Betta Throwing Up Food!?!

[devin]

Hi Everyone, I'm new here, and I just purchased my first Betta about one month ago. Unfortunatley, I purchased him from a local fish store and he seems to be having some problems. 1st- He seems to be just getting over his fin rot. and 2nd, the main reason I joined here today, is that he keeps throwing up his food. We all know that Betta's are finicky eaters, but he never gave me a problem before.

I feed him small portions twice a day. I vary it up with pellets and freeze dried bloodworms. He has always accepted them both with now problem, until 2 days ago, I noticed that after feeding him, about an hour later, he threw up his food!?!? Now, yesterday, he couldn't even keep his food down. He wants to eat, but instantly throws it up. I don't know what to do, and I am very worried. Has anyone heard of such a case? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Tank readings seem normal, pH 7.2, Ammonia 0, Nitrite 0, Nitrate 10He is in his own 5 gallon tank, small filter, heater, air filter, live plants.



Thanks,
devin

 

[nino]

he's throwing up an hour after feeding?

a lot of the time my bettas will spit out something they've eaten and then go for it again. i don't know why-maybe to soften up the pellet or whatever. i know someone who named their first betta barf because he would always spit out whatever he'd been fed.

 

[splashluff]

hm. I would try giving him a few pieces of thawed pea, or Bloodworms. It could be that he's constipated... freeze dried foods aren't every good to feed too often, they can be tough on Bettas insides.

I'd worry about internal problems if this continues... it sounds like he very well cared for and in a really nice set-up, I hope he feels better soon

 

[RandomWiktor]

Is his belly at all distended or discolored? Constipation is a very common problem in bettas, and freeze dried foods can contribute. Freeze dried bloodworms are also linked to swim bladder disease in betta fish. Perhaps you could try frozen once he is feeling better?
If he looks swollen but is otherwise acting well, see if he will eat a shelled, thawed frozen pea, and fast him otherwise. If the problem persists, there is a chance that he has some kind of GI problem. I have lost two bettas to stomach tumors, aka "belly masses," and both of them would regurgitate or just not swallow thier food as well.

 

[devin]

Thank you all so much for the fast replies. I', so worried about him, I really don't know what to do. The constipation theroy seems to be the closest diagnosis right now. Honestly I haven't seen him poop in days. I didn't even notice.

I have been feeding him 1 blood worm and one pellet these last couple of days, just to see if he could keep his food down to no avail. So, for the most part he is fasting. Otherwise his appearance looks fine. His mood, on the other hand, all I can say is . He has been flaring constantly, at nothing, inparticular, I can't help but think that he is angry at me for not feeding him!!!!

2 of your replies suggested I feed him a pea. Can his little mouth actually get around it to eat it? Being a "newbie" I have never heard of this. I know it sounds silly, but what's the best kind of peas to feed him, frozen, canned or fresh? I think all I have in the house right now is canned, is that ok?

Thank you all again, it means soo much to me and Obi!!!

Any other suggestions would be greatly appreciated!!!!

~D

 

[RandomWiktor]

Ooops! I meant a little piece of a frozen pea, which you'll want to deshell and thaw before feeding. I'm so used to reccomending it for everything that I forgot not everyone has done it before!

I guess if you wanted, you could add some blackwater extract and aquarium salt. The salt might kill off an early-stage bacterial infection, and I just find that my boys are healthier and more active with they have the extract, but that is pretty subjective, so I'm sure it isn't a necessity.

Good luck, and I hope he starts feeling better soon.

 

[devin]

Hello everyone, I figured I would give an update on my betta, this way with a little more info maybe someone can help diagnos his problem.

Yesterday, he finally kept down ONE freeze dried blood worm, right after he ate it, he looked like he burped and a few small particles came out of his mouth. But for the most part he kept it down. He wanted nothing to do with the pellets, nor the peas, so I tried to feed him one more worm, he tried to eat it, but kept spitting it out.

One other odd thing I noticed was that when he tried to eat, ALOT of bubbles came out of his gills!?!?! Is this normal???