what to feed betta for constipation

1. Look for signs of bloating. By looking at the fish’s abdomen you can usually identify bloating. ...
2. Use peas for mild cases of bloat and constipation. Feeding your betta fish peas is not some magical solution for a fish that is on the brink of death.
3. Try other treatments for bloat. In some cases, betta owners try holding back any food for 24 hours to try and let the fish’s digestive system work itself out.
4. Treat the underlying cause of your betta fish’s bloat. After treating your betta’s case of bloat, it’s important to make changes so that it doesn’t happen again.

Full Answer

How to prevent constipation in a betta fish?

Prevent constipation in your betta fish by feeding him a correct, balanced, and varied diet that includes vegetable matter and live or frozen meaty foods. Include one day each week when you don’t feed your fish anything at all.

What can I Feed my betta fish?

Betta fish are generally up to eat anything you give them, as long as it comes with meat. That doesn’t mean it’s the only thing you should be feeding them. A betta fish that only eats flakes or freeze-dried food is at risk for constipation.

Can I give my betta fish peas?

Bettas are carnivores, so peas and other plants aren’t a great source of nutrients for them. However, giving your betta peas on occasion won’t hurt it, especially if your fish is a little overweight. If you’re trying to cut back on high-calorie treats, such as freeze-dried fruits, you can safely replace them with bits of shelled green pea.

Can betta fish eat corn and wheat?

Betta fish have very short digestive tracts and do not process fillers like corn and wheat very well. These fillers are often found in many pellet and flake foods and can lead to excess bloat and digestive issues (e.g. constipation). Betta’s receive no nutritional benefit from fillers and just pass them off as waste.

How can I help my betta fish poop?

Observe the fish during feeding and make sure that it's eating. If your betta still won't eat, try introducing live foods such as brine shrimp or freeze-dried foods such as bloodworms. This will often entice a picky betta to eat and will make the betta fish poop regularly.

What can I feed my constipated fish?

Tinned peas are the classic laxative for most fish, either whole (in the case of species like goldfish) or squashed (for smaller species, such as bettas). Other good foods include plants (particularly Elodea and Egeria) and chitinous live foods (such as Daphnia and brine shrimp).

Can a betta fish get constipated?

Often, your betta will continue to eat without pooping at all and have a distended belly. If you are concerned about your betta possibly being overfed and constipated, contact your aquatic veterinarian ASAP.

How do I get my betta to eat a pea?

Getting Your Betta to Eat Peas. Drop a piece of the pea into your betta's tank. Using tweezers or your fingers, drop one piece of the pea into the water at a time. Adding them gradually will get the betta's attention, luring it to the food.

What does a constipated fish look like?

In severe cases of constipation and swelling, the scales of the fish may be raised or might stick out from the body. Not only can this condition affect the ability of aquarium fish to swim properly, but it can also lead to dietary issues if the fish are unable to expel waste and eat.

What helps a bloated fish?

Salt: A bit of salt in the tank water can aid in the osmotic balance of the fish by making the water salinity closer to the fish's blood salinity. That helps the fish expel accumulated water.

Is Epsom salt good for betta fish?

Epsom salt for Betta fish is used as a laxative as well. The treated water is absorbed by the fish and helps it to expel wastes. Betta fish Epsom salt treatment can also be absorbed by the fish to help reduce bloating or swelling. The reduction of water allows your pet to return to normal size.

How often should a betta fish poop?

Betta fish usually poop around 5-6 times a day, and anything less than this could be a sign that something is wrong. No poop at all is also a sign of constipation which could be quite severe. Look out for these other signs that may be able to help you diagnose and treat your Betta Fish.

Can I give my betta fish a pea?

You can also feed a pea to your betta once a week to prevent any future constipation problems. It will help to clean out the betta's digestive system. However, before feeding your betta a pea, do not feed it anything for an entire day. On the following day, feed the pea to your betta.

Can I give my fish frozen peas?

Snap peas – Snap peas are also sweet, though they're about the size of garden peas. Snap peas may need to be chopped before feeding. Frozen peas – Frozen peas are a great alternative to fresh vegetables. You'll need to thaw them out or run them under hot water though.

How do you Unconstipate a goldfish?

2:026:44Treating Constipation Swim Bladder Bloat & Internal Bacteria ... - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnother option is to add some salts to the aquarium. This can help the goldfish pass out. The foodMoreAnother option is to add some salts to the aquarium. This can help the goldfish pass out. The food sucking further as well.

