Help! Bloated/Constipated Betta

Hello everyone,

I'm posting today because I'm very stressed about my poor fish. I've had him for about a month, and after having had Bettas who have lived 2-3 years with no issues, I'm not prepared for this issue!

When I got him, he was somewhat bloated, but he had just been fed so I assumed the shop had over done it.

I took him home and fasted him for 2 days. The swelling hadn't gone down significantly, so I gave him a half of a blanched pea.

He appeared to be slightly better, but still marginally bloated.

I removed all decor from his tank so that I could monitor for feces. I've literally never seen any. I've had Bettas in the past, all having similar looking droppings, so I'm concerned.

I've done 2 Epsom salt bath for 20 minutes and have been doing 50% - 100% water changes, conditioning properly.

He's progressed to severe bloat, and swims/sits on the surface mostly on his side.

I'm not sure if it's Dropsy: scales aren't pinecone-ing.

It seems that he's constipated but unable to relieve himself. He's still starving, but I hesitate to give him food because he's so enormously bloated!!

Tank Specs: 5 gallons, normal/unchanged temperature (heated, filtered tank- though filter turned off for the last few days), normal ammonia/nitrate/nitrite levels.

 

Same exact thing is happening to me... Waiting for answers. Sorry I'm not a help :-[

 

Boil peas and peel the skin off its a laxative for fish.

 

I've done that several times - it only seems to makes his stomach larger

 

Have you tried other veggies high in protein?

 

Becky - no I haven't! Are there others you'd recommend? I only have heard of peas.

 

Usually anything green, brussle sprouts worked in my tank.