Is he suffering from water retention?

[brinyveg]

My betta's been bloated for a couple of days now and it's getting me really worried. I tried an Epsom salt bath - 2 tablespoons for 5 litres - but no luck so far. Then I gave him some thawed and de-shelled peas, which he actually choked on, and now he's even more bloated. I've decided to fast him for a couple of days to see if that helps, but he's just lying around a lot, which isn't like him. I'm thinking maybe some company would do him good - I've got a pair of amano shrimp that are pretty chill, so maybe they could keep him active?

[coltin]

Is your betta eating anything at all? What's the condition of its poop like? Have you checked the water parameters - ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, and pH? It would be really helpful if you could share some pictures and a short video of your betta, that way we can get a better idea of what's going on.

[brinyveg]

He's eating, but no poop in sight. His poop was brown, shaped like a raindrop, short. Did a water change today, nitrite and ammonia levels are the same as yesterday. pH is above 7.0, water hardness is 253ppm.

Posting a video's not possible, my iPad's blocked. But I can take a photo.

@coltin, he's also got a blue tint under his chin and no pineconing.

[coltin]

He's eating, no poop around. His poop used to be brown, like little raindrops. That's a good sign.

His fins look pretty rough, though. How long have they been like that?

Have you used regular salt in the tank? If so, for how long?

[brinyveg]

For couple weeks his fins were like that.
I used aquarium salt for a week, stopped yesterday, 1.5 spoons.
@coltin what's going on with him? This bloat, blue under chin, and sometimes pale black head...

[brinyveg]

@coltin do you know what's going on with him? this bloat and the blue under his chin, and that pale black head that comes and goes? what did I do wrong?

[coltin]

I'm not sure about the blue under the chin thing, I've noticed fish can change color depending on their mood and the time of day.

The bloating's still a mystery, but I'd keep the tank clean and use salt for another week to help those fins. Maybe try feeding something different, like a varied diet. What's your usual feeding routine for the betta?

If you're using salt, I'd go with 1 to 2 heaped tablespoons per 20 liters of water. Since you used 1.5, try bumping it up to 2 heaped tablespoons for at least another week.

[brinyveg]

I'll add 2 heaped tablespoons of salt today.
My betta's main food is fluval bug bites, but I also give him bloodworms sometimes - I've run out of daphnia though.
That blue colour under his chin, @coltin, it's under his eyes and mouth - he didn't have it when I first brought him home.

[roygun_1]

I think maybe you should try fasting him for a few days, see how that goes. Then maybe introduce some pellets to his diet, I don't know, just a thought. I'm guessing the food you're giving him is pretty high in protein, that could be making it hard for him to digest, but @coltin might know better than me.

[SeaBidder]

You're getting worked up over nothing, fin rot's the issue here. Treat that and calm down, no need for all this stress. Maybe a change of hobby would do you some good, I really don't like seeing you like this all the time.