Bloated Betta

[beetle]

Hello.

(Sorry, this is a cross- post from tropical emergencies).

I've got a bloated betta. Been searching the forums and google and was looking for some confirmation that the things I'm trying are correct, as I'm getting a lot of partial/ conflicting answers.

The poor thing hasn't had a BM in about a week and a half. Only over the past day or so has she started to act a little lethargic. I see no pineconing at all. She has no exposure to other fish, and until earlier this week has not had any new things introduced to her tank.

I started with peas, boiled, smished. She eats them, but dosn't deficate.

Then I started epsom salt baths, once per day, 20 minutes.
I read dosages of both 1/8 teaspoon per gallon and 1 tbsp per gallon, kind of a wide range there, so I erred on the side of caution and only put in a pinch.
Should I be using the higher dosage? Can I do this twice per day?

I was running her temp a bit low, 70-72 deg, in a 2.5 gallon tank. Now she's in a 10 with a heater and over the past 2 days I've crept the temp up from 72 deg to today's goal of 80 deg as I read that can help with this.
How warm is recomended for a constipated betta? I don't want to over do it.

I just read about Daphnia for constipation. If poor little Blue can hang on until this evening I'll get some on my way home from work and try that.
Never used them before. I read that they come frozen in a bar, and they wake up when they warm up in the water.
How much daphnia should I give the girl?

I've been fasting her for 2 days and giving her a pea the following day. She tells me I'm evil and starving the betta. I heard you can fast a betta for up to a week. Is true?

I'd just like any adivise about those points that I couldn't get solid answers about, advise, anything else others have had luck with.
I posted this to emergencies because it's coming up on 2 weeks and I'm afraid she won't make it much longer, and it was suggested I post to bettas as well.

I really care for my fish, and feel horrable I let this happen, most likely due to a steady diet of just betta flakes and dried blood worms, lowish temp, and a couple of weeks without frequent enough water changes. I'd really like to get her better so I can right my wrongs so to speak.

 

[Buie]

i have a similar problem, however, i see a large lump at the fish's rear end, and its causing him to float around. He's lethargic, but still eats. I haven't seen any defication asside from the very first day i got him, but that was over a year ago. I'm going to try to peas thing, and hope it works.

 

[Htw]

It's always horrible when this happens. I remember someone who breeds bettas in Thailand or somewhere, said that mosquito larvae is good. Have not tried it myself though for constipated fish, but anything's worth a try.

 

[llamalord305]

Yes, it is true that they can go about 10 days without food. (Not that anyone should try it, but ive had one that went like 13. (He was bloated too))

 

[beetle]

If anyone has had luck with a particular bacterial med combo for non-dropsy bload do let me know what worked for you please.
I'm researching Maracyn 1 and Maracyn 2 (and if I can do both to hit the gram positive and negative at the same time) and tetracycline, and which are absorbed through the skin, etc.

I'm kind of keeping this thread going in case others come looking for this info, maybe this will be an informative thread.
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One thing I saw here and elsewhere, was average lifespan of bettas. She's been in my care for 15 months, and I do not know how old she was when I got her. Average is listed at 2 years, less to more depending on genetics, care, etc. So, I don't know if meds will help if she's infected + old.

But, I'm still going to give meds a try.

Looking at the info about Maracyn 1 and Maracyn 2 (also whether you can do both simoltaneously) and tetracycline.

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Epsom salts did not work. btw, 3 teaspoons in a gallon bath is TOO MUCH. That was hurting the fish, I took her back out and backed off the epsom baths for the weekend. If I resume the epsom baths, I'll stick with closer to 1 teaspoon per gallon.

Peas may have helped a little at first, or her 1 time last week BM could have been coincidence. Peas do not seem to help now.

We've got her water temp in her 10 gallon tank up to a steady 80 degrees.

Daphnia did not seem to work. Gave her plenty Friday evening, and a bit more Sat. She did eat some. I've seen no improvement by sunday night.

The status of little Blue is she's looking rough. Still not pineconing (dropsy), but she's taken to hanging around the top of the tank. I think there are swimbladder issues as she floats back up rapidly after she goes to the bottom of the tank.

To be honest, I was sure we'd have one less fish this morning as she looked almost dead last night. But, there she is, looking unhappy/ lethargic but alive. So, on the way home I'll get bacterial meds and cross my fingers.

I read accounts where bacterial meds cleared up the bloat, but the fish was still quite lethargic and unwell after the bloat backed off. So, I will also continue to research ideal conditions for a betta so as to make what time she has left most plesant.

Thanks for the advise folks.