Betta with growing belly bulge, no other symptoms

[nic]

Hi.  My betta Ping has a serious bulge on his side that's growing.  I've tried fasting a couple times but that didn't help.  I've read a bunch of articles but they say basically the same thing.  Bloat is a symptom to other issues.  But he doesn't show any other symptoms that help me to narrow what it could be.  I'm afraid to try meds as I know that can do harm if you are treating for something they don't have.
He still has a good appetite.  He swims normal.  I have no idea if he is passing poo.  I've honestly only ever seem him do that maybe twice since I've had him.  The only thing that has changed is I do see him occasionally rest.  Whether or not that is related I don't know.

The tank gets weekly water changes.
He's been getting fed North Fin Betta Bits pellets and the occasional freeze dried bloodworm.  Fasting every Sunday.

I've been using tap water treated with Fritz.

I dose with Easy Green.
I have 1 nerite snail and a growing crew of MTS.

 

 

Water parameters 3 days after a water change,
pH 7.8  (almost positive. I have a little trouble distinguishing the orange on the chart)
Nitrates 10

GH 107.4

Nitrite 0
Ammonia 0

KH 53.7

Temp 79

 

This is what I'm thinking of trying...

I bought epsom salt and am going to try a 15 minute soak.  I've read different ratios so I figure I'd try 1.5tsp per gallon.
I couldn't find daphnia but I did find some frozen cubes that contains a mix of stuff including brine shrimp and daphnie.  Not sure how much to give.
I have him on another fast at the moment.  This would be day 3.

 

Any advice would be appreciated!

 

[Colu]

As you have tried fasting and haven't seen much improvement it could be constipation causing the bloating I would try the Epsom salt baths 1 table spoon for 1 gallon for no more than 15 minutes for 5 days as Epsom salt acts as a muscle relaxant daphnia and brine shrimp will also help with constipation  you can also get bloating with internal parasites have you added anything new to the tank recently @nic

[nic]

@Colu I added a plant from Petco but that was over a month ago.

I will give him his first soak today. When should I start feeding again?

[Colu]

On 5/17/2023 at 6:29 PM, nic said:

@Colu I added a plant from Petco but that was over a month ago.

I will give him his first soak today. When should I start feeding again?

the chance of plant's introducing parasites is very low I would fast for frist couple of days of Epsom salt baths then start feeding the frozen food 

Edited May 17 by Colu

[nic]

On 5/17/2023 at 4:03 PM, Colu said:

the chance of plant's introducing parasites is very low I would fast for frist couple of days of Epsom salt baths then start feeding the frozen food 

Thank you, I appreciate the advice.

[nic]

I completed the series of salt dips.  And Ping fasted for 6 days before I started feeding a little bit of frozen brine shrimp.  Unfortunately after all of that I don't see a decrease in his belly.  It doesn't look to have grown either.  He continues to act normal. 
I read Honeydew's thread where she found out her betta's swollen belly was from overeating.  While I don't have any other fish and I'm not feeding anything else other than betta food could there be something he is finding to eat?  I do see him 'hunt' around the tank and pick at things. But I have no idea what he's picking at.

[Colu]

As the bloating hasn't reduced with Epsom salt baths and fasting it could be internal growth or an internal bacterial infection or parasitic infections it's a process of elimination at this point what I would suggest is doing a course of metroplex in food feeding a small amount twice a day for upto 3 weeks as the active ingredient metronidazole treats anaerobic bacterial infections that can cause bloating and several types of  protozoan parasites @nic

Edited Friday at 02:13 PM by Colu

[nic]

@Colu  I will work on getting those ingredients this weekend.