Phloxface

I have not been able to find any info on this. All I can find is people and pets having allergies TO fish.
After medicating Lava and putting him on a pea fast I started him back on pellets. I gave him only one pellet, soaked to avoid constipation and he blew up again like a balloon!* He could not possibly be constipated that fast! I'm starting to wonder if he is allergic to something in the commercial fish food, probably wheat gluten. It's a common allergy among other pets. I've decided to try making homemade fish food for him and see if it helps. I found this site
http://www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/food_recipes.php with good homemade fish food recipes. Cichlids have almost identical nutritional needs as Bettas. I thought "The European Shrimp Mix" would be a good one to try. I'd make a much smaller portion though and I'd freeze small chunks and put them into a baggie and take one out at a time and defrost it as needed. No doubt I'd have to waste a lot of it since he can only eat a tiny portion (maybe I could feed the others with it too) but if it makes him feel better it's worth it. I like the fact that it contains peas so he could get that in every meal as well as protein. It would be very rich so I'd feed only a VERY tiny portion. There's just so many ingredients in commercial foods that I don't trust. I'm at a loss as to what else to try with him. I just want to get him well. He's feisty and active otherwise and even tries to jump for food still. If I can just get his bloating fixed and swim bladder deflated he could swim normally again...

tan.b

biologically my educated guess would be anything with an immune system thus antibodies can have an allergy. its just i doubt fish allergy gets documented, but not to say it cant exist....

Muffymouse

I don't know about the having allergies part, but it doesn't hurt to try the homemade stuff. If he doesn't like it or it doesn't help, it won't hurt your other babies and you have tried something healthy. Best wishes and warm fuzzies

chickadee

I read an article in the Tropical Fish Magazine 2 issues back that talked about the diets of bettas among other things and noted that bettas being carnivores are almost completely incapable of digesting some ingredients that are listed as the main ingredients in some of the most common betta foods. They need a natural diet (more organic the better) - evidently this person feeds fresh raw liver chopped very small and fresh bits of the famous little peas and veggies for the digestive upsets. I have tried the liver and believe me they love it, I cannot quite get around the idea of what they are eating and it is very hard to feed as it does not float and you really have to get their attention in a big way as it cannot go to the bottom or you have a problem in your tank big time. They Loaches would probably eat it in my tanks but Otos would not touch it with a ten foot pole and I do not believe Cories would either. Alex thought he had gone to fishie paradise and is totally disappointed now every time I show up with any thing else but I am going to have to convince myself that RAW liver is okay for them, they think it is YUMMY.

This would in truth be so close to their natural diet that it could not be bad for them though? It is not dried so it could not constipate them either. I may get the piece out and try again later this week and see if they still think I am the greatest mommy for spending 20 minutes making the tiny little pieces for their breakfast.

I will keep you all informed of our progress.

Rose