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Constipation in betta fish is a very mutual ailment. And you've come to the right place to find out everything you demand to know about it! But earlier y'all learn how to treat it, it's also of import to know what causes information technology and how to prevent it. While constipation is common, it'south still not peachy for your betta. So it'southward always better to learn how to prevent it rather than only treating it!

If you're sure it's definitely constipation your betta is suffering from (and not something worse similar dropsy) then keep on reading to find out everything you need to know!

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What Is Constipation?

Constipation is when passing stool becomes difficult. Normally it is due to hardened feces which can be caused past a number of reasons. If yous think your betta is suffering from constipation and then at that place are a lot of different symptoms, and causes.

What Causes Constipation In Bettas?

One of the best things you lot can exercise before treating your betta is figuring out what's causing him to exist constipated. Otherwise, you'll only be repeating handling over and over once again. Hither are some of the almost common causes of constipation.

Poor Nutrition

When an creature doesn't have plenty fiber in their diet they're going to become constipated. 1 of the reasons it's easy for bettas to become constipated is because they're carnivorous.

Even though they're opportunistic eaters and volition swallow anything that will fit in their mouths, they by and large survive on meat. Then one of the first things yous demand to make sure is that you're feeding them the right food

Only Feeding Your Betta Bit/Freeze Dried Food

If your betta's diet consists solely of fish flakes or freeze-dried food, then the chances are he'south not getting enough fiber in his diet. In fact, most fish that alive off this diet are decumbent to constipation.

Because flakes and freeze-dried food are and then dry, the moment they come up into contact with wet they brainstorm to expand. And because bettas are and so gutty they'll eat them before they've fully expanded. And so if you plan on feeding your betta these flakes or freeze-dried food make sure y'all're soaking them beforehand.

Alternatively, you can use pellets. Pellets are recommended as part of a balanced nutrition, and if you purchase high-quality ones they will decrease the chance of your betta becoming constipated.

Aqueon Betta pellets are a great choice.

Not Enough Live Food

You lot should besides make sure that your betta is getting enough whole animals in their diet. While pellets contain a lot of the essential nutrients, they are lacking certain essentials. They don't comprise a lot of cobweb, for example. Eating other animals is important for cannibal fish considering they indirectly eat some fiber from the contents of their casualty'south stomach.

Likewise every bit this, their skeletons are total of chitin, which is fiber rich. The combination of stomach contents and the chitin-rich skeletons mean that your betta will get enough of cobweb. Daphnia and mosquito larvae are specially good sources of this.

Likewise MuchBlood-worm

Reverse to pop belief, blood-worms shouldn't be a staple part of your betta's diet, but instead a treat. While they do have a lot of diet in them, a constant diet of them is going to exercise more harm than skillful. And when there are much better alternatives such as daphnia that give your betta a lot more nutrition, you should use blood-worms sparingly.

Overfeeding

Overfeeding tin be another cause of constipation in betta fish, and information technology's one that's extremely common. Bettas are gutty fish and will go on eating fifty-fifty when they're completely full up. That'due south why it's of import to only feed your betta a couple of times a day and only for a couple of minutes. Otherwise, y'all tin bet your betta will become constipated.

Swim Bladder Illness

Believe it or not, swim bladder disease isn't a disease. In fact, it's a symptom of a whole range of ailments. And while information technology'southward possible that constipation is causing swim bladder illness in your betta, it'south also possible the other way round. That the symptoms of swim bladder disease are causing constipation.

An infection or injury could be causing your bettas organs to swell, and if this is happening information technology could be causing constipation. So if you notice other symptoms of swim float illness, and then you should try to assess what'south causing what. (Bank check out this article to learn everything yous need to know nigh swim bladder disease!)

Not Enough Practice

And lastly, is your betta getting enough exercise?

If y'all're not sure then just call up about the size of his tank. While people believe that bettas can survive in a tank equally small as ane gallon, that'south non the truth. And in my opinion, even two.5 gallons is besides small. You lot should go along your betta in a tank that's a MINIMUM of v gallons. Still, there's no limit. Bigger is ameliorate. If you desire to know more so you should bank check out this commodity on the ideal tank size for bettas.

And if y'all desire to know what the all-time 5-gallon tanks are for bettas so you should check out these reviews on the Fluval Spec v Gallon and the Marineland Portrait Aquarium.

So if you are housing your betta in a modest tank and he can't swim around a lot, and so information technology could be causing constipation as well.

