White String Hanging From Stomach?

Noticed this "white string" hanging from his stomach today. Regarding the bloat, I've tried fasting him for 3+ days and to no avail.. as well as soaking pellets in water for 7-10 minutes. However even doing that didn't help with the bloat either.

 

That appears to be poo, but I may be wrong.
Sometimes my bettas have poo that looks like that.

 

That appears to be poo, but I may be wrong.
Sometimes my bettas have poo that looks like that.

It kind of looks like a white string.. with some dots on it.. but ever since I've seen that he's been hiding in his little housing and not eating. I'm wondering if maybe I should fast him for 7 days to get rid of that bloat?

 

If it’s not more serious than this, we have some constipation or something going on here. You can feed him a shelled cooked pea to try and move things along. Maybe someone more experienced with fish disease can let us know if we have something else at play too.

 

If it’s not more serious than this, we have some constipation or something going on here. You can feed him a shelled cooked pea to try and move things along. Maybe someone more experienced with fish disease can let us know if we have something else at play too.

Later today that string seems to have disappeared.. but I can't see it in the tank anywhere.. could it be parasites then I guess? He's still hiding at the bottom and in his little housing too.

 

Later today that string seems to have disappeared.. but I can't see it in the tank anywhere.. could it be parasites then I guess? He's still hiding at the bottom and in his little housing too.

I originally wondered if it was parasites, but I didn’t suggest it because I’ve never had experience dealing with them in my fish. It would’ve literally been just a guess, and I try not to do that unless I know for sure. But it was my first thought.

how long has he been bloated like that, what’s your tank conditions like?

 

I originally wondered if it was parasites, but I didn’t suggest it because I’ve never had experience dealing with them in my fish. It would’ve literally been just a guess, and I try not to do that unless I know for sure. But it was my first thought.

how long has he been bloated like that, what’s your tank conditions like?

Been bloated for more than a few months I'd say..

 

Been bloated for more than a few months I'd say..

What is your tank water like? (Ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, all that Jazz)

 

What is your tank water like? (Ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, all that Jazz)

Temperature is a stable 26C or so.. the ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate I'm not sure about since I don't have a kit. Maybe I should try some API General Cure on him..

 

My betta had a similar problem, I posted pictures here and it turned out not to be parasites, just poop. Not saying it is the same but looks it to me. I fasted him for a couple days and fed a small piece of steamed pea. I am not an expert but looks like the same as what I saw with my fish. I'll see if I can find my post so you can see the pictures for comparison.

 

Temperature is a stable 26C or so.. the ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate I'm not sure about since I don't have a kit. Maybe I should try some API General Cure on him..

I think I would. If he’s been bloated that long I think it may be more than constipation...white stringy poo is associated with parasites. That was my first notion to start with. I’m hoping someone else comes along to solidify or deny that claim.

 

This is my fish maybe a month ago. Hope it is helpful for comparison. Good luck!!

 

Now he's just hiding in a cave.. and won't respond at all maybe he's dead..

 

My betta had a similar problem, I posted pictures here and it turned out not to be parasites, just poop. Not saying it is the same but looks it to me. I fasted him for a couple days and fed a small piece of steamed pea. I am not an expert but looks like the same as what I saw with my fish. I'll see if I can find my post so you can see the pictures for comparison.

cherie, think it would hurt to do both? ApI general cure plus a pea?

 

cherie, think it would hurt to do both? ApI general cure plus a pea?

The stringy thing is similar to what Cherie G posted.. so maybe it's just that, but now he's not moving at all.

 

Now he's just hiding in a cave.. and won't respond at all maybe he's dead..

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Oh I am sorry to hear that. With my fish he was feisty as ever, his behavior was no different. Hope one of the experts can weigh in to better help you.

 

Whichever way you go, the answers may be either medication that treats worms or a pea to try and help. You could be conservative at first, but if it were mine acting lethargic I would probably hit it on all fronts.

 

cherie, think it would hurt to do both? ApI general cure plus a pea?

Kat, I am not sure, I have never had to use any meds on my fish so far so I hesitate to recommend any treatment other than what I have done myself or researched about. It is concerning that he is not being active though. Maybe giving some meds a try would help if there is more of an issue going on. I wish I had more knowledge in matters like this!

 

Kat, I am not sure, I have never had to use any meds on my fish so far so I hesitate to recommend any treatment other than what I have done myself or researched about. It is concerning that he is not being active though. Maybe giving some meds a try would help if there is more of an issue going on. I wish I had more knowledge in matters like this!

Hm he seem to come out of his cave after a while but still laying low around that area.. the only difference between our pictures is my betta fish is severely bloated..

 

Kat, I am not sure, I have never had to use any meds on my fish so far so I hesitate to recommend any treatment other than what I have done myself or researched about. It is concerning that he is not being active though. Maybe giving some meds a try would help if there is more of an issue going on. I wish I had more knowledge in matters like this!

Ive only medicated for velvet with Aquarisol and dropsy using Maracyn II.

After thinking it through, it he’s declining rapidly I would likely try API general cure. But that’s literally what I would try on my own fish given my knowledge. You’ll have to decide if that’s the direction you want to roll. I hope that’s like...kind of helpful.

