(but I can't remember what they are exactly). She is a blue veil tail if that helps.

[wodesorel]

For the first time in 10 years we're betta-less. Mine kept developing tumors and dying after around a year. The genetics on these guys have gone to heck from inbreeding in the last several years, and tumors and illness is really really common these days. Just keep her comfortable - that's all you can do.

[CrazyCrab12]

If it is a tumor(which i'm praying it's not) i'm willing to pay if it's operable. I've heard of it being done before depending on how close it is to vital organs. I just worry about her. She means so much to me. she does a little buttt wiggle when i come in the door that looks just like a dog wagging its tail and she's learned so many different tricks, I swear she thinks she's a dolphin. I've really bonded with her and don't want anything to happen to her.

[wodesorel]

I know some vets can do it on larger species like koi, goldfish and big cichlids. Bettas are so tiny I'm not sure it's possible to operate and have them survive it. If it's fluid filled he might be able to drain it and keep her comfortable for longer. I hope he's able to help her! Check references to be safe - just because a vet is willing to try doesn't mean they are any good at it. If he is an expert, his name will be out there somewhere!

[Crabber85]

I've kept betta's on and off over the last twenty years and I agree with wodesorel the inbreeding has gotten really bad so the genetic stock thats available in most cases is severely depleted.

I've owned males and females, had a sorority 20gallon tank back around 2012 with five female veil tails and they all suffered from tumors and I was able to keep one out of the five for six months before it succumb to bad genetics.

Now I have two male's one is a blue/green crown tail and the other is a blue and white half moon and he was seriously expensive I believe I paid almost fourteen dollars for him but he's so beautiful that he was definitely worth the price.

My first betta was a dark blue male veil tail when I was about nine years old his name was Findoor and he lived something like six years and was the coolest fish I'd ever had he was so used to human contact that he would actually swim around your fingers and play games, he was so old when he died that he'd lost all of his color and even in the end he fought to stay with us because he didn't want to leave.

I've never heard of vet's that specialized in doing surgery on fish that's actually pretty cool.

[CrazyCrab12]

its one of the few vets i trust. My family's veterinary practice has gone way downhill since it switched hands, and i'm trying to get them to switch to the one at my work(we have an in store vet at the pet store I work at) the vet at my work is doesn't know as much as me, but I know them really well so they will give me whatever medicine i say. The fish vet works at the 24hour emergency vet thats about 30 minutes from my house in a different location.their practice took care of my dog and my ferret when they had emergencies in the past. They do great work.