What Are The Symptoms Of Constipation In Betta Fish?

There are a few symptoms that can permit you lot know that your betta is constipated. If you detect any of the symptoms below and so you should begin treating your betta for constipation. Even so, you lot should likewise take note of any other symptoms. Because your betta may exist suffering from illnesses that are a lot worse than constipation. And the sooner you lot catch them the greater chance your betta will survive.

Here are the main symptoms of constipation in bettas.

StringyFeces

While this can exist hard to spot unless you lot're watching your betta 24/vii, you should wait for stringy feces. In a healthy betta feces will sink to the substrate every time. However, when your betta is constipated, his carrion volition exist stringy and hang from him. If you notice this then you should brainstorm treating for constipation as before long as y'all tin.

Not Eating/Spitting Out Food

This symptom isn't a clear sign that your betta is constipated. But it could be a good indicator. If you detect that your betta is ignoring his food (extremely abnormal beliefs for bettas) or if he's spitting it out, and so you should await for other signs as well. If you notice this symptom along with some of the other symptoms of constipation then you can make a more than educated decision.

However, a lack of appetite is a very common symptom of a whole range of illnesses and illness. So you shouldn't trust this symptom alone.

Lethargic/Non Pond

When your tum is completely full the last thing you want to do is move. You lot should check to see how energetic or lethargic your betta is looking. If he doesn't seem to exist swimming around equally much as usual then constipation could be the cause.

However, one time again this is a very common symptom in a lot of illnesses so you shouldn't just become off this one lone.

Bloated Abdomen

Another common sign of constipation in betta fish is a bloated belly. If your betta is having trouble emptying their bowels, then the feces isn't going to get anywhere. The longer the time that goes past the bigger your bettas belly is going to get.

If you detect that your betta's belly is swollen or bulging then you lot should start treating him for constipation. However, merely brand sure it isn't dropsy. The easiest fashion to know if information technology isn't dropsy is to make certain your betta's scales aren't pineconing. This is when they stick out. If your betta does exhibit these symptoms and then you need to act immediately.

(If you lot're not certain the bloated belly is being caused by bloating, check out this commodity on all the reasons your betta may suffer bloat.)

Trouble Swimming

In more than extreme cases, constipation could end up making it hard for your betta to swim. If this is the case and then you should start treating your betta every bit shortly as possible considering he's going to be incredibly uncomfortable.

At this point, he'south going to be suffering from swim bladder affliction. So too as checking for the symptoms of constipation you lot should also acquire more than near swim bladder affliction to make certain your betta isn't suffering from an ailment that is more than serious.

(If you don't notice these symptoms in your betta, then they may be suffering from something else! Bank check out this article on all the diseases and illnesses your betta can end up suffering from.)

Betta Fish Constipation Treatment

Now that y'all're confident that your betta is suffering from constipation the side by side step is to start handling. There are multiple ways you tin treat constipation in bettas, but well-nigh of them revolve around feeding your betta foods high in fiber. Just similar in people the loftier fiber diet volition kickoff to go everything moving again.

One peachy method for doing this is by using Epsom Table salt which is a muscle relaxant.

How To Care for Betta Constipation With Epsom Salt

In more astringent cases of constipation or if peas aren't working you should try using Epsom table salt to treat your betta. Epsom salt is a mild muscle relaxant, and if information technology'south but constipation your betta is suffering from it should do the trick. Here'due south how to use Epsom salt effectively:

1. Remove some water from your tank and place it into a clean container.
2. Add 1 teaspoon per five gallons of Epsom common salt to the container.
3. One time y'all've added the Epsom common salt, stir it well until it'due south completely dissolved.
4. Add the h2o back into the tank.
5. If your betta is in a community tank then you should movement him to a quarantine tank. Here's everything you need to know about quarantine tanks if yous're not certain where to go started.
6. Y'all should keep your betta in this tank for most a week or until you detect his constipation is dissipating.

Other Means To Care for Constipation

There are ii other things you should endeavor when treating your betta for constipation.

• Before anything else, you should fast your betta for 2/3 days. While y'all may recall this is cruel don't worry too much. In the wild, information technology's not uncommon for your betta to go without nutrient for a couple of days.
• And secondly, if nothing else is working and so you should try giving your betta some daphnia to eat. Remember earlier when we spoke well-nigh chitin-rich skeletons that are fibrous. Well, daphnia are total of them!

