Alec Posted October 4, 2022 Share Posted October 4, 2022 Is my betta constipated? I put her in a quarantine tank with a small dose of salt and a catappa leaf to help with the constipation. I also gave her a pea. She seems to be swimming normally, but just has a big belly. Thanks for the help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xXInkedPhoenixX Posted October 4, 2022 Share Posted October 4, 2022 Hi @Alec, I would look for any signs of pineconing- bloating can be a sign of issues other than constipation and if she has something like dropsy it's best to try and treat right away. If no pineconing you can try fasting the fish for a few days and or Epsom salt soaks which are done for only 10-15 minute increments (lots of threads with this kind of treatment described). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alec Posted October 4, 2022 Author Share Posted October 4, 2022 @xXInkedPhoenixX Yeah, I don't see any pineconing on her. (This is my girlfriends betta and I have seen pineconing on quite a few others) I have her in a 5.5 gallon tank with 5 gallons of water. I put in aquarium salt at a rate of 1 Tbsp per 5 gallon. The coop article on salt said 1 Tbsp per 3 gallons, but I didn't want to over do it. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xXInkedPhoenixX Posted October 4, 2022 Share Posted October 4, 2022 OK cool, the salt treatment should hopefully help I'd keep an eye on her for changes for a few days and maybe fast her if you think it might be an overfeeding/constipation problems- not uncommon with Betta. If something else comes up or no changes give us an update! One of our members suggests daphnia for constipation as Betta are carnivores, in case you feel the need to feed. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alec Posted October 4, 2022 Author Share Posted October 4, 2022 Will do. I'll let you know if there are changes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alec Posted October 6, 2022 Author Share Posted October 6, 2022 @xXInkedPhoenixX I'm not seeing much of a change. She seems to be a little slimmer. I did go ahead and add a dose of Ich X, Maracyn, and ParaCleanse. The only thing she has been fed in the past 5 days is a pea. She does appear to have a white spot where she would normally poop. Is this normal or part of the constipation? Below are the updated pictures of her. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnimalNerd98 Posted October 6, 2022 Share Posted October 6, 2022 The white spot is her egg spot or ovipositor tube (where eggs are laid) so I wouldn’t be too worried. She could be gravid (full of eggs). Brine shrimp also act as a natural “laxative.” What is her behavior like? Is she inquisitive and looking around the tank or is she hiding/moping? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alec Posted October 6, 2022 Author Share Posted October 6, 2022 @AnimalNerd98 Okay thank you. And she is active. She will swim around all the decorations. When I come up to the tank to look at her and tap on the rim she will come swimming to me. She also was eager to eat the pea. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xXInkedPhoenixX Posted October 7, 2022 Share Posted October 7, 2022 (edited) I would try and feed her some daphnia since she hasn't eaten in 5 days. Just a few small pieces. Edited October 7, 2022 by xXInkedPhoenixX 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hally M. Posted October 8, 2022 Share Posted October 8, 2022 Bettas can be very sensitive especially depending on where their purchased from. If your girlfriend has had a lot of bettas with this sort of thing before, than I would question what is the bettas normal diet like? Is it varied enough? What is the normal amount fed? for my bettas I think having a variety of 3 different foods Is always a good idea just to make sure all their dietary requirements are met, since it’s not super common one food will meet all their nutritional needs. Plus it makes them happy and they won’t get tired of it. Two pellet foods and a protein source once a week. Like X-treme bettas pellets for a couple days, Hikari bettas bites the next, and than frozen or freeze dried bloodworms or daphnia for one day a week. Something like that. 2-3 pellets per day and leaving one day a week for them to help digest everything. I would think that to prevent this from happening again you may need to adjust her diet unless her diet is varied and she isn’t over fed. has the epsom salt baths helped at all? Has she been exposed to male bettas at all? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alec Posted October 8, 2022 Author Share Posted October 8, 2022 @Hally M. Yeah we might need to change her diet up. And she does seem to be getting thinner. And no interaction with male bettas. @Hally M. Yeah we might need to change her diet up. And she does seem to be getting thinner. And no interaction with male bettas. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hally M. Posted October 8, 2022 Share Posted October 8, 2022 Yay!! That’s great it’s good to hear she’s thinning out!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alec Posted October 8, 2022 Author Share Posted October 8, 2022 @Hally M. Yeah. I think it was a combination of over feeding and maybe egg bound. But She's doin great! 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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