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I bought three female bettas yesterday. When I got home and put them into a small QT tank, I realized one of them has a very swollen stomach. The other two appear in good health, exploring the tank and all.
I've seen a betta with dropsy, and I don't think she's there yet. But, she is doing the 45 degree head stand indicative of swim bladder disease. And she has a bit of white, stringy poop hanging out. I offered her some anti-parasite food, and she didn't try to eat at all.
I tested the water they came in from lfs, and it was terrible. Nitrites were very present, and Nitrates were close to 100, and the pH was about 6.0.
Currently, the QT has fresh water from one of my tanks, but is unfiltered. This morning there were no nitrites, and nitrates were around 20ppm.
So, my question is how do you tell the difference between parasites, constipation or a bacterial disease? What should I try to treat first?
I was thinking epsom salt and peas, but I'm not sure.

IMO I would start with putting her in her own QT tank, it's possible because she is sick that she'll get picked on. Even so, this way you can keep a steady eye on her. You have pretty much narrowed your search down it seems. She's gotta eat anyways, so why not try the pea. So if it's constipation that will help. Then maybe a treatment of MelaFix and PimaFix as this will cover bacterial and fungal infections. If it is Dropsy, the chances of having a recovery are unlikely, although I hear not impossible. I guess my point is, for now, treat what you can that isn't going to stress her out any more than she already is. These are a good first 2 steps. I'm sure another member will help you further with the things I couldn't. Also, before I forget to write it, the directions on PimaFix and MelaFix tell you to treat for 7 days straight. Through advice from members on this site, and from my own experience, it is much more effective and alot less harmful to your fish to treat on the 1st, 3rd, 5th and 7th as opposed to 7 days non-stop. Treating that many days in a row could actually work against helping your fish and become toxic to them. Hope i've helped. Good luck and keep us posted.

Georgia

I would contact the Aquarium where you bought them and return all of them straight away. It is possible they all could have the same problem.

Keith

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Thanks for the replies!

The sick betta still looks the same. I fed her some of a pea, and I think she ate some. I also added some epsom salt. It seems to me that her stomach looked less swollen, but her poop was still clear and stringy. She sits right below the water surface, and doesn't do much.

I put the two healthy-looking ones in a planted ten gallon. I think they look pretty healthy. I've never had female bettas before, and they're so inquisitive. They were attempting to eat my baby guppies, quite unsucessfully. And picking at little MTS's. Very cute.

I am hoping the sick one was just injured or stressed at the lfs. And that I'm not dealing with a contagious disease or parasite that the other two are infected by. Is that just wishful thinking?

I'd like to return the sick one, but they don't have a return policy, and I know they won't take care of it. So, I guess it was a $3 lesson learned not to buy from there any more.