Betta fish bloated, sluggish laying down on rocks

[BudgetPhoenix]

I've had my fish for a few weeks and did my first water change today. (5 gallon, filtered, heated to 78 degrees) I noticed his stomach was really bloated a few hours after the water change and hes been staying down and laying on the rocks a lot, but he gets up to swim around and get air sporadically. His scales arent pine coning, and his fins and colors still look really healthy. I think I may have overfed him a bit the past few days, I accidently gave him too many bloodworms a couple times but he gobbled it all up so fast. I gave him half a pea and I saw he pooped a little bit a few hours after he ate the pea. Should I be worried about anything else or may this just be a simple case of overeating/bloating. Should I avoid feeding him for a bit and for how long?

[bettalover635]

My betta is bloated too. I think my daughters have been feeding him and not telling me!! I have heard that if they eat to many bloodworms that they can get bloated. I think if you just don't feed him for a day or two he will be ok. But please anyone correct me if I am wrong, I am no way an expert :)

[callistra]

How much/what do you feed him daily and is he getting a day of fast?

You need to be doing weekly water changes. Is that tank cycled? If not then you need to monitor ammonia daily and do a partial change anytime you see .25ppm. If it is cycled then you need to be doing 20-50% water changes WEEKLY. You definitely need to test the water as soon as possible and be prepared to do a large change to bring it to where it needs to be.

I suggest looking at the betta care sheet stickies available in this forum.

[aqua001]

Try fasting him for a few days, until his stomach looks better. I'm not so sure on the sluggish part but it probably came from the over feeding.

[BudgetPhoenix]

well good news this morning, his belly doesnt look as swollen and hes swimming around like normal, I think it may just have been a case of overfeeding, I think ill fast him for another couple days

[bettalover635]

Aww great! I am glad he is better!!

[callistra]

I'm glad he's doing better but please pay attention to my information on keeping his tank clean. He needs more water changes. Eventually, this will lead to an infection.

[shelbs]

I'm happy your fish got better

[shelbs]

:)