It may seem confusing to see Betta become a little less energetic and energetic.
I have found that there could be many reasons why your Betta fish has a bloated abdomen and seems lethargic. It’s not a sign of weakness for your aquarium pet fish, so don’t panic.
Sometimes, a bloated abdomen can be harmless and not a sign that you have Swim Bladder Disorder or Dropsy.
In this article I will examine the main causes of bloat among Betta fish.
It is possible to avoid serious illness by understanding how fish bodies function.
Your Betta might feel overwhelmed by her swollen abdomen.
Sometimes, breathing and swimming difficulties may occur.
There are many reasons why you may encounter a bloated betta fish.
Betta fish can develop a bloated abdomen from overfeeding on nutrient-dense food or not enough fiber. Fish bloat can be caused by low water quality, bacterial infection, or parasites.
All these factors could lead to an expanding abdomen in fish and a very swollen belly.
You may also experience severe constipation, Swim Bladder Disorder, and Dropsy.
It could also indicate that a Betta is egg bound if she has a swollen abdomen.
All the conditions mentioned can be treated if they are promptly and properly diagnosed.
Let me tell you about each one.
1. Don’t eat foods that are too nutritious and don’t break down as quickly.
Bettas with a bloated abdomen can often be caused by eating fish that eat too much nutrition but are not able to digest as quickly. These foods cause a negative response which slows down stomach emptying.
This body reaction serves to keep the Betta fish’s intestines clear of nutrients.
The prolonged activation of this response results in food retention in the stomach of the fish, and consequently bloating.
In certain cases, the stomach might become so swollen that it starts appearing white from the outside.
As I was researching possible causes of fish belly bloat, I came across this study.
This study opened my eyes about the foods I was feeding Betta.
Are you able to guess which foods are too nutritious and take too long to digest?
If you answered “pellets”, then you are following.
Pellets are simply compressed flakes that can be quickly dissolved.
However, the pellets have a super high protein content and can be digested easily.
Betta fish can also be genetically predisposed to bloat, just like Goldfish. The effects seem to accumulate quickly.
Enterogastric Control is the name for the mechanism that slows stomach emptying.
It activates the food, which means that the food lasts much longer in the fish’s stomach.
You can decrease water absorption by feeding the fish nutrient-dense foods for a longer time.
Although it might seem like this should be against bloating in theory, this is not the case.
Further research showed that decreased water absorbtion will cause the fish’s gills and kidneys to begin extracting salt from the surrounding environment and pump it back inside. Dropsy is a condition that causes excessive swelling, not just in the abdomen, but throughout the entire body.
The study’s scientists suggest that such fish should not be fed and fasted.
If you have a Betta fish, it will probably need to be completely removed from its diet.
Foods that closely resemble what Bettas eat in the wild include bloodworms and daphnia.
These foods are rich in insect fiber, which aids digestion. They also don’t contain high-fat pellets and flakes.
These are highly processed and can be a source of protein that is not present in the fish’s natural diet.
If nothing else has worked, I’ll recommend a feeding plan that works for me and my fish.
These are some ways to reduce bloating from nutrient overload in Betta Fish
Day 1: Fasten the fish
Day 2: Fasten the fish
Day 3: Feed Betta a small amount of bloodworms.
Day 4: Fasting
Day 5: Once a day, feed the Betta a small amount Daphnia.
Day 6: Fasting
Day 7: Feed your dog a little Daphnia/Bloodworm once a day.
Feed the fish only enough to resemble its eye socket volume. Feed only once on feeding days.
Keep going until your bloating stops completely.
In order to increase the Betta’s success rate with this treatment, it is important that you maintain perfect water quality.
Avoid large water changes. They can cause stress to fish and even death. Do smaller and more frequent water changes (no more then 10 to 15%).
API’s Stress Coat Plus may be able to help fish with stress.
These and all the other mentioned freeze-dried foods are available at major online pet shops like Chewy. These links will help you find the right products for your pet.
Freeze-dried Bloodworms.
Daphnia + Bloodworms + Mysis Shrimp
Mysis shrimp frozen dried
API Stress Coat Plus.
2. Bacterial infections of the kidneys
A bacterial infection could cause a Betta to become lethargic and have a very bloated stomach. Harmful bacteria can damage fish’s kidneys, causing them to have a difficult time regulating bodily fluids. This causes the fish’s body and stomach to absorb too much water.
During my years of helping friends fish-keep, I have had the opportunity to see a lot of Betta fish in distress.
A hidden bacterial infection is what causes a Betta’s bloated stomach to appear out of the blue.
A bacterial infection can sometimes become an abscess.
A body abscess is similar to a cancerous tumor. An abscess that appears on the Betta’s stomach makes the fish look bloated.
It is important to know that an abscess is identifiable by a white area in the middle. It may also be completely white or filled with fluid.
Another sign that your fish is suffering from this type of infection may be the fact that it swims very close to its body.
An abscess could cause internal damage to the Betta and lead to Swim Bladder disorders.
It is important to remember, however, that Betta fish can get bacterial infections from stress and poor water conditions.
