white bubble protruding under gill

Question
QUESTION: I've had my betta for over a year. He has a white bump on his gill that has not responded to ich treatment. He seemed otherwise normal so I stopped treament for the past several months.  Just recently a little white bubble has appeared on the same side. It seems to be coming from inside of his gill and shrinks and expands when he breathes. I took him to the fish store and the owner did not know what it was. He did put some medication on the bump but didn't promise anything. Is there anything else I can do?

ANSWER: Hi Nikole,
A bump on a Betta could be internal Parasites (Which usually happens to bettas who eat live food) it could be a tumor, which is or is not cancerous, it could be your water chemistry, or it could be a bacterial infection. It is always hard to tell what a lump is on a betta.  First check your water to see if you have ammonia, and nitrates in it.  Ammonia is the number one killer of fish.  If you have ammonia, and a high level of nitrates, this could be the cause. Do a major water change to get the nitrates down, and the ammonia down to zero.  Clean water is so important to bettas, and other fish.  His water should be between 78 and 80 degrees.  When a betta is cold, he becomes sick.
 I would treat him with an antibiotic to see if this helps him, but before treating him, make sure he doesn't have ammonia in his water.  Kanamycin or Tetracycline are good antibiotics.  After the treatment, if your betta is still the same, there isn't much more you can do.  Always keep his water free from ammonia, and do your water changes.  This is so important.  I have seen bettas live a long time with a tumor.  The fact that he is eating is a good sign.  Feed him pellets, betta flakes, and dry bloodworms once a week as a treat.  A betta needs variation in his diet to be healthy.
Hope this helps
Lynda

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QUESTION: Thank you Lynda! The fish store owner did test the water and said it was perfect. I try hard to make sure my fellows are well taken care of. Also he does not eat live food only pellets. But I will pick up some of your other recommendations. What about the bubble from his gill?

Answer
Hi Nikole,
I'm happy that you are taking good care of your fish.  Getting back to the bubble, this is something I really can't diagnose.  I am thinking a tumor, but I am not sure, seeing as I don't see the fish.  The pet store manager would have surely been able to tell you if it was gill disease, or a parasite.  I know how worried you must be.  Bettas often get lumps, and bumps, growths, and it is hard to understand the reason why.  I have one with a bump on his side, he has had that bump for almost 8 months now.  I tried everything in the book, but nothing worked.  He is swimming around, eating, and happy, so this is why I am telling you that as long as he is eating, he is happy.  A sick betta will stop eating, when they are really sick.
I can tell you too about Gas Bubble Disease, but I'm not sure this is what your betta has.  The cause of of this disease is a specific quantity of gas always dissolved in liquids, whether water or blood, in relation to such factors as pressure and temperature.  When too much gas is dissolved it creates a highly unsuitable condition known as "over- saturation"  The over saturation liquid will continually attempt to release the excess gas in the form of bubbles.  Over saturation can result from heavy plant, and algae growth common with too much sun.  The plants themselves assimilate and release alot of oxygen,  As a result the fishes blood becomes over- saturated as well.  If you reduce the sunlight, plant growth slows and the situation is alleviated though excess gas remains in the fish's blood.  It is this which produces the bubbles.  The best cure for this is good aeration with an air stone, and placing the aquarium where there is less sun.  I have not seen your aquarium, and cannot say for sure that this is what your betta has.  I am trying really hard to find the solution.  
If you know that this is not the problem, I'm really at a loss here, and would treat with an antibiotic.
If this fails, let him be, he is eating, and happy.
I really do hope that we find a solution.
Lynda