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A betta's bloating issue after feeding
Posted: Fri Aug 08, 2025 2:21 am
by sundora
Hi everyone,
I'm having a bit of an issue with my Betta, Zeus. He's been getting bloated after every meal, and it's really concerning. I've got three Bettas in the same size tanks (2.5 gallons), and the other two are perfectly fine. I've been feeding them a pinch of tetracolor flakes every four days or so, and it's worked well for years, so I don't think the food is the problem.
The thing is, when Zeus gets bloated, he can't swim properly - he just lays on his side, looking almost dead, but he still moves occasionally. Giving him half to a whole peeled pea usually helps, but I don't want to have to do this every time I feed him.
I'm stumped - it only happens to Zeus, and I was wondering if anyone might know what's causing this?
Re: A betta's bloating issue after feeding
Posted: Fri Aug 08, 2025 3:20 am
by coltin
It's possible that Zeus is swallowing air while feeding, which could be causing his stomach and intestine to fill up, leading to the bloating and swimming issues. When this happens, he might just need to, well, fart the air out a few hours later and he should be fine.
I was wondering if you've considered trying frozen but thoroughly defrosted foods like frozen bloodworms, brine shrimp, or raw prawn? You could try offering him just one or two small bits at a time, and since they sink through the water, he'll eat them without swallowing air. Another option could be live brine shrimp from the pet store - just a few of them swimming around should be enough. If you happen to have any mosquito larvae in water containers outside, he might enjoy those too.
Just a heads up, when feeding frozen foods, the ammonia level in the water can spike quickly, so make sure to remove any uneaten food within a couple of minutes after he's stopped eating. And if your tank doesn't have a filter, it's a good idea to do a big water change (around 75%) three to four hours after feeding.
Re: A betta's bloating issue after feeding
Posted: Fri Aug 08, 2025 4:59 am
by sundora
coltin wrote: ↑Fri Aug 08, 2025 3:20 am
It's possible that Zeus is swallowing air while feeding, which could be causing his stomach and intestine to fill up, leading to the bloating and swimming issues. When this happens, he might just need to, well, fart the air out a few hours later and he should be fine.
I was wondering if you've considered trying frozen but thoroughly defrosted foods like frozen bloodworms, brine shrimp, or raw prawn? You could try offering him just one or two small bits at a time, and since they sink through the water, he'll eat them without swallowing air. Another option could be live brine shrimp from the pet store - just a few of them swimming around should be enough. If you happen to have any mosquito larvae in water containers outside, he might enjoy those too.
Just a heads up, when feeding frozen foods, the ammonia level in the water can spike quickly, so make sure to remove any uneaten food within a couple of minutes after he's stopped eating. And if your tank doesn't have a filter, it's a good idea to do a big water change (around 75%) three to four hours after feeding.
Thanks for the advice, I really appreciate it. I'll definitely look into those frozen foods, like bloodworms and brine shrimp, next time I'm at the pet store. I'll make sure to keep an eye on the water quality too, and remove any uneaten food right away.
Re: A betta's bloating issue after feeding
Posted: Fri Aug 08, 2025 5:17 am
by goldminer
coltin wrote: ↑Fri Aug 08, 2025 3:20 am
It's possible that Zeus is swallowing air while feeding, which could be causing his stomach and intestine to fill up, leading to the bloating and swimming issues. When this happens, he might just need to, well, fart the air out a few hours later and he should be fine.
I was wondering if you've considered trying frozen but thoroughly defrosted foods like frozen bloodworms, brine shrimp, or raw prawn? You could try offering him just one or two small bits at a time, and since they sink through the water, he'll eat them without swallowing air. Another option could be live brine shrimp from the pet store - just a few of them swimming around should be enough. If you happen to have any mosquito larvae in water containers outside, he might enjoy those too.
Just a heads up, when feeding frozen foods, the ammonia level in the water can spike quickly, so make sure to remove any uneaten food within a couple of minutes after he's stopped eating. And if your tank doesn't have a filter, it's a good idea to do a big water change (around 75%) three to four hours after feeding.
A pinch is probably too vague, I know. I'd say it's roughly the amount that fits on the tip of my finger. For years, I've been feeding them this way and it's worked fine for the other two.
I'm not sure about switching to pellets entirely, but I can look into it. Daily feeding seems like a lot, though. I'll have to do some research on that.
As for the peas, I understand your concern. I've just been giving them to Zeus when he gets bloated and it seems to help. I'll check out Daphnia as an alternative.