Constipation and Dropsy are common diseases that betta fish can suffer from. I’m looking at my little guys and wondering, “Has my betta got constipation or dropsy?”
If your fish is suffering with one or both of these diseases it is important to act as soon as you can.
Let’s explore these two conditions and find out which one it is in this article below.
Has My Betta Got Constipation or Dropsy?
The most obvious signs your betta has constipation are:
- bulging
- bloated belly
Signs of dropsy are:
- fish’s scales will pinecone or stick out
- bulging or bloated stomach
If your betta is suffering with constipation or dropsy you can help them by adding Epsom salt (Available on Amazon) to the tank and also feeding them high fibber foods such as vegetables/peas. More on that below.
How Do I Know If My Betta Has Constipation?
Constipation is the most common problems that affect betas.
To know whether your betta has constipation you should look out for the below symptoms:
- Bloated Belly
- Spitting Out Food and Inability To Eat
- Lack of Appetite
- Stringy feces
- Reduced Swimming
1. Bloated Belly
Bloated belly is the most common symptom of constipation in bettas. Since constipation deals with a fish’s inability to empty its bowels, it will cause the fish’s belly to become bigger as the waste keeps storing. The longer your betta keeps experiencing this problem, the larger the belly will be. Therefore, you have to treat it as soon as you can.
2. Spitting Out Food and Inability To Eat
Another symptom you will notice is that your betta will not eat and sometimes spit out food. There is too much food and waste in the fish’s belly, making it difficult for it to take in some more. It will also try to get some out through its mouth since it cannot get them off through the anus.
3. Lack of Appetite
Is a common symptom of most diseases and illnesses. Therefore, you need to check out other factors to be sure the fish has constipation. If you see this symptom alongside other related symptoms, then you can be sure of the disease.
4. Stringy feces
You might have to pay attention and might need to stay with your betta all day to be sure of this symptom. When a healthy betta releases waste, the waste will drop to the bottom of the tank. But for the ones having constipation, waste will hang from the fish and be stringy.
5. Reduced Swimming
When you have a full stomach, the last thing you would want to engage in is to move around. It is also applicable to betas as they won’t move when they have a full stomach or have constipation. Reduced water movement is also a common symptom of illness and diseases. Therefore, you should check out other symptoms before concluding.
How Do I Know If My Betta Has Dropsy?
Dropsy and constipation have similar signs with little differences. Therefore, you should be sure you are not mistaking constipation for dropsy. Dropsy occurs when the fish accumulates water and other fluids, causing some tissues in the body cavity to swell.
Here are some symptoms of dropsy
- Grossly Swollen Belly
- Standing Scales
- Bulging Eyes
- Pale Gills
- Swollen Anus
- Pale and Stringy Feces
- Ulcers on the Body
- Curved Spines and Clamped Fins
- Loss of Appetite
- Swimming Abnormalities
1. Grossly Swollen Belly
Dropsy and constipation have this symptom, but a different cause. Unlike constipation, where the swelling results from the inability to empty bowels, the swelling of dropsy results from water accumulation and other fluids.
In constipation, the organ that contains the unemptied waste is the one that becomes big, but it is the tissue in the fish body that swells when it has dropsy.
2. Standing Scales
This symptom differentiates drops from constipation, giving you a clear message of the problem. The scales of the fish stand out in a pinecone appearance. This symptom accompanies the bulging and swollen belly.
3. Bulging Eyes
When a betta becomes affected with dropsy, you will notice that it starts to have bulging eyes. The eyes of the fish pop out, so that it seems the eye socket won’t contain it.
When you see this symptom, alongside other symptoms, you should start treating your fish with dropsy.
4. Pale Gills
Another symptom of dropsy in bettas is pale gills. Your fish will start to develop pale gills when it has dropsy, and you can be able to see this when you lift the gill plates or view them from beneath. You have to start treatment as soon as you notice this, as it is a latter symptom of dropsy.
5. Swollen Anus
You will also notice that your betta is starting to develop a red and swollen anus when it has dropsy. You might be able to view the anus unless you take a close look, but it can be a defining disease symptom.
Make sure you begin treatment or visit the vet when you start noticing this symptom.
6. Pale and Stringy Feces
You have to be careful with this sign as it is the same as constipation. When checking for this symptom, you have to check other symptoms before you can be sure that your betta has dropsy. You will see your betta releasing stringy feces that hang from it.
7. Ulcers on the Body
Another noticeable symptom of dropsy in bettas is an ulcer’s appearance on the fish’s body. You will notice them along the lateral line of the fish. Whenever you notice this sign, you should not hesitate to treat your fish or visit a vet.