Can you feed fish canned peas?

These peas can be frozen, canned, or fresh. If they are not cooked, make sure to cook them! Take the peel off the peas and mash them up to a not-too-mushy but not-too-hard consistency. Drop a small amount of mashed peas into the fish tank.

How does Epsom salt help with fish bloat?

0:599:01Epsom Salts Cure for Aquarium Fish with Dropsy, Constipation or BloatingYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd put it into a higher concentration of epsom salts for a small amount of time. The idea of thisMoreAnd put it into a higher concentration of epsom salts for a small amount of time. The idea of this is that the magnesium sulfate will draw out some of the swelling from the fish.

Is Epsom salt safe for fish?

It's also beneficial to aquarium fish suffering from maladies such as dropsy, constipation, and swim bladder disorder. Epsom salt may be added to fresh water fish tanks to alter the chemistry of the water.

What causes constipation in bettas?

Once you’re sure that your betta has constipation, you need to figure out what’s causing the problem so that you can take action to prevent the condition from developing over and over again.

Why do betta fish constipate?

Feeding your betta too much can be another common cause of constipation. Bettas are notoriously greedy fish, and they will often keep on guzzling food even when they don’t need it.

Why is my betta not swimming?

In these cases, the condition has caused the fish to develop swim bladder disease, which must also be treated if your fish is to make a full recovery.

How to treat bettas with Epsom salt?

If your betta has a severe case of constipation or the pea treatment isn’t effective, you need to up the ante and try using Epsom salt to treat your pet. Epsom salt is commonly used to treat constipation in fish and in people too!

How long can a betta go without food?

It’s extremely important to have one day per week when you don’t feed your betta at all. Remember, bettas do nibble on algae, so your pet won’t starve! And 24 hours without food allows his digestive tract to empty, helping to prevent constipation.

Why does my betta fish stop eating?

If your betta stops eating or spits out his food, he could be suffering from constipation. That said, loss of appetite is symptomatic of many illnesses and diseases, so don’t assume that your fish is constipated solely on the basis of this symptom.

Why is my betta's belly swollen?

When your fish’s digestive tract is blocked with feces, the food waste gradually backs up, eventually bloating the creature’s belly. However, dropsy can also cause your fish’s belly to become swollen.

What Are The Best Treatment Options For Constipated Betta?

The first step in any symptoms where a betta fish is bloated from an unknown cause should be treated as constipation unless you found other disease symptoms.

What is the best food for betta fish?

Bloodworms, brine shrimp, and daphnia are three of the best live food for betta fish options out there. However, these high-protein fish foods are notorious for causing constipation, especially Bloodworms. Bloodworms also called “Betta Candy”, are one of the avoided foods that can cause constipation due to their shape and high protein & iron content. But there is a way to help prevent this problem: feed them sparingly and as treats only!

What is the first step in constipation treatment?

The first step in the treatment stage is in knowing exactly where the constipation is coming from. The answer to this question can go a long way towards informing the specific care you give them. If the treatment method isn’t the right one, you’re going to find yourself treating it repeatedly. We want a long-term solution, as opposed to a short one.

Why does my belly feel bloated?

However, a bloated belly can be caused by more than just constipation. Dropsy disease (which is more a symptom of an actual disease/infestation than a disease itself) can also contribute to the bloat. In most cases, Dropsy is often a result of Kidney failure, which causes swelling and fluid retention. How can you tell the difference between dropsy and constipation? The condition can be identified by the classic “pinecone” look (raised scales make the fish look like a pine cone) that it gives to an afflicted betta’s body.

How many gallons of water should a betta tank be?

Small, cramped surroundings can also prove to be highly stressful for bettas, which can influence diet, and lead to constipation. Your tank should be five gallons at the very least. We would suggest something larger.

How hot should a tank be for constipation?

By this, we mean somewhere in the neighborhood of seventy-six to eighty-one degrees Fahrenheit.

Can betta fish eat dry food?

A betta fish that only eats flakes or freeze-dried food is at risk for constipation. In fact, most fish that live off the appropriate amount of fiber or roughage often develop constipation issues and other health complications. Dry foods will expand in the gut because they absorb moisture during digestion, can contribute to constipation. I soak my dry food in the tank for about ten to fifteen minutes before I feed it. This helps break down any hard pieces that might be too difficult on sensitive digestive systems.

How to treat constipation in fish?

