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Along with the dying rummies and ich ridden tank, my Betta boy (the older one) seems to be sick. His stomach/abdomen (area behind his gills) is swollen. It has looked this way before, but always went back to normal after a couple days. I thought before that it was dropsy, but when it went back to normal, I didn't think anything else of it.
He is eating good. The only difference in him, behavior wise, is that he was sitting at the bottom of the tank earlier. He usually stays towards the top, except at night when he sleeps. It was late in the evening when I saw this so he could have just been tired. Usually when he is on the bottom the lights are out. He is an old Betta. I have only had him for about 5 months, but he is larger than most and appears older.
I thought it could be constipation. I don't think I have any peas though. Is there anything else you can give them for this? If I have to I will go buy some soon. I will have to wait until Monday though. Any thoughts on what this is?

Here is a picture that shows his belly. The scales are sticking out a bit...atleast more than the other scales. This could be from the swelling though.


And here is another side shot.


In this picture you can also see that his side is swollen. I don't know what this could be. It has always looked kind of like that...just looks worse when seen up close.
Last edited by GirlieGirl8519 at 24-Dec-2005 00:54[/font][/font]

Last edited by GirlieGirl8519 at 24-Dec-2005 00:56

*Kristin*

Looks like he is carrying it too low to be dropsy IMO, so go with constipation theory
Fast for a day, feed high fibre food (daphnia, pea, pelleted food that has high fibre content), and do again until he has deflated

Old fish have trouble dealing with the high levels of protien thats in standard betta food. You have to baby his intestines a little in his old age

And that line down his centre, thats perfectly normal. Most bettas will have it to some extent, but its often quite ounced in doubletails and HMs. It gets more visible as a fish ages too, so maybe thats why you are noticing it more now

For animals, the entire universe has been neatly divided into things to (a) mate with, (b) eat, (c) run away from, and (d) rocks. - Terry Pratchett

mine looks like that after most every feeding. it's where their tummy is, that's why it's chubby there

=( poor fishy!!! he is beautiful i hope he makes it!

Thanks Callayta, I will try to find the peas because I haven't seen daphnia anywhere. I fed him and the neons this morning so I will wait until tomorrow to get peas.

Thanks fishy...he was my first Betta boy so he is special.


*Kristin*

I agree I would go with the constipation theory. Feed him cooked squashed peas if this does not work take him to a good LFS for advice.

Have a look in [link=My Profile]http://
www.fishprofiles.com/interactive/forums/profile.asp?userid=6741" style="COLOR: #00FF00[/link] for my tank info

[link=Betta 11Gal Desktop & Placidity 5ft Community Tanks]http://photobucket.com/albums/b209/keithgh/Betta%20desktop%20tank/" style="COLOR: #00FF00[/link]


Keith

Near enough is not good enough, therefore good enough is not near enough, and only your best will do.
I VOTE DO YOU if not WHY NOT?
VOTE NOW VOTE NOW

Thanks Keith. I will certainly do that. Hopefully the peas will help.

*Kristin*

How is he looking any better, if it was constipation the peas should work within 24 hrs.

Have a look in [link=My Profile]http://
www.fishprofiles.com/interactive/forums/profile.asp?userid=6741" style="COLOR: #00FF00[/link] for my tank info

[link=Betta 11Gal Desktop & Placidity 5ft Community Tanks]http://photobucket.com/albums/b209/keithgh/Betta%20desktop%20tank/" style="COLOR: #00FF00[/link]

Keith

Near enough is not good enough, therefore good enough is not near enough, and only your best will do.
I VOTE DO YOU if not WHY NOT?
VOTE NOW VOTE NOW

Keith, I actually didn't give him any peas. I didn't have any at my house anyways. After all the family gatherings on Christmas Day, I checked him out and he wasn't swollen or bloated anymore. I think he must get like that after eating and stay that way for a little while, because when I noticed it before, it was a good while after he had eaten.
He is still normal today so I am guessing it was just fullness. I will continue to watch him and make sure. I will also try to get some peas...just so I will have some on hand next time. Thanks everyone for the help. I just had to make sure my boy was ok.

*Kristin*