Betta Seizure after Bloodworms?

[Alpha7Bravo]

Hello all. I just fed my Betta some freeze dried blood worms, as a treat(he usually eats the Hikari Gold pellets). He gobbled them up and then proceeded to have something that I can only describe as seizure-like. He shook all over, half-flared up(as in only one side) and then opened his mouth wide a couple of times. He then seemed to settle down and sit around for a few minutes before moving around. After a couple hours, I gave him a single worm and he did it once again.

I'm going to stop giving them to him, but what could possibly be going on?
:help:

 

[Siren]

Are the worms very large? Since they are dry and crispy (if you're using the freeze-dried kind) they probably are getting stuck in his throat like a piece of a crunchy potato chip would in ours. Soak them for a few minutes in some tank water, then feed them to him and see if he gags.

 

[TheMightyQueenPixie]

This is the weirdest thing I have ever heard. I am inclined to agree with Siren, may have been a regurgitation attempt.

FD, foods should be avoided with Bettas. They are difficult to digest and can lead to constipation. If feeding them you must soak them first.

 

[jm1212]

did you totally defrost them first?

 

[Alpha7Bravo]

The bloodworms are freeze dried. I will soak them for a bit before trying them again or maybe I should just stop trying them at all and try the frozen type? My fish in the community tank seemed to do fine with them. Do freeze dried foods in general cause constipation in fish if not soaked first?

Thanks everyone for the quick responses.

 

[TheMightyQueenPixie]

Yes they can. It would be like you trying to eat dried oatmeal. It would suck up all the water in your digestive tract and be a rather uncomfortable "event".