What's wrong with my female betta?

My female betta has a bulge on one side of her stomach. Does anyone know what this could be? She's eating fine and swimming good. She's had the bulge for a few days now and I hope it's not anything serious.

 

I am not sure, but maybe you should look up kidney infections. It would be a place to start at least until someone who knows a little better could help. ~J~

 

It's just the one side? Do you have any pics? Have you ruled out constipation with a couple days of feeding a 1/2 pea minced up in the AM & PM? Are her scales looking normal? how are her water parameters?

You can also check the freshwater fish diseases forum here for the links in the "important topics" section to see if one of those lists of fish problems helps you match up what's going on with your little female.

 

There's a slight bulge on the other side but not as big. Her scales are a lighter color over the bulge. I've started feeding her the peas (will can peas do) the water paramaters are good. She hides a lot in the fake stump I have in the corner of the tank alot, so I thought maybe she was kind of scraping her side on the edge when she swims out thru the holes.

 

It could be constipation.. canned peas will do I think, just as long as they're peeled. Did you check the links the "important topics' posts in the disease forum point to? You'll want to confirm if you can whether or not she could have an infection, in which case you'd be needing antibiotics for her asap.

 

Yeah I would check just to rule anything serious out. Fresh peas are better because for one thing the hold together better when put in the water. The are much healthier for them also. The canned veggies tend to lose some of their nutirents, so frozen peas is much better. Here is the link on how to do the frozen pea.



Good luck. I hope it's nothing too serious. It's good that she is acting fine and is eating. Natalie

 

Frozen or fresh peas, microwaved for about 45 seconds should be used. Canned peas are loaded with salt which will dehydrate the fish. I would also start antibiotics like Maracyn-Two in case of bacterial infection.

 

Frozen or fresh peas, microwaved for about 45 seconds should be used. Canned peas are loaded with salt which will dehydrate the fish. I would also start antibiotics like Maracyn-Two in case of bacterial infection.

Natalie is right - the frozen ones have more nutrients. They also tend to split easier and are easier to mince. If using canned, then the 'no salt added' is the only kind we'd use, since as Phloxface pointed out salt is not a Betta's friend.

If there's been no change by now after feeding some peas (has the bulge gone down any?), Phloxface is right and I believe it would be vital to start Maracyn-2 or TriSulfa asap. I think a little increase in water temp would help a little.

 

The bulge is still there, I don't have any frozen peas, and the only medicine I have is Melafix, which I read was bad for bettas. Where can I order some of the medicine you mentioned?

 

Here is where I get most of my stuff?



If you have lfs near by they may have maracyn2 also.Places like Petco and petsmart I know carry it. Hope this helps. Natalie

 

The nearest pet store is 50 miles away, and Walmart doesn't carry that kind of meds.

 

The website I gave you carries everything. Their prices are pretty reasonable too. I've been using them since I've had my dogs. Natalie

 

I found this medicine on a website that I order fish supplies from, will it do?

Gel-Tec Ampicillin is a medicated gel your fish will eat. Effective against bacterial infections, flexibacter infections, swollen body, pop-eye. cloudy, bulging eyes and fin rot. Ampicillin is a broad spectrum bactericidal antibiotic. Safe for plants, reef tanks and biological filters. This product uses Advanced Pheromone Technology which will help induce feeding activity. Use daily instead of feeding regular food.

 

I found this medicine on a website that I order fish supplies from, will it do?

Gel-Tec Ampicillin is a medicated gel your fish will eat. Effective against bacterial infections, flexibacter infections, swollen body, pop-eye. cloudy, bulging eyes and fin rot. Ampicillin is a broad spectrum bactericidal antibiotic. Safe for plants, reef tanks and biological filters. This product uses Advanced Pheromone Technology which will help induce feeding activity. Use daily instead of feeding regular food.

I'd pick up a bag of frozen peas at the grocery store or walmart (if it's a supercenter) to try in case it's constipation. I believe the Ampicillin could help her if she's got a kidney infection.

 

I went to a petsmart store and bought some medicated food for internal and external parasites. It's made by Jungle.

It says it aids in control of internal bacterial infections (such as bacterial enteritis, septicemia, kidney disease, wasting) and aids with many external infections, open sores, ulcers, columnaris and fin rot. Also helps reduce the effects of microsporidian infections such as Pleistophora, the causative agint in neon tetra disease.

How does that sound to you? Think it will work? I've been feeding it to her for 3 days now but I haven't seen any improvement. She still has the protruding lump on one side of her belly. But at least she's eating the medicine tho she doesn't like it much.

 

I went to a petsmart store and bought some medicated food for internal and external parasites. It's made by Jungle.

It says it aids in control of internal bacterial infections (such as bacterial enteritis, septicemia, kidney disease, wasting) and aids with many external infections, open sores, ulcers, columnaris and fin rot. Also helps reduce the effects of microsporidian infections such as Pleistophora, the causative agint in neon tetra disease.

How does that sound to you? Think it will work? I've been feeding it to her for 3 days now but I haven't seen any improvement. She still has the protruding lump on one side of her belly. But at least she's eating the medicine tho she doesn't like it much.

It sounds good and we do use Jungle Labs products ourselves. Does the Jungle stuff you bought say anything about a 2nd course? Sometimes it takes more than 1 dose or med to clear out a long-standing problem.

 

that sounds like it covers just about everything... what is it called? I may want to try it sometime!

 

You may not see a lot of improvement until the course is over. Sometimes it takes awhile before you see anything happen. Does it say whether or not you can do another course of it after te 1st course is over? Natalie

 

I'm sad to say, my betta died yesterday. I was heart-broken. I'd had her for over a year. So I went out and bought another betta, a male this time, with his own tank.

 

:'( I am so sorry that you lost your precious friend. Having another betta to take care of and love will help you to feel better, although I know it will never take the place of your lost girl. I recently lost one of my bettas too, and it is heartbreaking.

CherryRose

 

I'm sad to say, my betta died yesterday. I was heart-broken. I'd had her for over a year. So I went out and bought another betta, a male this time, with his own tank.

We're really sorry to hear about your girl passing. It's hard to lose them, we lost our little Super Mario last month, but you'll always remember them. She had a good life with a caring betta mom and you did your best for her. We wish you and your new little guy the best.

 

CherI Ann,

I am so sorry about your loss of the little one. It is so hard to lose any of the little ones that we love and even harder it seems when they have been with us for a longer period of time. I want to extend my personal deepest sympathies and please let me know if there is anything I can do to help you.

I really am so terribly sorry.

Rose
:'(

 

I am so sorry for your loss. You gave her a very long and very good life. Natalie