These should be taken into consideration after the infection has been treated.
It is important to immediately treat any type bacterial infection in aquarium fish
If nothing is done, the cycle will continue. Betta’s immune systems will be compromised, and the fish will become more vulnerable to future infections.
For a bacterial infection, place your Betta fish into a hospital aquarium and administer antibiotics.
Make sure there are enough hiding spots for sick fish.
To prevent the buildup of ammonia, you should perform regular water changes and take an antibacterial medication.
My experience is that amoxicillin works well to treat bacterial infections that cause bloating and gas in Bettas.
Betta fish usually subsides after I have treated them this way.
Make sure you only use Amoxicillin trihydrate 100%.
Fish Aid Antibiotics offers this. In those links, I have selected the exact 100% Amoxicillin Trihydrate products.
You should always consult with your vet to ensure the best possible practices.
3. A diet poor on fiber
Betta fish may experience severe constipation if their diet is low in fiber. This can eventually lead to bloating. A Betta may experience constipation bloat if they have a swollen abdomen, difficulty swimming straight, or rare or no defecating.
A diet high in fiber and quality food should be given to a constipated Betta. After that, it is best to fast for several days.
Daphnia (a type of water flea) can be bought in fish shops. They are known to have beneficial fiber and a laxative action for fish. Betta fish can benefit from the fiber provided by bloodworms, which are great for constipation.
Another option would be to use blanched, unshelled peas. Feed the fish 1/4th of the pea, and you can skip feeding it the next day.
Daphnias and Bloodworms are preferred over feeding Betta fish. They provide natural fiber, while peas are made from a plant that is cultivated on land.
It is easy to treat constipation in fish. You should notice a decrease in the swelling in the belly of your Betta in a few days.
It is possible to fast your fish for 2 to 3 day without worrying. A healthy fish can live up to 2 weeks on its own.
There are many types of fiber-rich food and you can probably use any one to feed your Betta.
Dropsy can be considered incurable. It is possible to treat Dropsy with Epsom salts or antibiotics if caught in the early stages.
Epsom salt can reduce swelling and antibiotics can be used to treat the actual infection.
Dropsy is a sign that a Betta fish has damaged the kidneys or liver.
Fish have a urinary tract that is responsible for water passing through the kidneys.
If they are not functioning properly, however, the fish begins to retain large volumes of fluids. The body then swells, with the usual appearance of a large abdomen.
When I first started researching fluid retention in fish, it was clear that the condition was often caused by some type if “gram-positive bacteria” in the kidneys.
Gram-positive is a classification based upon the cell walls of bacteria.
To combat this, I always use an antibiotic that targets only gram-positive bacteria.
As you can see, amoxicillin and erythromycin are both good choices.
Mardel Maracyn contains Erythromycin.
I have found that amoxicillin has a better outcome in these cases than erythromycin and has a greater chance of success.
Chewy, or any other online retailer that sells pet supplies, can provide amoxicillin.
We now turn our attention to the actual treatment.
You’ll need one hospital tank to administer antibiotics and one tank to conduct the Epsom salt baths.
While amoxicillin is not likely to harm the Gram Negative nitrifying bacteria of your main aquarium, it could affect the overall ecological balance that has been established by other Gram Positive bacteria.
Make sure that both tanks have the same water parameters so the Betta fish are not shocked during relocations.
Follow the instructions on both Epsom salts tablets and the antibiotic packets.
You can use Epsom salt baths by adding 1 tablespoon to each gallon water. The fish will then swim for approximately 20 to 30 minutes in the mixture.
Keep in mind that Epsom salt is not a cure-all for bloating.
The medicine is what will really work. After a few days, you should start to see swelling diminish.
There are ways to prevent a Betta from getting bloated.
You can prevent your Betta fish becoming bloated by taking proper care of the tank and fish tank right from the beginning.
High-quality pet food is vital.
Reduce the use of pellets or flakes, and substitute them for live or freeze-dried food.
Fasting fish should also be done at the least once per week.
Regular water changes are necessary to maintain a healthy aquarium.
Check the ammonia levels and nitrate levels. Fish can become stressed quickly if they are high.
Stress, however, can increase the likelihood of developing a disease.
You have two options: either perform frequent water chemistry testing with a liquid-based kit test kit or install an Ammonia Alert indicator which will continuously monitor NH3 levels within the aquarium.
Avoid putting sharp objects into the tank. It can cause injury, stress, and more health issues.
The same goes for tank mates. Bettafish are naturally aggressive and need their own space.
This is why it is so important to carefully choose the fish that will share the aquarium.
Give your Betta plenty of space to explore the water and work out.
Even though many people choose to keep their Betta pets in 2 or 2.5 gallon aquariums, it is not enough space for them to have a happy and healthy life.
Here’s my advice: Keep a Betta in an aquarium that holds at least 5 gallons of water.
Final words
Bloating Betta fish is not a common sight.
A swollen stomach can be scary but it’s usually quite harmless.
But, if you can rule out other conditions, it may be possible to get treatment for an underlying infection.
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