Swollen Betta

[l.michelle]

Hi, I posted this in the emergencies thread, but I thought I might try here as well, seeing as this is where many of the experts are

I have a female betta, and this morning when i fed her she looked fine, and ate and what not, but this afternoon she looks very very bloated, she looks so fat right now that she looks like a blowfish.

I went to the petstore in town, and they told me that it could be fish bloat and gave me brine shrimp and told me if it hasn't gone down in a day or so to give the shrimp to her.

I am wondering if that is the only possiblity it could be, and if that really is the best method to help whatever it is she is going through. I am very worried, and I am not familular with female bettas, as I really have only had males.

Any help would be appreciated!

 

[tttnjfttt]

Responded to this in the emergency section.

 

[Never2ManyBettas]

LFS person needs to be taught the difference between a chichlid and a betta.... and a swift kick to the head. Make sure you ream them a new one when you go back. They sold you something useless.... except as a snack for the betta..... IF she is even eating.

Check for pineconing of the scales (look down at her and see if the scales are protruding).... which is what it sounds like she may be doing.

Very few people have ever had any success treating a betta for dropsy and curing it. In part because if they are retaining water that bad it means their kidneys have shut down.

 

[liz2]

LFS person needs to be taught the difference between a chichlid and a betta.... and a swift kick to the head. Make sure you ream them a new one when you go back. They sold you something useless.... except as a snack for the betta..... IF she is even eating.

Check for pineconing of the scales (look down at her and see if the scales are protruding).... which is what it sounds like she may be doing.

Very few people have ever had any success treating a betta for dropsy and curing it. In part because if they are retaining water that bad it means their kidneys have shut down.

I hope she is OK that dropsy is awful I had a fish with it once....yuck!

 

[l.michelle]

Thank you for your concern. I looked at her this morning, and the swelling has seemed to gone down. Thank you about the pet store people. Usually there are people there that knows what they are talking about.

I'm not at home right now, but I'll check when I am.

I have never had to deal with dropsy, I have only had one fish get velvet and fungus. Luckily though, even while he was on his deathbed i nursed him with different things and he is alive and better now. I found that the people in Tropical fish Emergencies are great for helping!

 

[bettawen]

if only swollen and no pine coning she could be constipated, daphnia (waterfleas) can help with that and also cooked pea, but you need to remove the outerskin first.
hope all goes well. dropsy is a horrible disease and almost untreatable
or the other side of the coin so to speak is that she was full of eggs, which can give them a bloated look

 

[l.michelle]

The swelling has gone down considerably since yesterday and this morning. She looks almost the same as she did yesterday morning before this started.

I didn't feed her today, although she is in the corner she always gets fed at, but i think i will wait until tomorrow morning, just to make sure.

Thank you everyone for your help!!!! Heidi and I appreciate very very much!!!!