Betta fish swollen belly

Hi, need some advice here, as I'm starting to worry about my beloved betta. About a week ago I noticed bulges on the sides of my betta, around his intestinal area. Scales sticking out slightly. He has been constipated before, but always bounces back after fasting, increasing fiber, etc. Also, the swelling was more ventrally located, not laterally. I had just started feeding him fluval bug bites for a few days prior to noticing the bulges. He regularly eats New Life spectrum small betta pellets. 3-4 pellets twice a day. Occasionally gets a freeze dried bloodworm. I fasted him for 3 days and then began feeding him live Daphnia and brine shrimp only...no pellets. He seems to have improved a little but not as significantly as I'd hoped after this amount of time. His appetite is unchanged. Still fairly active, but has been sitting on his leaves more than usual. Please help. Not sure what to do next
Tank: fluval spec 5gallon with live plants
Tank mates: 1 nerite snail
Temp: 79 degrees F
Ph: 7.2
Ammonia: 0
Nitrite; 0
Nitrates: 20-30
Water changes: 10-20% once a week

 

Have you tried epsom salt baths?

 

Have you tried epsom salt baths?

Thank you for responding! No, not yet or ever. Can I add Epsom directly to the tank? Safe for nerite?

 

No. Unscented epsom salts in like a seperate container. Don't know the ratio for salt vs water off the top of my head, though. And only put the betta in it for about 15-20 minutes a day or so. May help drain some fluids if thats what is causing that swelling.

 

I have dosed one tablespoon of epsom salt per gallon in the epsom salt bath.

 

Ok thank you! Does it look like constipation to you?

 

Ok thank you! Does it look like constipation to you?

Can't really say for sure myself. The epsom salts often help with that, too, if daphnia didn't work.