Is My Betta Constipated Or Is It Dropsy? Help! (pic)

[shirlz]

Bob the Betta has been like this for 2 days now. He lives happily (usually) in a community tank. Having read lots of other posts I wondered if it could be constipation cos his food is all dried: pellets, flakes etc, and the occasional frozen food.
I don't have a spare tank at the moment so could he go in a breeding net in the tank so I can starve him and then try some peas?

 

[Amunet]

Definitely put him into a breeders net and fast him.
It would be best to take him out of the tank but since you don't have any spare ones, the breeders net would be best for now.
Hopefully after a few days of fasting and then giving him some pea he will poop.

You could also try giving him an epson salt bath. I've used about 1 tablespoon per gallon. Dissolve the salt in the water. Leave him in for about 30minutes. That might help him clear up his system as well.

What does he look like when you look at him from above? If his scales aren't sticking out, then hopefully he is just very constipated.
If his scales are sticking out like a pinecone, then it's dropsy which is being caused by a bacterial infection and you'll probably want to treat the entire tank with something.

 

[liz2]

I hope he is only constipated. Definitely only a pea for a few days and see what happens..

 

[Monty2451]

I don't see any pine coning of the scales so he's just fat, reeeeeeeaaaaallllllly fat, lol. Fast him for 2 days then give him a boiled and de-shelled pea and fast him for a couple more days. He should be fine in a week, maybe less.