Bettas With Swollen Stomachs?

[Gurglar]

So I want to find out what cause bettas to get a massive swollen stomach that blows up like a balloon and you can see through there stomach.

So if people know what i'm talking about what is it, what causes it and how do you treat it?

My guess is a bacterial infection and it can be treated with pimafix but I want to find out for sure and how to avoid getting it?

 

[razer121]

mine had that when he had constipation.....then he got dropsy then he died...

 

[Knox213]

So I want to find out what cause bettas to get a massive swollen stomach that blows up like a balloon and you can see through there stomach.

So if people know what i'm talking about what is it, what causes it and how do you treat it?

My guess is a bacterial infection and it can be treated with pimafix but I want to find out for sure and how to avoid getting it?

it may either be.

Bloat / Dropsy.

Bloat - Feed one Deshelled pea. And Watch them until they use the bathroom As that may reduce swelling etc.

What do you feed your Betta?

 

[Gurglar]

Its not mine I work in a pet store and have had multiple people ask me about there bettas that have that problem and I have no clue what to tell them as I don't know to much about fish diseases and treatments and what not and would like to find out what I can advise people to do

 

[aly_starh]

Its not mine I work in a pet store and have had multiple people ask me about there bettas that have that problem and I have no clue what to tell them as I don't know to much about fish diseases and treatments and what not and would like to find out what I can advise people to do

Whats the feeding pattern of the 'store'
Is it just a one-off daily feed?

Bettas, ideally need to be fed in small quantities over different times.
Using pellets as an example, 3 pellets in the morning and 3 in the evening. Feeding fish, does have to be followed on by a fast, and variety, say Live Foods. These should be fed once or twice a wekk in small quantities.

And its important to fast fish once a week too.

 

[Gurglar]

Its not the stores bettas its customers and most of them have had the fish for atleast a few months so its what they are doing but we feed our bettas in the store 3 pellets once a day and thats it.

So most likely the cause is dropsy which is a bacterial infection caused by bad water quality which is what I thought as most people with the problem come in and only have them in tiny bowl without a filter and only changed the water like once every week or 2.

Oh I make sure I tell them that they should be changing there water every couple of days if they don't have a filter

 

[aly_starh]

So most likely the cause is dropsy which is a bacterial infection caused by bad water quality which is what I thought as most people with the problem come in and only have them in tiny bowl without a filter and only changed the water like once every week or 2.

Oh I make sure I tell them that they should be changing there water every couple of days if they don't have a filter

Yep, most likely bad water quality. Depending on the tank size, the water change may have to be done every day, about 50%.

 

[Gurglar]

ok thanks now how do you treat it properly pimafix is the only stuff we sell I think that treats internal bacterial infections so .I tell people that and to do alot of water changes.

So is that good or is there something else that you can use to treat it?

 

[ellena]

I think dropsy is internal organ failure, so not a lot to do. I think salt baths to draw out water, but not sure. Best thing would be to make sure they have a filter and know about the necessary water changes to begin with

 

[loraxchick]

they are probably overfeeding thier fish. bettaas are prone to constipation. feed a cooked deshelled chopped up pea.
pimafix is for FUNGAL infections. would not help bloat or bacterial disorders at all.
if it were an internal bacterial problem, need antibiotics (NOT melafix).
cheers

 

[lilacamy931]

I recently had Calcifer die from dropsey, if you are sure it is this then treat fast. For the early stages you need to give epsom salt baths, this can be brought over the counter in any pharmacy store and doesnt cost much. It is the only thing I know and have read of that can help. Dropsy is organ failure and when the scales start to stick out it is not likely that they will recover as the organs are being compressed on the inside. One thing to note is to ensure it is dropsy and not bloating as epsom salt draws out fluids that are building up inside the betta and if caught early enough gives them a chance to recovery, if the betta is bloated it could do more harm than good as constipated and needs course of peas.Are any scales sticking out even slightly? (I ask this as another betta is bloated at the moment and his scales are smooth, Calcifer's scales started to go stick out early on).

Not pleasant but here is a pic of Calcifer in definate stages of dropsy:

This was a pic of him in the first stages

Instructions for epsom salt bath I used taken from another site: "Use a seperate container & add epsom salts at no more than a
quarter of a teaspoon per gallon of water. *Remember to match the water
temperature. Add the fish & keep a close watch for signs of
distress as some fish will not tollerate it. Leave for a maximum of 15
minutes only."

 

[fishyfeet]

betta seems to suffer from internal bacterial infections which caused them the bloat in the chest area, ive had several go with this and have not found a cure yet.

 

[Honeythorn]

I'd say if it's just bloating they have and not the pinecone effect in the scales which occurs in dropsy, then your advice for less feeding and more water changes is good.

Next time someone mentions their fish is bloated, make sure to ask if the scales are sticking out like in the picture above. Then you'll know which advice to give. Though there isn't really any known cure for dropsy, other than using the epsom salt baths to reduce water in the fish and try to make them comfortable until the end .

Advising to get a bigger tank also will help vastly. Exlain how their fishkeeping will actually be easier in a bigger filtered tank. If they have a tiny bowl they have to change water every couple of days to keep the fish healthy, and it has no space to swim

In a 5 gal + with a filter, they'll only have to change half the water once a week , and if they do it using a syphon they can clean the gravel and remove water at the same time. Doing two jobs at once and without having to entirely empty the tank or remove the fish. That will take less than 15 minutes out of an entire week.




Just a really big critter keeper ( the biggest size you can get ) is good and they cost less than full setups of glass tanks if expense is a problem, so at least the customer will feel a little less like someone is trying to sell them the most expensive tank in the shop. I'd say advise to get a bigger tank second hand but I suspect your bosses would not appreciate that.


One like this is around 5 gals and not vastly expensive either ( though it say's for reptiles this can also be used for fish )

http/lllreptile.com/store/catalog/reptile-supplies/kritter-keepers-and-cricket-containers/-/extra-large-herp-haven-critter-keeper/




If they mention supposed space issues ( almost entirely likely to be false as the chances of them having bothered to move things around and make space are virtually nil ) , A medium or large critter keeper - for example - WILL fit on a bog standard kitchen worktop for example , I've done it and my kitchen is small , a hex tank WILL fit in 12-14 square inches of space. Anyone can find that amount of space somewhere.


A basic cheap sponge filter and pump, heater, bigger tank, reduced feeding and weekly water changes plus plenty of plants will all keep a betta very healthy and happy. And since they bought the fish as a pet one would presume a healthy happy pet is what they want.

 

[fishyfeet]

the best thing you can do is restrict feeding or feed live daphnia (laxative), do a big water change, keep the temp high maybe add salt and melafix, you cant do any more. di

 

[Gurglar]

I'm going by what it says on the bottle and pimafix says treats internal bacterial infections, melafix treats body and fins from infections and I know melafix isn't good for bettas as its to strong which is why there is bettafix unless you water down the melafix.

So from now on i'll make sure to ask about the scales I think most are just bloating and its the stomach which expands and goes all see through so would probably be constipation yeah??

So to treat for constipation first which is just to feed them some peas and cut down the feedings and if its dropsy more water changes and epsom salt baths??

So no giving them meds at all?