Swollen Belly On Bettas

[mastergara]

Heyo all,

Recently, I have noticed that 2 of my bettas are getting a swollen white-ish belly (Phoenix and MZ), but another one is not (Spaz). This seems to be localized to just the 2 of them, and not any of the other fish. None of mine GF's bettas are showing anything of the same, and it seems odd that just 2 of my bettas would show this. Any ideas on what it is, or how I can treat it?
Both bettas are acting normal. There has been no change in their behavior. MZ has a 6.5gal tank, and Phoenix was just transferred to a 5gal tank. I am really starting to get concerned, as I thought they might just be plugged up, or overfed, and I have been feeding them peas in addition to now only feeding them Mon/Wed/Fri. Phoenix seems worse off then MZ, but I am confused as there is no change in the demeanor or behavior of them. I thought they were just getting a bit fat

I change the water in their tanks bi-weekly, and recently changed the filter media in both to have a combination charcoal and ammonia removal mix. Please help, and I appreciate any advice there is to help my bettas.

-MD

 

[Lynda B]

Are they male or female?

Any chance you're just looking at very eggy females?

 

[mastergara]

B)-->QUOTE(Lynda B @ Jul 18 2007, 11:19 AM) [snapback]1695905[/snapback]
Are they male or female?

Any chance you're just looking at very eggy females?[/quote]

I am pretty sure they are male, as they do flare from time to time. Let me see if I can dig up some pics of them from the past.

 

[Lynda B]

Actually, current pictures would be best..... so we can see exactly what the problem is.....

 

[Miss Dib Dabs]

There are three possibilities.
1. They are actually females carrying lots of eggs.
2. They are suffering from constipation. Feed shelled pea and nothing else for a few days.
3. It's a possible sign of dropsy. And scales beginning to not lay flat? Need Anit-internal meds for that, but it's rarely treated successfully. Hope it's not this.
P.

 

[mastergara]

Images from the past -

Phoenix:

MZ:

Mind you these are pics from a while ago, and they show no indication of swollen belly. I can see if they are willing to let me take a pic of them later to see how visual the change is.

I will try to feed them both shelled peas only. Luckily, I keep a garden, so I have no shortage of those being fresh too.

If it is some indication of Dropsy, what meds should I be looking for? Any specific meds that have a chance to help them? I want to do as much as I can for these guys, as they are my little boys. Have not seen any indication of "pine-cone" scales on them.

-MD

 

[Lynda B]

Just one pea each. Don't give them the garden.

Before we look at something as severe as dropsy...

what do you normally feed them, how much and how often:

how often do you do water changes:

do you take readings on their tanks? if so, what are the results:

how old are they:

how long have you had them:

If they are in a tank with another fish, remove the other fish. I believe you have 2.5 gallon tanks, is that correct?

 

[mastergara]

B)-->QUOTE(Lynda B @ Jul 18 2007, 11:44 AM) [snapback]1695950[/snapback]
Just one pea each. Don't give them the garden.[/quote]

I dont know that they would even take as much as a single pea to each of them.

Before we look at something as severe as dropsy...

what do you normally feed them, how much and how often:

Mix of Betta Bites and some color-enhancing pellets. Same thing the GF feeds hers (Marge, Jean-Luc, Caspian, Pixie and Buttercup), and none of them show the swelling. Same thing as I feed my third Betta (Spaz) and he does not show the same. As a precaution, I have changed his diet to match the other boys.

how often do you do water changes:

Bi-weekly.

do you take readings on their tanks? if so, what are the results:

Have not taken readings on the water since the last change. I am planning on changing their water tonight once I am home. Should I take readings before, after, or both?

how old are they:
how long have you had them:

Um... I have had them about a year, I think. MZ I have had the longest, and a month or so later I got Spaz, then 2 weeks later I rescued Phoenix from an lfs where he was kept in a mega-tiny cup (prolly no bigger then 4oz). I am honestly not sure how old they are, but they are sweet and fun little guys.

If they are in a tank with another fish, remove the other fish. I believe you have 2.5 gallon tanks, is that correct?

Each of these guys has at least a 5gal to themselves. Phoenix and Spaz shared a split 10gal (you can see the divider in the old pic), but after Phoenix hopped the barrier to battle spaz (tore up the fins something good), he was put into a 2gal for about a month while I cycled the tank he is currently in. To put into a little better readable format:

Spaz - 10gal - Unaffected
MZ - 6.5gal - Affected
Phoenix - 5gal - Affected

All fed the same diet of 6 pellets every day except Thursday (day off). Now they are fed Mon/Wed/Fri.

Bi-Weekly water changes on each of these tanks.

Thank you for the attention to my questions and concerns. As you can see these are beautiful betta boys, and I am quite attached to them. Tis hard to diagnose a problem when there is no direct feedback from them.