Here are some effective methods of treating constipation without doing any harm to the fish!#N#Fasting The fastest way to clear constipation is to let your fish fast. Generally, 2-4 days should suffice and your fish should be back to normal, however, if you see that your fish is continually bloated or lethargic after the 4th day, continue to let it fast (I’d recommend no more than 7 days) until it passes the blockage.#N#While this is a good option, sometimes fasting in itself is not enough and some other methods might need to be employed. However, in my experience, fasting works 90% of the time!#N#Dietary Changes Most of the time, constipation happens because of commercially prepared dried foods that expand in the fish’s gut causing a blockage. Do you think it would be a good idea to continue feeding dried pellets? I don’t think so!#N#During the constipated period, many keepers, myself included have found that a peeled boiled pea will help with clearing the blockage and introduce a good source of fiber into the betta.#N#Peeled boiled peas should be tried only after the fish has fasted for a few days so that the digestive tract has had some time to work. You can try 1 pea every 24 hours.

How to keep betta fish warm?

If the aquarium is not heated to that level, your fish may enter a low-metabolic rate, which slows down the digestive process. In order to avoid this issue, you should equip your betta tank with a heater . This will ensure that the water temperature is comfortable for your fish and reduce the risk of constipation.#N#Move it to a bigger tank Sometimes all the betta needs is a little bit of exercise. Changing up the environment could not only clear the blockage, but it could also increase your betta’s overall health!

Why do bettas overfeed?

Overfeeding Most new owners tend to overfeed their bettas because it is a common mentality to “feed until my fish is full”.

Why do betta fish need a heater?

This will ensure that the water temperature is comfortable for your fish and reduce the risk of constipation.

Why do I have constipation?

Constipation can occur for many reasons, i.e lack of movement due to small space , however, the most common reason, is due to overfeeding.

Is it dangerous to have a betta?

While constipation in itself is not extremely dangerous, it will lead to very serious issues very quickly if left untreated. Therefore it is good to equip yourself with the knowledge of constipation symptoms. Spotting constipation in bettas is not exactly difficult if you know what to look out for. Some telltale signs include a bloated tummy, stringy poop, not eating, lethargic.

What is the most important aspect of preventing constipation?

Varied Diet This is probably the most important aspect of preventing constipation.

What is the best food for a betta fish?

Ranked in order, the best betta food is live, frozen, freeze-dried, pellets, and flakes. Feeding a variety of different foods will provide the array of nutrients a betta fish needs to thrive. How much to feed your betta fish can depend on their individual activity level, but 2-3 pellets 1-2 times daily is a safe amount.

What is the nutritional value of a betta fish?

Providing the best nutritional value focuses on a betta’s need of protein, fat, fiber, phosphorus, carbohydrates, calcium, and vitamins (A, D3, E, K, B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B12, C, H, M).  Make sure your betta food is natural and contains protein as the first ingredient. Do not purchase or feed flakes made for goldfish or other tropical fish.

Why do betta fish overeat?

Overfeeding and overeating can lead to constipation, bloating, obesity (that’s right betta fish can get fat), swim bladder problems, contracting diseases because of the bacteria feeding on the excess food breaking down, and even death.

Why won't my betta fish eat?

If your betta fish won’t eat or seems completely uninterested in food don’t worry. A lack of appetite may mean that they are not hungry or have recently undergone some type of stress (e.g. tank cleaning, new home, abrupt water temperature changes).

Why do betta keepers feed pellets?

Most betta keepers decide to feed pellets because they are simple and effective. Pellets create less mess and you can easily portion them out for feedings. Live, freeze-dried, or frozen foods can be used as treats or implemented into their daily feeding routine too.

Why is my betta fish not eating?

If your betta isn’t eating it may also be a sign of illness. Just like when we are sick, betta fish also won’t have big appetites while they are ill. Make sure to monitor for signs of illness and disease, and initiate the proper treatments as soon as possible.

How long can a betta fish go without food?

Extra feeding will lead to overeating or they may not eat the excess at all. If you want to know how long betta fish can go without food too, it’s actually 14 days. Therefore, it’s always better not to feed your betta over the weekend or for a day or two than it is to feed them extra.

How to tell if a betta fish is constipated?

The most obvious sigh your betta has constipation is a bulging or bloated belly. Signs of dropsy is the fish’s scales will pinecone or sticking out with the bulging or bloated stomach. If your betta is suffering with constipation or dropsy you can help them by adding Epsom salt (Available on Amazon) to the tank and also feeding them high fibber ...

How Long Does Betta Constipation Last?

