How to help constipated betta

[craig110]

My daughter's betta is constipated. Not a little bit, but a lot and his appetite is gone. I've tried giving him higher-roughage foods and pea buds, but he isn't eating. Is there any liquid laxative that I can put into the water?

[MeganL3985]

Try not feeding him for a day or two. Then...i'm not sure what peabud is....but i've heard to try to peel the "shell" of the cooked pea and then feed the "mush" part to the betta. That is the only way I know of....there will be others to give their opinions though.

[craig110]

Hi Megan,

Thanks for the suggestion, but his lack of appetite has already taken care of not feeding him for a day or two. After posting my question, I searched the board (I know, should have done it in the other order...) and found some references to epsom salt helping, so I gave him a half teaspoon for his 2.5 gallon tank. Poor little guy, I don't think he is going to make it.

So you're the #1 Steelers fan? I might be somewhere in the top-10 as I grew up in Pittsburgh during their incredible '70s.

[MeganL3985]

Haha :) Gotta love 'em!

Hope ur betta gets better!

[cocoa_pleco]

the epsom salt may help, and may get rid of the constipation. its worth a try

hope he gets better!!!

[Siamese Fighter 1]

i had the same problem with my betta all i done is isolate him in a bare tank so u can see if his droopings,i did not feed him for 2 days then feed him boiled pea i done this for about 1 week and it worked or u can try dapnia frozen or live good laxative

hope this help

[markbob]

Just squeeze him, then wash your hands.:c9: (just kidding)

[craig110]

Thanks for all the quick replies when I posted the cry for help. Sad to say, Geebo didn't make it and he was given an honorable backyard burial at my daughter's request. (As she put it, you don't flush a good friend of two years down the toilet.) At least now both she and I know not to think that a bulge is an untreatable tumor, but rather to check for constipation early on.

:ssad:

[MeganL3985]

You never know, it could have been something other than constipation. With bacterial diseases it can cause stomach bloating sometimes as well. Don't get down on yourself. Somethings are just not treatable or are too far advanced for meds....we all go through this. All you can do is give it your all, make sure your checking and changing water, feeding correctly and treat illnesses accordingly. You gave Geebo a good home while you had him and i'm sure he was happy to be a part of your family.

[Lady Hobbs]

I've also read Epson salts works well but is not supposed to go into their tank water. You are supposed to let them swim in a bit of it for 15 minutes or so then return them to their tank or until they began to show signs of stress. Repeat if necessary.

Feed fish sparingly all the time and it will help with constipation problems.