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One of my Bettas is really Bloated pic is here The Big three are all zero water temp is about 84F It's a 5G planted+filtered tank and he get fed once per day-Aquaricare flake, as do ALL my fish. This started about a week ago and I did a large water change and started treating with Pimafix and Melafix for several days. I fasted him for 3 days and have fed him green flakes since. He is still perky and eats readily, but so far no improvment. Any experience to share? I'd hate to lose him and can't see putting him down in his current condition.

I can't see your pic, but do you mean he is constipated? Have you seen him poo lately? If he is stopped up then...

I would try feeding him a frozen pea (thawed out and de-shelled). If I were you I'd switch foods. You might want to try Hikari BioGold. It's what I use and it really is wonderful. It has all the vitamins they need and it also contains epsom salts, which helps them not get constipated. It's also important to give them a varied diet. So, maybe once a week, feed freeze dried blood worms or frozen brine shrimp or something similar.

Oh, your link doesn't work, by the way.

If this doens't work, and he it stopped up, you may need to give him a epsom salt bath. I'm not quite sure how to do it, but someone else might.

I just checked the link and it worked just fine but I'll attach it anyway., but he is excreteing. I've tried feeding them-all 4 of my Bettas- pellets and they don't like them. I do throw in some frozen brine shrimp and bloodworms to mix things up. Thanks for the reply Steve

[span class="edited"][Edited by karfixer 2004-05-26 08:45][/span]
karfixer attached this image:
[img]http://www.fishprofiles.net/attachments/363255.jpg"]

egads! what a gut!

flat out starve him, if you feed him anything else it might do him in!

seriously tho, i would hold off on even the shelled pea, see what he can do about passing that by himself as that is one of the biggest bellies i've ever seen!
give him 24 hours, then try pea AND ONLY pea, every 3 days for as long as it takes.

Problem with gut issues is if they happen once, they will often happen again. you will have to keep him on a high fibre diet.


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

I'll pick up some frozen peas and epson salt. Any ideas on how much salt to use, and should I add it to the tank-or take him out and treat him? Thanks for the advise, he gets NO food 'till tomorrow and only pea (yuck), hope he eats it I won't. Steve

sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but my female developed a pot and died last week. tried peas and restricting food but to no avail. the post shouldn't be too far down in the forum somewhere. 'pot belly'

It is not the food - I forgot the name of the disease but for some reason I think it starts with an "S" - or has an S sound; I want to say Dropsy but I think that is another disease.
Anyway, there is medicine for available but it is almost always too late when their belly blows up. You can treat the problem in the begining stages but often times there are no early symptoms. The way I understand it, there is no to little hope at this point. My favorite Betta in the world died of this; I am sorry to bring this news.

I appreciate all the posts, even though it doesn't look too good for my little guy He is still very active and personable. Looking at him tonight it really looks like a fluid buildup, more like a blister than anything As long as he doesn't seem to be suffering I will treat him best as possible and pray for the best.

A sad and final update I had to put him to sleep tonight, his condition never improved and finally deteriorated to the point where I felt letting him go on would be unkind. Good bye my little friend
karfixer attached this image:
[img]http://www.fishprofiles.net/attachments/381140.jpg"]

I'll try again, attaching a pic of a better day
karfixer attached this image:
[img]http://www.fishprofiles.net/attachments/381141.jpg"]

I'm really sorry... Oddly enough, I also had a betta go this way. He looked exactly like yours for a month or so before going. I tried everything - pea, meds, salt... Still nothing... maybe it's some sort of kidney failure?

My betta has that now, though his belly isn't as big. Been trying to find out what it is, no one seems to know. I cured it once, then cut back on feedings/changed diet, then it came back about a month later. Don't think it's dropsy-they usually go pretty quick with that, and there's no pinecone look. He's pooping, so not constipated. I just got some medicated food, trying that now. I'm wondering if it's some kind of swim bladder infection or as stated a kidney infection?

I'm inclined towards a kidney infection/failure, my fish wasn't constipated either and the bloating appeared to be a fluid buildup. It started pretty quickly and was much worse that the picture when I put him down. The look is like a blister after you get burned, no pineconeing even when he was fully swollen. Good luck with the medicated food, let us know how it works out, Steve