Oh No! Fat Bettas

[tori_712]

Ok, I am new here and tried looking around first before i posted and checked around on the net for some sites for help.
I was out of town and Had someone watch my fish, i have 4 female betta's and one gold fish i got from the fair, Well the person who watched them over fed my fish because when i got home there was a bunch of food on the bottom of the gallon tank and floating, my bettas and extremly fat and puffed out and im afraid something will happen to them, i found nothing on over feeding, anywhere and I want to make sure that they will not get sick or die, i love my fishes, and feel terrible they are that fat, is there anything i can do to help them besides not feed them for a day or 2?

Thanks for the help..

-Tori

 

[Amunet]

Wait.. you don't have them all in a single 1 gallon bowl do you? Gosh I hope not!

As for your bettas... try feeding them a shelled cooked pea. Like frozen peas. Microwave one for 10secs or until thawed out. Take the shell off and cut it into some small chunks and feed that to them. It should help clear them out some. Only feed them the pea though nothing else. I would fast them for a couple of days as well just to make sure they've pooped out everything. Don't feel bad about not feeding them, they'll be fine if they don't eat for a few days.

 

[tori_712]

ok, i will try, i just feel bad that they are so fat...

im not sure what size my tank is, but its got an air pump and a landscape thing, my camera is broken, but they have plenty of room to swim around in,
thanks

 

[SoCalMom]

ok, i will try, i just feel bad that they are so fat...

im not sure what size my tank is, but its got an air pump and a landscape thing, my camera is broken, but they have plenty of room to swim around in,
thanks

You really should know how big your tank is. What are the measurements?

 

[Lynda B]

Yep, picture time. Help us help your fishies.....

Did you do a water change to get the old food out of there?

 

[liz2]

Yes, give them a good clean out or failing that partial water change....and peas but if not eaten you have to get those out as well...good luck

 

[zoekin8yg]

Are they just fat or are the scales sticking out? Look from above do they look like pinecones? Also are you keeping the betta and the goldfish together? Goldfish are cold water and bettas tropical. Also if they are female they fattness could just be eggs

 

[liz2]

true Zoe they could be eggy...need more info really.
(off thread..just been watching one of my boys who was convinced there was something to eat between 2 glass pebbles he was burrowing down really on a mission. then he saw me watching him and swam away looking all embarrassed!!)

 

[Maxsmom]

Oh goodness... you really need to do some things so your fish survive. The females need to be in a much bigger tank. They may be young now... but agression is common amongst the females - especially if they are in a small confined space... they may be ok now - but that will change - 95% sure of that - they need space and decorations/plants to hide out from each other. If it's a one gallon -there's really no room for them to get away. You may find all your fish dead soon. And goldfish are not compatible with bettas (male or female)... like someone suggested - they require different water temperatures first of all... and goldfish get BIG... so you'll have to give him his own tank soon. The rule of thumb is 1gallon of tank space for every inch of adult fish (nose to base of tail fin... not including the finnage.) Female bettas, though, need a minimum 10 gal tank for 3 to have any chance at peace. Your goldfish - I don't know too much about them... but I understand those little goldfish can grow to 6 inches or more so they too require a much larger tank eventually!!

If you find yourself going away a lot and having to rely on others to feed your fish... you can use one of those daily pill dispensers people use that take medication daily to help them keep track. Just put enough in for each day you're away and hide the rest of the food. Many well-meaning fish-sitters overfeed and that can lead to really foul water and constipated fish when you return. Also, your females may be "eggie"... which is common - it looks like they're bloated... but if you're sure they were overfed, I would err on fasting for a couple of days to be sure. It won't harm them... it's harder on us than on them!

I agree... you need to change the tank of water quickly (and get bigger tanks)... and perhaps fast them for a couple of days... followed by some shelled/cooked pea (do not serve HOT) to get things moving. Good luck!!