betta w/ huge belly

I posted this in the Emergencies section also. I totally forgot we had a Betta section on here . I found a similar post by Nashnutny on Dec 29.

I have had my male betta in a 2-gallon tank on my desk at work for about 7 months. We have been shut down for the holidays since Dec 17 but I've been going in to the office to check on it and feed it every 2-3 days. About a week and a half ago I noticed that it's belly was very large. I thought I had overfed it and didn't think much of it until I went in a couple of days later and it was still huge (looks like it's pregnant). It's been over a week now and it's belly is still huge, like it swallowed a marble. I haven't been able to find a disease with this symptom. Does anyone know what it could be? It doesn't seem to be suffering and it eats normally. There are no other symptoms, just the huge round belly.

could be constipated? try giving it a cooked, skinned pea, i wouldnt want to see teh aftermath if he is constipated and teh pea makes him poop

Mine is still the same way. Very active, hungry and ready to eat, but he looks like he's gonna explode at any minute. I did try a pea but nothing has happened. I thought I'd try another one tonight.

Just lost my guy last night. He was eating and active right up to last night. At that point he seemed to be having problems holding the air in his lungs but still was fairly active and wanted to eat. Although he was huge -like a preggie guppy - he never did pine cone. I tried green peas, etc but nothing took down the swelling.

Sorry to hear about your fish nashnutny.

I've heard that you should fast one day, give the pea the next, and fast the next day when your fish is severely constipated. Could be wrong, but that's what I have read in several places.

sorry about your fishie

nashnutny sorry to hear about your fish. I tried giving mine a pea but it wouldn't touch it. It's still kicking and acting normal but it's belly is still growing. I only feed it a very small pinch of flakes every 2-3 days and it will eat them. I wish there was something else I can do for it.

This is what I found on a betta website. I guess it's just a matter of time. My betta doesn't have the raised scales either. I did some calculations and it's been exactly 28 days now. I hope it doesn't suffer too much longer (although he really doesn't act like he's suffering).


DISEASE: DROPSY


GENERAL INFO: This is a most common and most fatal betta disease. Very little is know about it, other than it is abdominal bloating and that the tissues of betta get filled with fluids. Some say it is contagious, other say it is not. All I know is that it has killed many bettas in my fishroom over the years and I have never EVER been able to save a single one of them. I treat it as a very contagious disease, since it is most fatal, and I don’t joke around with it.

SYMPTOMS: It is easy to diagnose a betta with Dropsy: Look for two signs: an abnormally big (bloated) belly and if you look at betta from the top, raised scales. Scales will look like an open pine cone. If you see this, you are out of luck, and so is Betta. He will soon go to betta heaven (…

TREATMENT: No known cure. Keep water clean, keep him AWAY from any other bettas etc… You may try tetracycline if you catch it very early on. I always try something, just in case, though I have to yet found anything that will stop this horrible disease. It may take up to 15 days for betta to die, though usually about 5 days. Any betta with dropsy should be immediately ISOLATED!!!! Prayer may not hurt.

Hmmm... doesn't sound like dropsy at all. Just constipation. Try fasting him for a day or so, and then offer the pea! I would also stop feeding him flake-food... betta pellets are much healthier and closer to their natural diet. Hikari brand are the best IMO. Good luck!

Hikari Bio-Gold. Expensive but worth it.
I keep away from freeze-dried and flakes for them. Frozen foods are also yummy!!

I fast mine at least once a week if not two times. He was getting a pea during the week and loved it. It just didn't help.

I have two others with back problems. Neither one can swim properly but they just keep plugging along. One's a great eater while the other one has problems getting the food.

Yes, after thinking back, it must be the tropical flakes I was feeding him that is causing the bloating and constipation . I ran out of Betta food about 2 weeks before his belly blew up and I brought some tropical flakes to work from the tanks at home. Apparently that was a big mistake! Today I am buying another can of betta food. Thanks educating me on this!

nashnutny, sounds like you're a good parent to your Bettas. Everytime I go into Walmart and see those poor Betta's in those small containers full of nasty water, I want to adopt them.

Can't you use other veggies besides pea's? Like cooked cucumbers, zuccini, and squash?

In case maybe he just doesn't like pea's? (can't say that I blame him if he doesn't..I hate the nasty things too lol)

I gave him some pea this morning and he seems to like it. I hope this does the trick. I'll let yall know.

I'm saddened by the fish deaths, but very interested in the treatment ideas as my gorgeous boy has done the same thing. He was fine and then INFLATE! Hmmmmmmm. I didn't buy him from Walmart, but an lfs. He's on 1 pea a day and tomorrow he fasts. If he does appear to be suffering then I'll use clove oil and put him to sleep. I sure hope I don't lose him. I haven't seen any signs of "pine cone" fins ie. dropsy. Drat. I can see why they'd have trouble breathing, because that big belly kinda takes all the interior space. RATS!