Depending on the severity of the disease, and the effectiveness of the treatment method, constipation in bettas can last for a day to seven days. How long the complication lasts will depend on whether you are treating it or not.

How Do I Know If My Betta Has Dropsy?

Dropsy occurs when the fish accumulates water and other fluids, causing some tissues in the body cavity to swell .

Why Is My Bettas Belly Swollen?

It can result from constipation, where it has a problem of indigestion and inability to empty its bowels. It will keep the food in the fish’s belly, causing it to become bigger as days go.

Can a Betta Survive Dropsy?

Dropsy can be fatal and deadly if you do not treat it as soon as possible. Your fish can survive dropsy if you treat it in time, but it might not if you do not take care of it as soon as you notice the symptoms. Dropsy can also give way to other diseases if you are not careful.

Should You Feed a Fish With Dropsy?

Yes, you can feed the fish with high-quality foods and vegetables to help it recover. Sometimes, the disease can be so severe that the fish will refuse to eat. When this happens, you can use antibiotics or take it to the vet for adequate treatment.

What diseases do betta fish have?

Constipation and Dropsy are common diseases that betta fish can suffer from. If your fish is suffering with one or both of these diseases it is important to act as soon as you can. So has my betta got constipation or dropsy?

Can you use a parasite med on a nitrogen cycle?

Only after nothing has worked, consider using an internal parasite med. Check the label to verify the med will NOT affect the nitrogen cycle bacteria, and remove any charcoal filter element. Activated charcoal will trap most medications.

Can you use Epson salt on peas?

Epsom salt is a more potent laxative, so use it only if the pea doesn't work. Take a clean jar of aquarium water, and use a spoon to mix and dissolve the Epson salt. If needed, you can add a bit more in a few days. When the crisis is over, change part of the water every two or three days to lower the Epsom salt concentration.

Does the Betta relieve himself?

Possibly, the betta has chosen to relieve himself when you're not looking. Modesty, after all, is not completely absent in the male of the species. 😧

Can bettas eat freeze dried food?

Bettas can be picky about food, so you may want to try some alternatives like frozen (well thawed) blood worms. I would avoid giving the betta freeze dried foods, because they can swell in his stomach. When the alternatives have been tested without good results, it's laxative time.

How to feed betta fish?

1. Put 1 pea per betta and a small amount of water in a microwave-safe dish. If you only have one fish, you will only need to get 1 pea out at a time because you will only feed it one pea per day. Once out of the freezer, place the pea in a small microwave-safe dish with a 1⁄2 inch (1.3 cm) of water in it.

How to get a betta to eat peas?

Drop a piece of the pea into your betta’s tank. Using tweezers or your fingers, drop one piece of the pea into the water at a time. Adding them gradually will get the betta’s attention, luring it to the food.

How to make betta fish soft?

2. Defrost the pea in the microwave. It’s quickest to defrost it in the microwave. In order to get the pea soft enough for your betta fish to eat, microwave it for about 10 seconds at a time, checking to see if it’s defrosted between each 10-second session.

Why is my betta swimming upside down?

Floating or swimming upside-down can be a sign of a problem with the swim bladder. Make sure your betta's tank is heated to about 80 degrees F, which can improve your fish's metabolism and immune system. Swim bladder issues and poor appetite can also stem from overfeeding, so try reducing the amount of food you offer or even skipping feedings for 1-2 days. If that doesn't work, see a vet or fish care specialist for advice.

How to get peas off betta?

Take the skin off the pea. Try to peel the outer layer of the pea off with your fingers. If you can’t hold it easily, you can use a pair of tweezers to hold it and to start tearing off the skin. You won't feed the skin part of the pea to your betta, so you can dispose of it.

What to do if your fish is floating?

Try peas to help with swim bladder issues. Since fish don’t digest food the same way we do, the fiber in peas won’t really help them with issues like constipation. However, if your fish is floating due to having too much gas in its belly or swim bladder, peas may help it “sink” again.

Where do peas drop in a betta tank?

The pea will likely drop to the bottom of the tank . However, in most cases your betta will be able to find it.

Causes

Diagnosis

Treatments

Betta Fish Temperature Requirements

Prevention

• Constipation is a disease is very preventable. As long as you follow a few simple rules, I’m certain even the most novice of fish keepers will do well. Varied DietThis is probably the most important aspect of preventing constipation. Remember that to have a balanced diet, bettas should be fed a mixture of meaty foods on top of their staple dried pe...

See more on keepingfish.com

Conclusion