Who Gives A Fish Forums

My betta's been looking kinda bloated lately, and I'm worried it's constipation. What's the best way to handle this? I've been feeding pellets twice a day, but maybe that's too much. Tank's a 5-gallon with a sponge filter, temp at 78°F, and params are 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, 10 nitrate.

Overfeeding's a common issue. Cut back to once a day, and try fasting them for a day or two. Daphnia or brine shrimp can help get things moving, they're like a natural laxative. Also, check if the pellets are sinking too fast, they might be gulping air.

flameon9 wrote: ↑Mon Sep 01, 2025 5:30 pm Overfeeding's a common issue. Cut back to once a day, and try fasting them for a day or two. Daphnia or brine shrimp can help get things moving, they're like a natural laxative. Also, check if the pellets are sinking too fast, they might be gulping air.

Yep, daphnia's a lifesaver. I've had success with frozen stuff, just thaw it first. And yeah, floating pellets are better, lets 'em eat at their own pace.

How often do you do water changes? Sometimes poor water quality can slow their digestion. I'd recommend 20% weekly, especially if you're feeding heavy. Also, what kind of pellets are you using? Some brands expand too much in their stomach.

slayr wrote: ↑Tue Sep 02, 2025 2:00 am How often do you do water changes? Sometimes poor water quality can slow their digestion. I'd recommend 20% weekly, especially if you're feeding heavy. Also, what kind of pellets are you using? Some brands expand too much in their stomach.

Good point. Cheap pellets can be sketchy. I stick to Hikari Bio-Gold, they're small and don't bloat as much. And yeah, water changes are key, keeps everything flowing, literally.

Never had this issue myself, but I've heard adding a tiny bit of epsom salt to the tank can help. Like 1 tsp per 5 gallons. Just don't overdo it, or you'll mess with the water chemistry.

Thanks for the tips, everyone. Gonna try fasting for a day, then switch to daphnia. I'll also check my pellets, they might be the cheap expanding kind. Appreciate the help!

Let us know how it goes. Sometimes it's trial and error, but you'll figure out what works for your fish. Just keep an eye on their behavior, they'll tell you what's up.

streamer wrote: ↑Tue Sep 02, 2025 2:45 pm Let us know how it goes. Sometimes it's trial and error, but you'll figure out what works for your fish. Just keep an eye on their behavior, they'll tell you what's up.

Exactly. And if the bloating doesn't improve after a few days, it might be something else, like swim bladder disease. But hopefully, it's just a simple fix.