Topic: Deformed Betta

[FishFreak617]

I don't know if the subject was the best way to describe this problem, but I guess it's a start. First, some general tank info...

Tank Size: 5g (divided)
Temp: 78-80F
Ammonia/NitrIte: 0
NitrAte: 15-20
Water Changes: 50% 2x/week
Tankmate: Another male betta
Decorations: Silk Plants & a very thin layer of black gravel (just barely enough to cover the bottom)

Ok, onto the problem. Maybe a month or a month and a half ago I lost his Dante's former tankmate to suspected Dropsy. I isolated the sick betta immediately and did everything I could for him but to no avail. On the day that I was actually going to euthanize him he died, maybe he knew it was time. Anyways, shortly after that I noticed that Dante's one side bulged out. The bulge hasn't changed or grown at all and the other side is completely normal. He's eating normally, although he seems a bit "slower" lately than usual. He's always been a bit slow, like you have to show him where the food pellets are and sometimes he doesn't catch them on the first try, but lately he's been a little slower than before. I did add the new tankmate about 2 weeks after the other betta died, but the "new" betta had been in his own tank for 4-5 months with no disease or parasite problems.

Anyways, just wondering if anyone has any ideas as to what it could be. I will have had him for a year in August, so he's probably almost 2 years old. Besides this, I've never had any major problems with him. He had some mild fin rot when I got him, but that cleared up just by doing lots of water changes and using melafix. So anyways, any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

[BettaMaNiAcK]

Maybe swim bladder problems. Does he seemlike he's floating on one side alot? Kinda like he can't swim without being strait in posture. Has he been going to the "bathroom"? Maybe constipated. Hope I put some ideas out there. Best of luk.

[firestar]

Could be something inside of him, a tumor, a cyst or something else.  If it's internal, there's not a whole lot than can done.  There are medicated foods available, but those are more for internal infections and parasites, and from what you've described, this sounds like neither.  You said it's been like this for a while?  I think your best (only) course of action is just to sit back and let nature take its course.  There's really not much else you can do, and you said there are not other apparent problems, so it's probably not cause for a huge concern.