apologist97

So now the giant growth has a little round spot that is kind of see-thru with a yellow tinge. Any idea what it is? Is it puss?

I agree that it looks bacterial. If you are not wanting to treat them all with maracyn, you could try taking out the neons and putting them in a quarantine tank and do a salt treatment. I cant guarantee this will work and it is most likely that both tanks are entirely infected. However, if you want a last ditch, less expensive treatment, salt is the way to go. Just make sure you don't put salt in a planted tank! Here is a link to a blogpost AC did on how to use salt to treat fish. Hope your fish get better soon! https://www.aquariumcoop.com/blogs/aquarium/aquarium-salt-for-sick-fish#:~:text=Add 1 tablespoon (Tbsp) of,%2C it's not very strong).

That is a question I think all of us struggle with! I usually will try to do a little research myself and then compare it to the advice given, unless I know the person is of reputable standing in the aquarium community and has given sound advice before. When I am given a solution that is costly, I usually try to see if there is an alternative that is cheaper and still effective, but maybe not to the same strength as the medication. This has its risks as well. If the fish really do need that stronger treatment they could die. I tend to go this route only with smaller, less expensive fish. Second opinions are always the optimal way to go forward. I do think that most people on here will not respond unless they have actual knowledge of how to treat the ailment or will at least tell you that its their best guess. It's really up to you to make the final call as to whether the advice given is sound or not. Try to trust your gut as to whether the advice given makes sense or not if all else fails. Sorry, I know that is not super helpful, but I hope it alleviates some of your anxiety.

I posted about a similar problem with my Betta last night except mine seems to be much more advanced. From what I have been able to find online is that it could be either a tumor or an injury that has a bacterial infection causing an abscess. Did you notice if there had been any small scrapes on your betta before this? I'm having trouble telling from the picture, but is it bulging underneath the scales or does it look like something on top of the scales?

Thanks for doing some research! I saw this video as well and with the articles and other forums I looked like I think I am in agreement that it is a bacterial abscess rather than a tumor. I haven't tried putting the quarantine tank by his regular tank, maybe that would help I'm not sure. I'm thinking I will have to try and quarantine him either way because if it bursts it will flood the community tank with bad bacteria. Thank you again for your help! I have never lanced a fish injury. Have you ever heard of anyone doing it on a fish this small?

My Betta and I are in a bit of a fight. What started out looking to me like a small cut or abrasion (see photo 1) in January has ballooned into what I think is a large puss filled abscess, although I am not positive and would like a second opinion. I have never had a fish get this problem. It started off pretty gradual but it is getting larger much quicker in the last month (photo 5 was March). I am a bit unsure how to treat it or if I can at all. This fish is in a community tank and I started him on a course of meracyn in a quarantine tank in January but after a week I decided he was more stressed out in the quarantine than in the aquarium as he was not eating, hiding, and refusing to approach the glass when I came by (which he always does) and the cut did not seem to improve at all). Do I attempt quarantine again, stressing him further and if so, do I try maracyn again, salt, or some other medication? I am also unsure if I should try to lance the wound so it doesn't burst and create a large open wound. Water conditions are pretty stable. I just did a 50% water change to see if that would help at all, although they haven't seemed to help much over the last few months. All other fish, shrimp, and snails are fine and acting normally including breeding so I don't think its something tank-wide that is off. Ammonia: 0ppm Nitrate: 10ppm (haven't added in Easy Green yet as I didnt want to throw off test) Hardness: between 75-150ppm Chlorine: 0ppm pH: 6.8ish