Who Gives A Fish Forums

Hi all, I'm having a bit of an issue with my betta, Persia. He's got a huge belly from overeating - I've already cut back on his regular food (about four pellets a day), but he's been munching on whatever he can find, like efts and guppy fry. I'm moving him to a new setup, a 4-gallon bowl with a sponge filter, so there's less for him to snack on. What else can I do to help him out?

I'd recommend giving him a break from food for a couple of days. It's not gonna hurt him, I can attest to that. I often skip a day or two with my own betta, and it seems to really help with digestion.

Fasting is a good idea, but just keep an eye out for constipation. A little piece of de-shelled blanched pea, about the size of his eye or smaller, can help if that happens. After that, try cutting back on the pellets - I've found 2 pellets a day works well for my betta.

Peas are actually a mild laxative for fish, helping with digestion issues like constipation.

goldminer wrote: ↑Mon May 19, 2025 5:08 pm Peas are actually a mild laxative for fish, helping with digestion issues like constipation.

Peas have a similar effect, helping with digestion. Daphnia can be used too, if you prefer.

I'll give it a shot, thanks for the advice.

I use peas because they're easy to find in my freezer. Daphnia and peas serve the same purpose, it's really just a matter of what you have on hand.

Persia's making progress - his belly's gone down and he's swimming normally again. When's a good time to start feeding him regular portions?

How's Persia doing now, any improvement? If so, I'd recommend starting with a small, deshelled, blanched pea. If that goes well, try a pellet the next day.

He hasn't eaten much since Friday. I did accidentally knock some stale pellets into the tank when I was petting him - about three of them. Tomorrow, I'll try the pea. He's still got a big appetite, will do just about anything for food.