Bloated Betta

[Orchidlover]

Need some advice. After reading through several posts, I can't seem to find exact recommendations to treat a betta who I suspect is constipated. His stomach is bloated and has been for a few days. I feed him 3 pellets of Hikari Betta Bio-Gold a day. His appetite is good and he seems active and happy. He is in a 3 gallon tank (since November) and I do the recommended water changes.

I've read about daphnia and frozen peas. Which is better? Should I fast him and how long?

Thanks for any help!

[dramaqueen]

I would go with the daphnia, either frozen or freeze dried. Freeze dried needs to be rehydrated before feeding and frozen needs to be thawed out. Daphnia is more natural for them than peas.

[LaniBaby]

i fast my guys one day a week to keep them from getting constipated in the long term.

[dramaqueen]

I fast mine one day a week. Constipation can be caused by overfeeding. I feed mine twice a day, 2 pellets each.

[Shari Eggen]

Where do you get the daphnia? I think that may be what is wrong with mine. He's kinda floating on his side alot.

[dramaqueen]

You can get daphnia at your lfs. (Petco, Petsmart etc) You can get freeze dried or frozen. Freeze dried needs to be rehydrated and frozen needs to be thawed out.

[Nataku]

A hint on finding the daphnia if you're having trouble with that - look in the reptile food section. None of my LFS carry daphnia in the fish section (well actually, most of my stores don't carry it period, argh) but two of them do have the stuff, but it's in the reptile section. The brand we have around here is called "Fluker's" and it's got a picture of a... hmm, what would you call that, a fire-bellied salamander? on the front of it. Anyhow, it's the freeze-dried stuff, so rehydrate before feeding.