-MD

 

[Lynda B]

Please try to load new pictures, showing them swollen.

As far as feeding, I would only feed my bettas one pellet per day, perhaps two, but then they'd get flakes at the second meal. It could be that yours are swallowing those pellets whole and then they are expanding in their bellies. The pea might work.

Any time you take readings, take them prior to changing your water. That's the only way you know what conditions they've been living in.

I don't think you're doing enough water changes, given their size container. I do a 50% water change on all tanks above 10 gallons every weekend. Smaller than 10 gallons gets 100% water change weekly.

 

[girl4God81]

Epsom Salt!!!

Mine have had this 2 or 3 times and epsom salt always works.

 

[mommyof2bettas]

Remember, betta stomachs are about as big as their eyes, so don't give them too many pellets. Fast them for a couple of days, then the pea again.
If they keep being swollen, it might be dropsy... although if it is, you should know in a couple of weeks. If the peas don't work, try epsom salt like girl4god suggested.

 

[joycould]

I had a fish that had been getting a swollen stomach . It went down after I quit feeding him the betta bites... Now they are all on atison's pro and hikariri betta bio gold. Infact a couple of weeks ago I went to a pet store looking for some atison and noticed they had taken all of the HBH betta bites off the shelf and put up a yellow piece of paper saying they were recalled. I asked someone that worked there they said "It is because of a mislabeled ingredient." I stopped feeding him them and his stomach went down in a few days. I fasted him and gave him peas. I don't know if the betta bites had anything to do with it since he was the last one on the feeding and I kept a container at his tank. I had 12 bettas at the time and now about 3 more.

 

[Miss Dib Dabs]

^That's dreadful! So many people could have lost their bettas because of that. So glad I don't use them. I only use Atisons betta food alongside live and frozen food. And the odd pea to keep those tubes clear.
P.

 

[-germ-]

the following fish foods have been recalled due to possible melamine contamination

HBH Pet Products, Inc. Crab and Lobster Bites 1.3oz
HBH Pet Products, Inc. Goldfish Bites 1.5oz
HBH Pet Products, Inc. Goldfish Nibblets 4.3oz
HBH Pet Products, Inc. Goldfish Nibblets 8.0oz
HBH Pet Products, Inc. Goldfish Nibblets 32oz
HBH Pet Products, Inc. Goldfish Nuggets 32oz
HBH Pet Products, Inc. Shrimp Pellets 1.6oz
HBH Pet Products, Inc. Shrimp Pellets 4.6oz
HBH Pet Products, Inc. Shrimp Pellets 9.1oz
HBH Pet Products, Inc. African Cichlid Attack 3.8oz
HBH Pet Products, Inc. African Cichlid Attack 8.0oz
HBH Pet Products, Inc. African Cichlid Attack 28oz
HBH Pet Products, Inc. Oscar Bites 1oz
HBH Pet Products, Inc. Oscar Grow 3.8oz
HBH Pet Products, Inc. Oscar Show 8oz
HBH Pet Products, Inc. Super Cichlid Sinkers 29oz
HBH Pet Products, Inc. Baby Bites 1.2oz
Sergeant's Pet Care Products, Inc. Atlantis Betta Food, 1.2 oz
Sergeant's Pet Care Products, Inc. Atlantis Color Enhance Tropical Fish Flake Food, 0.88 oz.
Sergeant's Pet Care Products, Inc. Atlantis Goldfish Flake Food, 0.42 oz.
Sergeant's Pet Care Products, Inc. Atlantis Goldfish Flake Food, 0.75 oz.
Sergeant's Pet Care Products, Inc. Atlantis Goldfish Flake Food, 2.15 oz.
Sergeant's Pet Care Products, Inc. Atlantis Tropical Fish Flake Food, 0.42 oz.
Sergeant's Pet Care Products, Inc. Atlantis Tropical Fish Flake Food, 0.88 oz.
Sergeant's Pet Care Products, Inc. Atlantis Tropical Fish Flake Food, 2.25 oz.
Zeigler Pelleted and crumbled shrimp feeds

if you have any of these products, stop useing them and return them to your LFS
source
http/www.avma.org/aa/petfoodrecall/products.asp

Just thought i should quote The-Wolfs post in Bettas for those who haven't seen it...
Bit late, sorry...

 

[joycould]

When I went to the HBH site I noticed the betta bites wasn't on it, but it was still pulled from the store shelf. I stopped feeding it to mine all together, just incase. My boy came through it alright but I watch him and if he starts swelling it is fasting and pea time. He is a little glutton he ate an algae wafer I put in for my MTS. Now I put it after the lights go out. I hope your boys will come get better also.