Baby betta bloated and lethargic

Hello! I got this little guy Mepe from petco about 3 weeks ago. I wish I could have taken them all but as a college student I'm under a pretty strict budget.

Mepe is usually lively and comes up to greet me every time I walk by. For 2 days now, he's been lethargic, hides behind his silk plant, and is usually found laying on it.

It also seems like his abdomen is distended and white in color. My beloved betta of 3 years recently passed from dropsy, but this doesn't look quite the same.
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He eats hikarI tropical micro pellets since our pet Co doesn't seem to sell live foods. (I live in the middle of nowhere.) Please help!

 

It looks like a female to me, is there a grain of salt? She also seems to have fin problems.
What size tank
What are the parameters
How long as it been set up
Is it cycled

 

Goodness. If Mepe is a girl, petco sure labeled her as "baby boy".

Nothe sure what you mean by salt... Epsom salt? Her fins were like this when I chose her and I've been keeping an eye on them.

She's currently in a 1.5 gal since I'm saving for a 5 gal! My thinking was to get a baby betta now so she wouldn't feel too cramped in the cruddy bowl till I have enough for a bigger one. I know, stupid thinking... but better than her tiny cup!

She's been in for 3 weeks and I do 50% water changes every 3 days. I don't have a testing kit so I'm unsure if her tank is cycled.

 

By grain of salt I mean a white dot(around the size of a salt granule) on her stomach. She looks very similar to my "boy" who was a female. Almost every betta(that I can recall) was mislabeled... I suggest getting a test kit sooner than later. Do you have a filter? I'd actually suggest getting a test kit before or at the same time if your new tank.

 

I think she actually does have the white dot! I thought maybe it was a weird scale or something.

I plan on getting everything once I get the new tank, which should be this week!

Does she just seem bloated? Constipated? Do peas help baby bettas with constipation like they do adults? I really hope she's not sick right before she gets her mansion!

 

She doesn't look bloated to me, she looks very similar in body shape to my female. I think she's quite normal! The only thing that is concerning is her tail fin, it looks similar to fin melt to me. Yes, peas help with constipation in young Bettas as well. I suggest buyin some bottled bacteria as well if the tanks aren't cycled or you are unsure for the new one. I hope all goes well for you and Mepe!

 

I need help again! Mepe seems to be deteriorating quickly. She is in a new 3 gallon filtered heated tank now and she is just getting worse. We tried fasting and then tried to feed a pea, but she is completely uninterested in any form of food. She literally lays at the bottom of the tank, sits in her lotus flower, or floats at the top of the tank all day. I poke her just to make sure she's not dead, which is the only thing she responds to.

We tried putting her in a more lively room in case she was just bored, but no change. I'm doing 30% water changes every 2 days and I don't know what to do at this point. I want my lively happy betta back! Please please help!

 

Can you post a picture of her and a picture of the tank?
What are your water parameters?

 

Thank you for reminding me to get a testing kit! I recently moved and have a lot on my mind, and I've been meaning to get one. Therefore I'm unsure of the parameters.

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After watching her more today, I noticed she'll randomly jump, like a hiccup or something? There isn't anything to startle her... so I'm really worried.

 

Mepe passed away to fishy heaven today. I feel extremely discouraged and like a bad fish momma. My next betta will definitely be an adult. Thank you all for the help.

 

Mepe passed away to fishy heaven today. I feel extremely discouraged and like a bad fish momma. My next betta will definitely be an adult. Thank you all for the help.

Oh, I'm sorry!!!

Let her find a beautiful pond to swim in for the rest of her afterlife