How does one tell if its bloat or eggs?

[RayneForhest]

I see pictures all the time... and it looks like bloat... but I see that some say its a good indicator of eggs.

How do you know the difference?

[Oldfishlady]

With bloat you usually will have other signs/symptoms of illness that vary from-swollen/enlarged stomach, lethargic, clamped fins, hiding, stops eating and pooping, buoyancy issues, generally swimming problems, pinecone of scale in severe cases, color change, panting/gasping, staying at the surface or laying on the bottom, cloudy eyes...etc....may have some or all symptoms of general illness along with enlarged stomach...

Mature females have unripe eggs all the time and they either drop and eat them or leave them on the floor or they absorb them...some females full of eggs will sometimes swim in a head down position or tail slightly up- but still eat and poop normally-sometimes their poop will take on a creamy white appearance after they eat or absorb their eggs and nothing to worry about unless they are symptomatic to other illnesses....

This is not harmful to the female and not an indication that they need to be spawned...it is normal.....

Its important to not confuse bloat with normal full tummy or eggs.......but when you see enlarge stomach along with other signs/symptoms its important to treat quickly for best results.....you want your Betta to have a soft rounded appearance especially after a meal and it should reduce in size as the food digest, see regular bowl movements, active and happy to see you begging for food......

[RayneForhest]

Thank you SO much.

Does the appearance vary from bloat and eggs? Is there a distinct characteristic that goes along with each condition?

Just checking

(I will keep in mind everything you said)