This is really a question only you can answer, I think. You know your betta's behaviour and you may know if he is actually suffering.

Personally I think it is not a bad thing to just wait until the organs all give out naturally. He may just go peacefully in his sleep.

If he has lived with his tumor for two years it must be quite a slow growing one, and I would think he is not suffering with it.

If you do think it would be kinder to help him along you could do the test, to see if he if he still swims away when you are trying to catch him. As long as he still fights I think he deserves each day that is still granted to him.

But really, you have been a really good Betta-parent, to have had him with you that long. That truly is special! I think you have the acknowledgement from every one here that you should (and can) have faith in your own decision making!

Sending hugs xx

 

As long as a fish is not suffering, I let them go naturally. Often elderly bettas will quietly pass away in their sleep and that seems so much nicer to me than removing them from their tank and probably stressing them out a bit in the process.

 

Thanks, to both of you.

He doesn't appear to be struggling to breathe or anything, and he doesn't look like he's uncomfortable, so I'm inclined to just let him be. I'll just keep him warm and comfortable until the end comes.

I'm going to miss him.

Thanks,
c.

 

I am someone who chooses euthanasia over letting a fish pass naturally. This is simply because every time I've found a fish close to passing, it has shown visible signs of distress (gasping, severely compromised mobility, seizure like behaviour etc.). Furthermore, I figure for an animal that is likely fairly low down on the food chain, being in such a vulnerable position must be highly stressful.

For me personally, euthanasia is much quicker than letting a fish pass naturally, and if you use something like blunt force trauma (the thought of which many hobbyists cannot stomach), the fish is dead before it even has time to realise it.

So this is the other side of the debate.

Personally, I euthanase a fish once the quality of life becomes poor. This means if the fish is sitting at the bottom of the tank, refusing to eat, and showing a steady decline in condition and health, and I have exhausted any possible explanation for its behaviour (poor water quality, parasites, treatable disease etc.) I will euthanase.

I like to extend the same courtesy to my fish, as I would any other animal in my care.

 

Thanks for another point of view, you make a good argument for easing him out rather than letting him go on his own.

He's still hanging in there, he moves from spot to spot and hangs out for awhile, then moves again. No interest in eating, so I've stopped trying to feed him, but I did vacuum the tank yesterday to remove all the uneaten food from the past few days. If he shows any signs of having trouble breathing or stress, I'll euthanize him. He's had a happy life, and I don't want him to suffer.

Thanks, everyone, for your opinions and information.

c.

 

Have you tried treating him with 100% unscented epsom salt he might just be constipated. I found that epsom salt was helpful to a fish I had that had a tumor it helped keep him regular and reduced swelling. I also lowered his water level to make it easier to surface. That did help him to have a rebound. I really only saw real discomfort on his last day or two. I've euthanized a couple of fish before and have decided I would rather them pass naturally.

 

Well, this wasn't a sudden onset type of thing, he didn't look bloated and it wasn't like he was looking ill, he just started slowing down. I did lower his water as much as possible, given that he does a filter in there.
He's still hanging in there, but it's looking like he's starting to experience some discomfort. Before, he'd spend all his time in his plant or log, but he'd move around. He's starting to really just sit at the bottom and watch us, but not engage.

I think it's time to let him go. :-( I have some clove oil, and I think that's how we'll do it.

Thanks to all who replied.

C.