Betta Help...EMERGENCY

J

jjanoch

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Mar 6, 2005
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Just got home from vacation (had friend feeding the fish)....and my Betta is bloated with a super-sized belly. He's not happy, but is still very active for now.

Tried to research online, but best I can tell it is either he's constipated or Swim Bladder Disorder. Not thinking SBD....since he's not floating or swimming on one side. For the most part he's hanging out at the bottom....Big belly to the ground.

The tank doesn't appear to be really dirty, a sign that over-feeding might have happened while I was gone.

IS there any Betta expert who can help or give advice on what I can do. I sure dont want to lose him.
 
what is he fed? foods that have very high protien can sometimes lead to constipation. also... have you tested the water? just because the water isnt cloudy doesnt mean that he wasnt overfed. ammoina might still be up there in the nasty range, and its especially hard to tell in smaller tanks
 
If the scales are not pineconed out it's not dropsy and that's a good thing. Find out from friend how much he was fed and don't feed him for 2 or 3 days to see if his belly gets smaller. It should if he's just swollen from over eating. His current behaviour may just be a tummy ache. Hopefully others will have more concrete advice.
Take care,
Mary.
 
A female betta I used to have would overeat on the algae wafers meant for my otos...and get all fat and bloated looking. Then after a few days she would poop poop poop poop and be okay again.

Not meant to be a diagnosis, but offering an optimistic possibility from experience.
 
ok quick additional info based on the replies I've gotten so far.

The water tests came back fine....normal for this tank I mean.

The feeding happened only 1x per day...which is what I do myself.

As for the pineconed....it is really hard to tell...as he is very shy... and doesn't swim on the side of the tank I am looking from. And when I get really close he hides under or behind rocks (typical behavior)

But his belly is quite swollen....and due to the stretching....very pale. But the upper or back part of his body is his normal full rich purple color.

Side fins are flapping quite rapidly.....which looks normally when he's moving or hovering......but not resting on the bottom like he's doing now.

Not sure if this helps at all with my current situation.
 
My advice, though I'm no expert: Try feeding him a blanched, shelled pea, and maybe reduce feedings to every other day. If he's constipated, that will help him, hem, clear himself out. If he's sick with something more serious, I don't think it will hurt, and you can try something else. Keep watching him to see if his behaviour changes in the meantime.
 
Just a quick bump. Several days have passed...and my betta is still quite bloated in the belly. Nothing I've tried or has been suggested has changed this condition.

He's still quite active, and is eating. Anyone else very knowledgeable about Betta's have any advice?
 
Even though he's a shy guy, if you can take a picture of him, it may help us on here. If we can see him maybe we can better figure out how to help your guy out.

Good luck!
 
OK...here goes. Please excuse my lack of photo skills...and his lack of wanting his picture taken. I really wanted to take a picture from the side or behind as I think the swelling/bloating is better viewed that way. He just wasn't in the mood.

shot 1

sick pix 2
 
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