Betta not doing well- euthanasia?

[RKehrer94]

*betta not doing well

My betta developed a tumor shortly after getting her, but she was still very active and didn’t seem affected by it. I deemed it benign, but now she’s just sitting at the bottom of the tank and won’t come up for food.
I’ve been away for a month and had someone taking very good care of them, but I had an automatic feeder so we don’t know when she stopped eating.
Is she starving to death at the point? Is it kinder to just euthanise her, or is there anything I could do?

 

[Andy Sager]

Unfortunately, tumors are becoming more common in Bettas. They don't always mean something you did was wrong. If the fish has no other symptoms, the water is clean and there are no other diseases present, it could just be that the fish overate while you were away and now does not feel like eating anymore just yet. She could be " stuffed" to the gills so not needing food or may have an impaction from the food or poor water quality. I'd check those out before considering euthanasia. Have you tried Epsom salt baths or in the aquarium directly?
Hope this helps.

 

[RKehrer94]

I haven’t tried putting anything in the aquarium, the levels look perfect and the other fish are doing great. I don’t have her in a separate tank, because I’m not sure if I should invest in supplies for another tank to put Epsom salt in, but then she dies and I shouldn’t have bought the supplies?

 

[Andy Sager]

I haven’t tried putting anything in the aquarium, the levels look perfect and the other fish are doing great. I don’t have her in a separate tank, because I’m not sure if I should invest in supplies for another tank to put Epsom salt in, but then she dies and I shouldn’t have bought the supplies?

You could always just do Epsom Salt baths so you would only have the expenditure of the Epsom Salt which you could always use yourself . Place 1 tablespoon ( 14 grams) of Epsom Salt into 3.75 liters of water. ( I'd use tank water then replace that water with new water in the tank.) Place the fish in the bath for 15-20 minutes. You can do this twice a day.

 

[RKehrer94]

That’s a great idea, thank you! I’ll definitely do that, hopefully she does better soon.

 

[Andy Sager]

That’s a great idea, thank you! I’ll definitely do that, hopefully she does better soon.

 

[Airborne 82nd]

Andy if one needs to do this. Do you use the same bath water the second time and just one day or more? When would you expect to see results are you looking for poop?

 

[Andy Sager]

Andy if one needs to do this. Do you use the same bath water the second time and just one day or more? When would you expect to see results are you looking for poop?

I use the same bath water for one day providing the temperature is the same as the tank. If not, I use tank water for each bath and just replace the 1 gallon with new water into the main tank. As for seeing results, generally you see results in 2-3 days but possibly longer. It all depends on the cause.