Fighter Fish- lump growth

Question
QUESTION: hello my name is aleisha,
I think my fish is a Betta, I can't say i know.
My fish has a lump growth on its face below his mouth (sorry I'm not sure what the region is called). Over a two day period it has become larger maybe 2 mm in diameter. My fish is blue and the lump is slightly red with a white head (or flimsy dead scale?).

His activity is the same despite the growth.
I have him in a very large Vase, with 1.5 litres of water. The is also an external heater on the side, im not sure if that may be influencing the growth.

Is there anything I can do? Is the any treatment? Is it hard to treat? Even with treatment is there a great chance he will still die from the growth?

Sorry for so many questions, I'd like to know if there is somthing i can do rather watch him die.

Thankyou.

ANSWER: Hi Aleisha,
Your fish is a betta.  Bettas should be kept in 5 gallons of water.  Bettas kept in small bowls, vases, one gallon tanks are unhappy, and do get sick.  This is not your fault, but the fault of the vendor who says, and sells anything just to make a buck.  The Betta is one of the most mistreated fish on the market.  In his habitat, the water may be low, but the betta has lots of room to swim.  
Lumps, and bumps on fish are very hard to diagnose.  It could be a tumor which may, or may not be cancerous.  Most are not cancerous.  Bettas can live a long time with a growth, if his living conditions are right.  It could also be a boil...never touch it, or try to squeeze it, as this would be very painful to your pet, and cause death.  If it is, it will come to a head on it's own, and disappear.
I would consider buying him a bigger home.  It is almost impossible to cure a betta in such little water.  
Keep his water very clean, change all of it 3 times a week, and hope for the best.  Add a pinch of diluted aquarium salt to his water.  
Most medication is made for 5- 10 gallon tanks. Ask your pet store manager what medication he has that you can put in your vase to help your Betta.  I would use tetracycline, but then again, you would need a bigger tank, as it is very dangerous to overdose a betta, and the right measurements are impossible for me to give you.
Lynda


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: When i can get him a bigger tank should i get a air pump for oxygen and a filter despite the fact that he is a betta?

Answer
Hi Aleisha,
If you get him a 5 gallon tank, a betta does better without a filter or air pump, as long as you change all of his water once a week using a good water conditioner.  The Pet Store will try to sell you a 2 gallon tank with filter, but don't go for it. They sell so many gadgets for Bettas, it is just unbelievable, and give bad advice on the Betta.   Fill his new tank with the same water temperature he is in now, and heat his water slowly to 80 degrees.  This must be done very very slowly as heating his water too fast could be deadly.  Bring his temperature up one degree every two days until you reach 80 degrees.  Buy him a silk plant so he can rest on the leaves, and some little toy that he can go through.  Bettas love this.  Add one teaspoon of diluted aquarium salt to 5 gallons of water.  This is to help with stress, and parasites.
Vary his food.  This is very important.  Feed him Betta Pellets one day, Betta Flakes the next, Daphnia the next, bloodworms, Glassworms, and plankton flakes.  The more you vary, the healthier he will be.  Always feed him one cooked frozen pea a week.  Remove the outer layer of the pea, and cut it into tiny pieces, and feed the pieces to your Betta one piece at a time, making sure that none fall to the bottom of the tank.  On the day you feed him the pea, feed him nothing else for the rest of day.  This is so he can clean out his system, and avoid constipation which leads to Swim Bladder Disease.  Feed him two or three times a day in small amounts...example: 2 pellets for one meal, or two flakes for one meal.  We must always remember that his tummy is the size of his eye, so we must be careful not to overfeed him.
Like I mentioned to you, Bettas that are kept in small containers, vases, and bowls are miserable, and get sick.  Their lives are cut short, and it is so sad because we get so attached to this intelligent little fish.  When a Betta is well kept, has clean water, room to swim, and a good diet, they rarely get sick.
Keep me posted on how he is doing, and if you have anymore questions, do not hesitate to write me.  I love Bettas, they are one of my favourite fish, and I also breed them.
Lynda