My beta fishes belly is swollen?

Question

She looks like she is about to pop. Does she have eggs or is it something serious?

Do I put the peas in whole or do I chop them up?

Answer 1

It sounds like Dropsy! Its very common and also very fatal to bettas. There is no known cure, so if you have any other fish with the betta, take her out immediately.

Please reference the below site for more information

Answer 2

It may be overfeeding, constipation, or Swim Bladder Syndrome, or all of the above. I've had fish with SBS before, and it wasn't usually fatal. Overfeeding can cause SBS, so don't feed her for a couple of days and see how that goes. They should really only be eating a few pellets a day, or a small pinch of flake food. Bettas are pigs and will stuff themselves silly, so you have to be careful.

If you haven't overfed, do try the peas. I've done it before, and it worked. Just chop them up into little bits. They help with the constipation, too. Do cook them, and peel them. Just feed them the soft inner part of the cooked pea, in little bite sized pieces.

Are you sure you have a female? Females have shorter fins, and males have long, pretty fins. It's possible you have a female with eggs, and if so then her body will just absorb the eggs after a while and she'll be fine. But females get constipated and SBS too, so the above advice still applies.

If it's Dropsy, the scales usually stick out and give it a pinecone-like appearance.

Answer 3

Bettas don't get pregnant, or swell with eggs. It could be dropsy, or just bloat. I'd treat for the bloat as it's better than doing nothing. I'd make sure you're changing the water, and clearing the tank bowl more regularly. Then put the fish on a two day fast then feed the peeled cooked pea. Some people recommend 1 teaspoon of salt per 2 1/2 gallons. (I'd go slow with the salt adding it dissolved in water over several days.)

Dropsy is generally fatal by the time you notice it. (Be sure to thoroughly sterilize everything that goes in the bowl/tank before you get a new one.) You could try a med with a broad spectrum antibiotics from your fish store, but note that I've never seen any fish med that claimed to cure anything, but early stage dropsy. (Dropsy is basic caused by organ failure which is thought to be caused by bacteria.)

Note that both condition are generally caused by over feeding, and bad water conditions. Feeding live food is believed to cause dropsy as well. (You can use freeze dried worms, and brine shrimp as they are sterile.)

Answer 4

the betta isnt pregnant, when the male and female mate. he squeezes her to get eggs out, catches them in his mouth then starts a bubble nest at the surface, and then after a couple of days they hatch. there could be anywhere from 50 to 5000 eggs/babies swimming around.

the betta isn't pregnant.

and are you sure it is a female? most people buy the males because the fins are long and they have pretty colors, the females have short fins and dull colors.

Answer 5

It sounds like swim bladder. I've had my two favorite goldfish die from it. There is no cure that I've heard of, but uncooked peas help. If she starts floating at the top but is still alive, it is a bad case. Hope this helps.

Answer 6

Check out this website www.aquariumfish.net its a real informative website. Scroll all the way towards the botton od the page and you should see a link about Betta's Goodluck

Answer 7

Quick run out and buy cigars she is expecting - while you are at it get a new bowl and set it up - if you want them to survive

Answer 8

she probly has eggs if i was you take her and put her in a different bowl and do not cut up the things

Answer 9

She's pregnant! Congratulations!

Answer 10

its pregnant