Bloated Betta?!

Hi, I've had my betta fish for a year and 9 months now and on Thursday my sister noticed bloating starting. I was gone for 2 weeks so she was taking care of him. I returned Friday and she said it had started yesterday. He eats 6 pellets of betta food a day. I've tried fasting (fed him Friday started on Saturday) and last night feeding him a pea (boiled and peeled and about half of it). He wasn't very interested in it but he ate a little. He seems to be swimming around fine but I've read it could be constipation, swim bladder, or even dropsy I've attached some pictures. Help please?? (They're not great but my fish hates having his picture taken and he's a fast swimmer)

I believe he is constipated and over fed. Fast him until the bloating is gone and feed him tawed and de-shelled peas and see if that helps.

Epsom salt works great for constipation and helps pull fluid off. Make sure t’s pure epsom salt, no perfumes. Place 1 teaspoon of epsom salt in 1/2 gallon of tank water and allow it to dissolve. Then add fish for 10 minutes. Afterwards, place fish back in hs tank. You can do this twice a day for several das. Hope it helps.

What is your ammonia, nitrite and nitrate levels?
When viewed from above do his scales stick out like a pinecone?
Did the swelling occur over a day or two or a few weeks?

Thank you guys for your quick replies. My sister said the swelling basically started in 1-2 days. From the top I do not think he looks like a pinecone. I have fasted him for a week now, twice feeding him peas. He is still bloated. I fed him just a bit this morning because I was worried since he hadn't eaten in so long. I'm at a loss as to what's wrong. Should I start treating him with aquarium or epsom salt as mentioned? I didn't before because I only wanted to try 1 thing at a time.

Do the aquarium salt. It's fine to do the aquarium salt while fasting and can be beneficial to do both.

Is his poop white and stringy?

JuiceBox52 said:

Do the aquarium salt. It's fine to do the aquarium salt while fasting and can be beneficial to do both.

Is his poop white and stringy?

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I hate to step in here but Epsom salt is for bloat, not Aquarium salt. Make sure epsom salt is pure epsom salt, no perfumes. Add 1 teaspoon to 1/2 gallon of dechlorinated water same temp as fishes tank. Make sure it is dissolved and then add fish for 10 minutes. Then place him back in his tank. You can do ths twice a day for several days.

So many members get mixed up on which salt is used for what. Everybody please post this where you can get to it quickly.


Jun 5, 2019

I realize that the use of salts in freshwater tanks is a debated topic but that is not my purpose in posting this today. I simply want to clarify the confusion that many are having in using salt for freshwater fish. Below are some guides that I hope will help those of you that are interested. I couldn’t find a previous sticky on this topic so forgive me if there is one existing on our forum.

Table Salt There is both iodized and non-iodized table salt. Neither of these salts should be used in fish tanks as they both have caking agents which are harmful to fish. However, non iodized salt can be used to clean nitrogen pads, and as a disinfectant. Very good to use in tanks and on equipment being disinfected after disease/illness. Cheaper to use in such cases than aquarium salt.

Aquarium Salt. I highly recommend purchasing aquarium salt from your fish store as opposed to rock salt if you live in the U.S. This is because aquarium salt is refined from the purest parts of salt minds and with the safety of fish at hand. Rock salt can contain lead and nickel which are harmful to fish. Aquarium salt is good for improving gill function, reducing stress, disinfecting wounds, promotes healing, reduces osmotic pressure, inhibition of nitrites, and improves slime coat. Use for fin/tail rot and to disinfect and encourage healing of open wounds. Best used directly in the tank or quarantine tank

Epsom Salt. Pulls fluid out. Good for Pop Eye, dropsy, bloating, and constipation. Best used in fish baths.

Note: Always dissolve salts in dechlorinated water before adding to fish water as salt can burn and sting fish.

Dosages of above do depend on type of fish and disease/injury being treated for. Please use according to package directions or Google amounts and methods for each type of use.

Note: This may not be a complete list of uses but should help eliminate some confusion.

WARNING: Do not use salt on scaleless fish or invertebrate. Please check salt tolerance of your particular fish breed before using salt treatment. Many plants can not handle salt so use caution in a planted tank. In such cases, treat fish in a QT tank. Information above is intended for treatment purposes only and not intended for ongoing use in your aquarium.

Last edited: Jun 6, 2019
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Thanks deanasue I always get them mixed up. Sorry!

JuiceBox52 said:

Thanks deanasue I always get them mixed up. Sorry!

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I know! I’m going to paste it to your forehead. Lol!

Deanasue said:

I know! I’m going to paste it to your forehead. Lol!

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That wouldn't even work! I cant see my forehead...duh..maybe tape it to the inside of my glasses lol

First, thank you guys so much for all the information, I really really appreciate it!!! I did the Epsom salt treatment for 2 weeks and had been feeding him half a frozen pea a day. I do the epsom salt in a seperate tank, let him soak, then do put him back in his regular tank. I've also been doing 50% water changes. I'm at a loss of what to do. Other than the peas, I've only gave him fish food twice in over 2 weeks because I don't want to starve him. He is STILL bloated and I'm just at a loss here of what to do. He is also now always laying on the bottom of the tank. Am I doing something wrong? Thanks again for all the help in getting Narwhal to a speedy recovery.

This is a another post by @Deanasue (thanks again btw for saving my bloated rosy barbs)
Try fasting her for a day and then offer her a boiled, deshelled pea. You can also give her an epsom salt bath. Fill a gallon bowl with dechlorinated water the same temperature as her tank water. Add 1 teaspoon of epsom salt per gallon of water. Let her bathe in it for 15 minutes then place her back in tank. You can do this 3 times a day. The epsom salt works as a laxative.

I didnt use epsom salt but I use pea method, and it worked.