How To Prevent Constipation In Bettas

Treating constipation is practiced, but preventing it is even better. Here are some of the all-time ways to forestall constipation in your betta.

Fasting Your Betta

One great manner to stop your betta from getting constipated is likewise fast him. It won't accept to be as astringent as two/three days in a row. Only fifty-fifty once every week or two should exercise the job. When y'all fast your betta yous give his intestines time to empty fully. This is going to stop any build up of feces which in turn will stop constipation from occurring.

Don't Overfeed Your Betta

Your bettas stomach is about the aforementioned size as his eyeball. Then it's very like shooting fish in a barrel to overfeed him. If y'all're not sure how much nutrient you lot should feed your betta then a rule of pollex is to feed him for two minutes twice a day. Even if he'due south full up he will keep on eating, and so it'due south of import y'all impose a time limit.

Give Him A Varied Diet

Yous shouldn't only be feeding your betta high-quality betta pellets. Instead, you should be varying his diet a lot. For example, every and then oftentimes yous could give him a blanched pea or bloodworms equally a treat. And of course, brand certain y'all're feeding him a lot of healthy live food. Such as daphnia and mosquito larvae. They're going to give your betta the roughage he needs to proceed his intestines moving in the correct direction.

Consider Buying A Bigger Tank

Constipation isn't always to do with food. How big is your betta tank? If information technology's under 5 gallons then y'all should consider upgrading to something bigger. Not only is a bigger tank going to decrease the chance of your betta becoming constipated, but it's going to take a whole range of nifty benefits! In fact, here are all the reasons a bigger tank is better!

If yous brand sure you follow all the advice above then you're going to drastically reduce the risk of your betta becoming constipated. However, sometimes it may still happen, and if and then make sure you stick to the right treatments and your betta volition be happy and active again in no time!

Can Betta Fish Die From Constipation?

If yous don't think constipation is a big deal so you should think again. While most of the time constipation isn't going to be an issue, if information technology'southward left untreated then in that location can be grave side furnishings.

Your betta is more decumbent to suffer from swim bladder disease which will stress him out more than. The more stressed he becomes the weaker his allowed system volition be and the more than likely he volition exist infected with a serious infection or disease.

So if you lot observe your betta looks constipated yous should act immediately to reduce the take chances of something worse happening!

If you want to master the tricks of Betta fish care, you demand a complete guide. Click here to read one!

Recap

At that place's a lot of information to absorb in this commodity so it'south best just to recap all the of import information. Here's what you should remember:

• The BIGGEST cause of constipation in your betta is poor diet, followed by lack of do. If your betta isn't being fed a varied diet, if the food is depression quality, and especially if he's being fed besides much and then information technology's likely he will suffer from constipation at some point.
• You may have heard that your betta tin can alive off bloodworms or consume them all the time. This isn't the case and they should be used every bit a treat every so oft.
• The two about clear signs of constipation in your betta are bloating and stringy carrion. If you notice your betta's stomach is bulging and if feces is hanging off your betta instead of sinking to the lesser of the tank then the chances are he's constipated.
• As well as those two symptoms he may likewise act lethargic, avoid food and spit information technology out, take trouble pond and in more severe cases suffer from swim bladder disease.
• At that place are a number of different ways you can treat your betta simply earlier any, you should fast him for 2-3 days. Failing that try feeding him a boiled pea or some daphnia. If neither of those piece of work then you should movement him to a quarantine tank and add together 1 teaspoon of Epsom salt per 5 gallons of h2o.
• To prevent constipation in your betta make sure you lot're not feeding him too much. Stick to feeding him for ii minutes twice a 24-hour interval.
• Also, you should fast him for a day every couple of weeks, as well every bit giving him daphnia and peas every bit a care for and add more cobweb to his diet!
• And lastly, if your betta is suffering from constipation for likewise long don't get out information technology! Over time it will weaken his immune system, making him more susceptible to other diseases!

Is Your Betta Fish Living Alone?

If and so, then you lot may be interested to know about lots of tank mates that can live with them. So bank check out the Ultimate Betta Tank Mate Guide where you'll learn nearly 68 different tank mates that can live with your betta, as well as fish to avoid. You'll too learn how to create the perfect environment for mates, how to innovate tank mates and much more! And then cheque information technology out!

If you lot liked this commodity, brand sure you check out the rest of the website! And if you accept any more questions you tin can inquire them in the Q&A Department!

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