 

Hm he seem to come out of his cave after a while but still laying low around that area.. the only difference between our pictures is my betta fish is severely bloated..

Sorry, I have probably been no help at all. Really hope he is going to be ok!

 

Ditto

 

Hm well thanks for your inputs.. now he is just sitting in the cave for quite a while then comes out then goes back in. I will try do a decent water change and see if anything changes.. I'm just skeptical of using that medication if it isn't actually an internal infection because he was fine until this white string appeared.

 

Maybe do some research but I believe epsom salt baths can help with constipation but I have no idea how it's done. You can probably find it on here, instructions on how and when to do it. I'm making dinner or I would help you research. Keep us posted!!!

 

Hm well thanks for your inputs.. now he is just sitting in the cave for quite a while then comes out then goes back in. I will try do a decent water change and see if anything changes.. I'm just skeptical of using that medication if it isn't actually an internal infection because he was fine until this white string appeared.

You’ll just have to make that judgment based on your fish. You know his normal. And you’ll have to decide if his quality of life would benefit or degrade based off his behavior. I would at least try the pea because it won’t hurt to, especially if he’s been that way for months. I hope he gets to feeling better soon. Pretty guy.

 

First, no pea.

Bettas are insectivores. They don't eat much veggie stuff. Feed live bbs or daphnia. Helps a lot more than peas.

 

First, no pea.

Bettas are insectivores. They don't eat much veggie stuff. Feed live bbs or daphnia. Helps a lot more than peas.

This may be so; I can only speak to what has worked for me directly with bloated bettas. But I’ll look into this myself.

 

Formulate a plan of attack that includes timelines for decisions, ordering for the next phase, etc....

Or you can decide to let it ride and see what happens.... That's up to you.

Also figure costs of things including shipping and evaluate your price/value decision that only you can determine... You can easily drop $150 on various aquarium treatments - especially if you have to ship stuff in... I am in the middle of an aquarium meds rodeo now... and spending the money is no guarantee that they live.

So for example - try something easy at hand first... The Imperfect Mr. Right Now solution... Say fasting for a couple days and then a cooked pea. Total cost $1.00 for a bag of frozen peas if you don't have any... And order/purchase whatever thing you will do next.

If no change in 5 days - on to the next thing.... Say an epsom salts bath, aquarium salt in your tank, melafix/pimafix, API general cure or whatever.... but you need that stuff in hand so you can do it if needed. Plan out and order the stuff for the Step 3 stuff...

If no change after 5 more days - then consider something you have to order for internal parasites like levimisole or Kanaplex or whatever.

On Day 1 of plan 1 - order the stuff for Plan 2... it takes a week to show up and you can run that or just store it for later if needed.

This way you don't wait another week deciding what to do.... Then take a week to find it... Then run that for a week... Then no change - and take a week to decide what next... Then order it and wait another week.. Etc... Before you know it 6-weeks have gone by and all your fish died on Week 4....

 

First, no pea.

Bettas are insectivores. They don't eat much veggie stuff. Feed live bbs or daphnia. Helps a lot more than peas.

If something works better than peas that is great information, I do know that mine loved them and seemed to help. Will look into the daphnia as well. What is bbs please? Thanks!

 

Daphnia is excellent for constipation. I've only used frozen, not freeze dried.

White stringy poo does not always equate to parasites. One of my fish pooped one out today. No biggie.

 

Hmmm my fish have poop just like that sometimes - usually after they eat white sand

 

Just dealt with / still with a few of my fish (they're diff types of goldies tho). I had to treat them with medication. Unfortunately this case with us is parasites.
I did the tetra lifeguard all in 1 five day course. But I'm going to do something else since just a couple still have white stools. Best of luck

 

Daphnia is excellent for constipation. I've only used frozen, not freeze dried.

White stringy poo does not always equate to parasites. One of my fish pooped one out today. No biggie.

good to know.

If something works better than peas that is great information, I do know that mine loved them and seemed to help. Will look into the daphnia as well. What is bbs please? Thanks!

baby brine shrimp

 

Well to be honest I think it might be internal parasites because there is a little white piece sticking out of him again on his belly. The first long string was there then disappeared and now this small one has appeared.. and found no trace of those white strings in the tank either.

Well now it looks like some white string.. with something in it? Would this be parasites?

 

I would do a round of API General Cure.

 

I would do a round of API General Cure.

Yeah I think I'll try that.. I ordered from PraziPro so I'll try that if fasting/epsom bath/and daphnia doesn't work. I just did about a 30% water change with a siphon today so maybe that will help a bit.

 

How is your fish doing? Any improvement? I see that you have your plan of attack, hoping everything works out for you. Good luck!!

 

How is your fish doing? Any improvement? I see that you have your plan of attack, hoping everything works out for you. Good luck!!

He’s got like this white patch on his stomach now and he’s really struggling to swim..

 

Very sorry he is still having issues, will be thinking of him and hoping for his speedy recovery. Take care!

 

He’s got like this white patch on his stomach now and he’s really struggling to swim..

Ich?