First pic is just her cute face, I love her so much, I raised her from fry and I hate that she's sick, she's only 2. You can kind of see the tumor sticking out on the left side. She still has an appetite most days, isn't as active as before but still can get to the top for air, there are plenty of plants she rests on near the top. How long do I let this go? Is there anything I can do to slow it?
https://www.reddit.com/gallery/1onotmd
Posted by fielderkitty
7 Comments
I’m commenting as i’m also curious about this since my boy had one form in august and it’s gotten quite large!
I’m assuming once their quality of life has gone down a significant amount?
Well, my boy has had one since he first came home. I suspect that is behind his recent decline, but now he’s responding to treatment after a week at deaths door.
From my research, the tumor may not be such a big deal. You can wait until her quality of life is impacted without fear that she’s suffering. Watch for gill movement – is it ragged or fast? Is she eating? Does she respond to you?
No need for this to be her doom. ❤️
Someone recently posted a document they use to decide. This is not my work.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1cD9NntUrlEno8rQSqOuCh9vnqCH4UkQgN6V5td-R7To/edit?usp=drivesdk
Hello, ultimately the choice is up to you.
This resource is for all fish, including Betta and includes a calculation formula to help you decide when it’s time and also provides information on the best procedures to follow when it becomes necessary.
https://www.reddit.com/user/Fun_Explanation2619/comments/1o6r1t9/fish_quality_of_life_assessment_form_and
The link is to my profile post and it has a link to what ought to be a public Google document.
**TANK INFO** since my reply to the automod isn’t showing up for some reason?
20 gallon long, yes, 80°f, 7ph, 0ppm ammonia, 0ppm nitrite, 10ppm nitrate with an api master test kit. Tank is 3 years old, fish is 2 years old and has grown from fry in the same tank. Every 2 weeks I do a 20% water change, there are 10-15 mystery snails (mostly babies), and a few amano shrimp as tankmates. She gets fed once, sometimes twice a day with a rotation of Northfin betta bits, invert aquatics betta bits, bloodworms & brine shrimp. There are a butt load of live plants and driftwood in the tank, a sanded down rock hide & 2 floating logs, sometimes I add Indian almond leaves or banana leaves.
This is definitely a nuanced and really hard question. I had a betta with a tumour and I never put him down, however the tumour never seemed to hinder his quality of life, appetite, ability to swim, or energy. Once you notice any of these symptoms I would take the time to consider the best time for euthanasia.
I made that decision this last week. My boy was eating, but he wasn’t swimming unless he was eating, just resting. The quality of life for him is what did it for me. I just couldn’t stand to see him just laying there on a plant all day, not moving at all unless I coaxed him to.