Male Betta fish with bead-like nodules on dorsal fin

Question
Hi, my daughter was given a betta 1 1/2 months ago.  "Dash" arrived in a quart size bowl and seemed happy when we got him.  I noticed his anal fin had a hole in it ant the edges of his fins seemed translucent.  I asked a pet store person about this and they thought it just might be the way this Betta is since he wasn't slimy.  

When we first received Dash, all we were told was to change his water once a week and feed him 3 pellets in the morning and 2 at night.  I now know I must have shocked him with the drastic water changes I gave him without any thought to temperature.  (Well, at least I did put in a water conditioner to get the chlorine out of the tap water.)

In the last couple weeks, bead-like nodules started to appear on his dorsal fin and Dash started to look very depressed and lethargic, hanging out at the bottom of his bowl.  His appetite was still good though.

I went back to the pet store to ask for advice. The pet store clerk was of no help, I just read the bottles and made a guess of what was the best product to use. I bought Maracide.  On the 4th day of treatment, I found a great fish store with a knowledgeable staff.  They didn't know what my fish's ailment was, but they said it wouldn't hurt to add Maracyn Two, just in case.  

I started to do research on the internet. Yesterday I moved Dash into a new 5.5 gallon tank.  To prep the new 5.5 gallon tank, I added the maracide, maracyn two, aquarium salt, Stress-coat.  The maracide and maracyn were added on the same day I gave Dash his dose in his little fish bowl, proportional to the water content.  I let the tank sit for 24 hours before putting Dash in it.  I don't have a filter or heater on the tank.

Dash seems happier, but I'm worried about the nodules.  I'm guessing that I stressed out poor Dash with my good intentions of cleaning out his bowl, but I can't tell if he has an bacterial or viral infection, or if those nodules are some kind of parasite.  Or tumor.  Can you help me determine what it is and how to help him?

(And I'm sorry for the novel.)  

Answer
Hi Judy:  It is difficult to diagnose fish without actually seeing them.  My experience over the years with Betta are that they respond better to antibiotics as opposed to other treatments.  Now what you have kind of described is a fungal issue with the fins and potentially ICH with the raised bumps.  so you have done well with the two medications.  Continue the treatment per the bottles instruction and feed the little guy some live food... live brine shrimp and or live blood worms.  The live food will do two things... it will perk him right up... and it will help him get some other types of nutrients from his food.  change his water once or twice per week and he should recover just fine.  To me the nodes seem like ICH but may just be another form of parasite or fungus... the treatments that you are giving him are perfect... keep me posted.  dave