Betta fish with white dot?

[madi.ayala10]

Ammonia and nitrites 0
Nitrates 5
Temp 79-80
HOB filter
Heavily planted
My alien betta, Cosmo, has a strange raised white thing. Definitely not ich, I have had past experiences with ich and know for this is not it. There is only one dot. I can’t tell it it’s a damaged scale. He does have a few scales missing, nothing serious no wounds or raw skin. Nothing could have attacked him as the only other fish in there are kuhli loaches, otocinclus, and a single molly fry whose not even an inch long. The scale issue happened a couple days ago. He’s acting fine and is super interactive with me as per usual.

 

[Andy Sager]

No, that doesn't look like ick. It may be just a pimple, a worm making it's way out of the body to reproduce, or unfortunately, it could be the beginning of a tumor. Those Alien Bettas as well as some of the more fancier Bettas are all very prone to tumors. There's not much you can do past making sure the fish has good clean water and a healthy diet. Tumors, especially from the body vs the body cavity, are not a health issue for the fish. They are more unsightly than unhealthy. If it's a worm, before it leaves the body, you would be wise to put the betta in a bare bottom container so that when the worm leaves, you can remove the fish and dispose of the worm and the water as well. Sterilize the container to ensure any eggs are destroyed.

Hope this helps.

 

[madi.ayala10]

No, that doesn't look like ick. It may be just a pimple, a worm making it's way out of the body to reproduce, or unfortunately, it could be the beginning of a tumor. Those Alien Bettas as well as some of the more fancier Bettas are all very prone to tumors. There's not much you can do past making sure the fish has good clean water and a healthy diet. Tumors, especially from the body vs the body cavity, are not a health issue for the fish. They are more unsightly than unhealthy. If it's a worm, before it leaves the body, you would be wise to put the betta in a bare bottom container so that when the worm leaves, you can remove the fish and dispose of the worm and the water as well. Sterilize the container to ensure any eggs are destroyed.

Hope this helps.

In your opinion, what issue is it most likely? Is it life threatening? Cosmo is one of my favorite fish and I care a lot about him, I just want him to be okay.

 

[Andy Sager]

In your opinion, what issue is it most likely? Is it life threatening? Cosmo is one of my favorite fish and I care a lot about him, I just want him to be okay.

Too early to tell definitely. Unfortunately, too many of the Bettas on the market, including plain common veiltails, are coming down with tumors all because of poor breeding practices to get the fancier colorations or finage so they will never be " okay" but most can live with the defects. For now, all you can ( and should) do is observe the dot and see what it does and how fast it does it. If it's a worm, it should come out quickly. If it's a tumor, it may be a slow grower. I'd just keep going as you've been going.

 

[madi.ayala10]

Too early to tell definitely. Unfortunately, too many of the Bettas on the market, including plain common veiltails, are coming down with tumors all because of poor breeding practices to get the fancier colorations or finage so they will never be " okay" but most can live with the defects. For now, all you can ( and should) do is observe the dot and see what it does and how fast it does it. If it's a worm, it should come out quickly. If it's a tumor, it may be a slow grower. I'd just keep going as you've been going.

Update! It’s gone and I’m pretty sure it was just a little pimple

 

[Andy Sager]

Update! It’s gone and I’m pretty sure it was just a little pimple

And this is why you don't jump to medicate without a good diagnosis. Pimples are quite rare on fish. Bumps are more common. It may have something to do with his diet. Make sure you give him a varied diet.

 

[madi.ayala10]

Then I guess it was a bump lol. I give him buh bites tropical flakes with some spirulina flakes and frozen blood worms or gut loaded brine shrimp one to two times a week. Does that sound ok?

 

[Andy Sager]

Then I guess it was a bump lol. I give him buh bites tropical flakes with some spirulina flakes and frozen blood worms or gut loaded brine shrimp one to two times a week. Does that sound ok?

Yes.
I'm not saying it wasn't a pimple. Pimples are just a rarity on fish. Usually a pimple ends up being a worm making an escape. It can also be an excretion of calcium or salt.
There is also the possibility that it's a parasite that embedded itself under the scale. Be on the lookout for more of them. If you see more pimples, I'd start a treatment for Ick because that would be the most likely parasite. The parasite leaves the fish to bury in the substrate then reproduces.