Bloat in Siamese Fighters

Hi guys!

I have aproblem with Solly and I really need some help please!
A few days ago, I noticed Solly had bloat. I gave him some pea but the bloat did not come down. It's slowly been getting worse. The only thing that did happen was he now has a white poo that is made up of lumps connected by strings hanging from him. I've only fed him some pea (twice) since I noticed the bloat and nothing else.

I've been feeding him according to the packet of betta pellet's instructions, which I now have realised is too much (it says feed 3-5 pellets). So I think I've probably been overfeeding him. Also, I changed my water conditioner to a cheap brand and it weakened his immune system because he got a mild Saprolegnia infection. I have since then changed to Sera Aquatan and have been doing regular water changes.

The fungal infection has been gone for a week and I treated him with Bio-elite anti-fungus, which worked very well.
He still has his appetite and he is not lethargic (ie: he appears normal).

What exactly is wrong
What caused this?
How do I treat this?

I have attached two photos showing the bloat and poo (it was longer but some of it broke off).

I realise the newbie mistakes I have made but I'm trying and learning along the way.

Thanks in advance. I would appreciate any help.

Kelly

 

feed a cooked pea that has been skinned, this should relieve the bloat

 

Do you know how long it takes? I read about 24hours and I fed him some pea 3 days ago and nothing has happened, it's actually worse.

 

Hi Kel-Sol

When you feed him the pea you should not feed anything else.
I think however that you have another problem. With most fish if you are getting
white stringy poo the fish have internal parasites. You do get meds for that.
Did you feed him bloodworm? Especially the Capcom stuff?

 

Hi Vis, Would Capcom Bloodworn bring parasites?

 

Is is believed that Capcom bloodworm is a very big originator of parasites, as the process of propogating the bloodworm is not done in a controlled or hygenic environment. You need to remember that not all parasites are killed by the freezing process.

 

@ Vis, I have only fed him pea in the last 3 or 4 days. I do feed him blood-worms but they are frozen. What kind of internal parasites are a possibility?

 

That would be very hard to tell without a sample of the poo analyzed I think.
There is a parasite med called Jungle Labs Parasite Clear

. Its a tablet that you put in the tank. I have read that it is very good when fighting all kinds of parasites.Just be 100% sure you have no other meds in the tank when dosing these as it can kill a lot of fish very fast, just ask Zoom.

Do not think the freezing kills all the parasites like Zoom said. I think Prof said that the cheap bloodworms are cultivated in pig manure in asia and that is where all the nasties come from.

 

Well I've just been doing some research and I read alot of people saying that Parasite clear is the way to go. I will do a big water change to make doubly sure all the meds are gone.
I am, however, extremely upset at the moment because I read on another forum about someone who had the EXACT same problem as me and it ending up being dropsy that progressed slowly over about a month.
Heres the link to her thread:
http://www.aquamaniacs.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=14540&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

 

Yes the chances always exist that it may be dropsy but let's hope for the best.

 

I was doing more research and I read that constipated poo can be lumpy and stringy?
Is there anyone out there who has experienced this before? I don't know what to do and I dont want to medicate if it's not parasites.

 

Hi! Just my 2c worth: if you are uncertain, contact the exotics department at Onderstepoort. They have a vet who specialises in tropical fish and will be able to assist you telephonically. Will pm you the contact details if you are interested.

 

Thanks Ansu! That would be great!

 

now im worried too

kel-sol my betta Vulcan is exhibiting alot of the same symptoms as Solly. after reading your thread i got a bit paranoid and had a good look at mine and i now see that he seems to have a bit of finrot starting and as you can see from the pics seems to have bloat, or parasites as well. i've given him some pea tonight and will fast him for tomorrow, i feed regularly with camcon frozen blood worms and im abit horrified that i have possibly unintentionally given him this. i want to use some bio-elite heal all to treat the fin rot but am not sure if it will affect my apple snail. i may just take Vulcan out and put him in a jar or tub with his heater and treat him in there rather than treat the whole tank, though i will have to do a big water change before i return him. another question i have is would the anti-parasite meds not affect the beneficial bacteria in the filter as apparently parasites can be bacterial aswell.

sorry if im hi-jacking your thread but i dont want to start another one if Vulcans got the same as Solly

 

This sounds like a flagellate infection. Its not really parasitic but rather intestinal bacteria that infects the abdominal tract. Treatment should be done with Metrozinodol. It takes a while to come right though.

 

@windfire. The bio-elite anti-fungus did nothing to my snails or plants because they are natural products (this is what I have been told). And from what I've heard from others who have also used the ich meds, their products work really well. And from the research I have done, the anti-parasite doesn't affect the beneficial bacterial in the filter.

 

great will start dosing tonight thanks kelsol. i think theres also an anti parasite med in the bio elite range so will be getting that for preference, this all needs to be cleared up before the new fish arrive next week. i've always had good results with bio elite heal all and i like the fact its natural, it also smells so good lol. i use the anti chlor now as well.

 

Hope everything gets sorted out windfire.
Update: Solly is still very bloated and I have not seen any more faeces for some time now.
Is there anyone out there who has experienced this?
I've only been feeding him pea for the last 5 days and nothing is happening

 

Hi Kel-Sol you usualy get a result from the peas in about 24 hours so you must start to look at some other options. The problem with this is that it can be more than one thing and finding that is the hard part.

http://www.bettatalk.com/betta_diseases.htm

If you still think it is bloat you can also look up a epsom salt bath.

 

Hi

Problem here is yet again overfeeding. What I would do now if I were you is the following:

1. Don't feed this betta ANYTHING for at least 5 days (yes, you read that correctly)
2. Do approx 60% to 70% water change to the tank he is in
3. Add an airstone to the tank
4. Add aquarium salt to the water as well
5. On the 2nd day from the feeding cycle, put a mirror next to his tank so he can see himself

I would do the above before getting medicines involved. By doing the above, you are giving his digestive system to process the backlog of food as well as keeping him active (the mirror)...last thing you want is for Mr Betta to just lay around in the tank. Ensure his water is always clean btw...you can try replacing 10% water each day as well.

Should the fish survive, only feed him a max of 4 to 5 days per 7.

NB - The use of chemicals should be the last resort

Let me know what the outcome is

Ciao
D