BloodWorm Allergy?

[Zappity]

Just wondered, is it possible for a betta to have a food allergy? Cause everytime my betta eats one freeze-dried bloodworm (even if it's TINY!) he gets extremely bloated and can't swim up-right. The last time I did, I thought for sure he was a goner, but after I put some salt (Kosher or whatever it is that's recommended) in his water and fasted him for a few days, he's fine.
Just wondered if he could have a food allergy, cause it'd be cool if he did, cause I have food allergies, too! 8D lol

[BettaMiah]

No, are they freeze dried? Those cause SB all the time.

[bahamut285]

I'm not really aware if they have allergies, but your fish may be a little more sensitive to Swim Bladder Disorder (SBD) than others (I have heard that double tails are more prone to SBD due to a deformity, but I cannot confirm).

Originally Posted by BettaMiah

No, are they freeze dried? Those cause SB all the time.

They do NOT ALWAYS cause SBD in fish. While it is true that most fish generally have problems with freeze dried blood worms, that doesn't make it a fact.

How are you feeding them? Usually bloodworms are fed as a meal REPLACEMENT or a treat, so you don't feed them pellets at all. I tend to fast them on Sunday, then feed them bloodworms on Monday, it works out fairly well for me. I accidentally spilled the bloodworm bottle into Mali's tank one day and I think he gobbled up a fair few before I got him out of the tank to clean it up, and he was fine. No SBD at all.

EPSOM SALT works well for SBD and other INTERNAL problems because it is a saline laxative, which causes bowel movements and internal liquid removal in the body.

However, he may not just be able to handle bloodworms due to a possible defect so I would probably feed with extreme caution or find other foods (maybe live) to feed him. :D

[elijahfeathers]

If they're freezedried, presoak them a little in tank water. They expand as they get wet-- and what happens with them is you feed your fish a safe amount... but it grows bigger as it soaks in water and becomes too much for your fish.

You can either feed less or presoak before feeding to help stop this.

[dramaqueen]

Originally Posted by bahamut285

I'm not really aware if they have allergies, but your fish may be a little more sensitive to Swim Bladder Disorder (SBD) than others (I have heard that double tails are more prone to SBD due to a deformity, but I cannot confirm).



They do NOT ALWAYS cause SBD in fish. While it is true that most fish generally have problems with freeze dried blood worms, that doesn't make it a fact.

How are you feeding them? Usually bloodworms are fed as a meal REPLACEMENT or a treat, so you don't feed them pellets at all. I tend to fast them on Sunday, then feed them bloodworms on Monday, it works out fairly well for me. I accidentally spilled the bloodworm bottle into Mali's tank one day and I think he gobbled up a fair few before I got him out of the tank to clean it up, and he was fine. No SBD at all.

EPSOM SALT works well for SBD and other INTERNAL problems because it is a saline laxative, which causes bowel movements and internal liquid removal in the body.

However, he may not just be able to handle bloodworms due to a possible defect so I would probably feed with extreme caution or find other foods (maybe live) to feed him. :D

Agreed. I've used freeze dried foods with no problem. It helps to soak them in water before feeding to reduce digestive problems.

[Bombalurina]

If you can get live bloodworms (mosquito larvae) they are a great alternative and bettas adore them.
If he does have a bloodworm allergy, I know how he feels. I'm allergic to the pesky things in a bad bad way. :P

[Gamma]

freeze dried foods can do that. But yes betta's can have allergies so I wouldn't give him blood worms any more.