8. Curved Spines and Clamped Fins
This symptom starts to show in the latter stage of the disease, which means you have to find a way to treat your fish as soon as possible when you notice them.
When the abdomen gets filled with fluid, it sometimes pushes some organs causing the spines to bend. It also causes clamped fins in the fish reducing its swimming prowess.
9. Loss of Appetite
You can’t possibly expect the fish to eat despite having this problem. Your betta might not feed much or not even feed at all when it has dropsy. Note that appetite loss is a common symptom for every disease. Therefore, you should be sure before concluding your betta has dropsy.
10. Swimming Abnormalities
When your betta has dropsy, you will notice some swimming abnormalities like swimming near the surface, finding difficulty to move through the water, etc.
In conjunction with other factors, you can be sure your betta has dropsy. You have to make sure you treat your fish with this disease as it can be deadly, resulting in your fish’s death.
Note that these symptoms appear progressively with the severity of the disease. All the symptoms might not show at once, but they will keep showing as the sickness advances. Some signs are constant till the end of the disease, or most likely, the fish.
Can Constipation Kill a Betta Fish?
Yes. Constipation can be a deadly disease if you do not treat it fast. It can and will kill your betta if you do not address the blockage. There are several ways you can treat the disease ranging from diet, medications to other means.
You can treat the disease by:
1. Feeding peas to your Betta
You have to soften the pea by boiling it in water and allow it to cool down by placing it under cold running water. Once the pea is cold, you should remove the skin, and feed it to the fish and wait 24 hours for any improvement before feeding the pea to it again.
2. Epsom Salt
Another common way to treat your betta of constipation is the use of Epsom salt. To do this, you have to remove some water from the fish’s tank and place a teaspoon of salt into every five gallons of water. After adding the salt, add the water back to the tank and leave the fish in it for a week while you wait for improvement.
3. Fasting
You can also treat constipation in your betta by starving it for two to three days before feeding it again. You might think it is inhumane to keep them without food, but it will help the fish aid digestion; moreover, betas usually go days without food in the wild. You can also feed the fish with daphnia as it will help them treat their constipation.
How Long Does Betta Constipation Last?
Constipation in bettas can last for a long while if you do not treat the fish or even cause the fish’s death. It depends on the severity of the disease, and the effectiveness of the treatment method.
- constipation in bettas can last for a day to seven days.
How long the complication lasts will depend on whether you are treating it or not.
What Does a Dropsy Look Like?
Dropsy looks very simular constipation as they share almost the same symptoms with slight differences. It usually affects your fish’s appearance, making it appear bigger than before and having a bloated belly.
You will also see the scales of the fish poking out unnaturally in the shape of the pinecone.
Why Is My Bettas Belly Swollen?
Your betta might have a swollen belly due to several reasons.
- It can result from constipation, where it has a problem of indigestion and inability to empty its bowels. It will keep the food in the fish’s belly, causing it to become bigger as days go.
- It can also result from swim bladder disease, where the swim bladder accumulates excess body fluids causing it to swell. The swelling of the ladder also results in the belly-bulge as the bladder pushes against it. You can treat the disease by following due procedures and medications.
- Another cause of the swelling can be a result of dropsy, which can be a deadly disease if you do not quickly take care of it. It occurs when tissues in the body swell due to the accumulation of water and other fluids. It also has other symptoms that accompany the swollen belly giving you a precise answer to your question.
What Helps a Constipated Betta?
The primary treatment for constipation in bettas is to alter their diet:
- Give them more fiber to ease their troubles.
- You can also feed them with vegetables like peas, daphnia, etc., to help them digest and unclog their bowels.
- Fresh greens can also help in this situation as it will also help them reduce their troubles.
- The Epsom salt (Available on Amazon) can also help betas during constipation.You only have to add the salt to the water and add the water to the tank where the fish is and wait till the fish recovers.
- You can also starve the fish for 2 to 3 days to help digestion and solve its problems.
Frequently Asked Questions:
1. Can a Betta Survive Dropsy?
Yes. Dropsy can be fatal and deadly if you do not treat it as soon as possible. Your fish can survive dropsy if you treat it in time, but it might not if you do not take care of it as soon as you notice the symptoms.
Dropsy can also give way to other diseases if you are not careful.
2. Should You Feed a Fish With Dropsy?
Yes, you can feed the fish with high-quality foods and vegetables to help it recover. Sometimes, the disease can be so severe that the fish will refuse to eat.
When this happens, you can use antibiotics or take it to the vet for adequate treatment.
3. Can Overfeeding Cause Dropsy?
Overfeeding your fish will cause uneaten food in the tank and make the fish release waste, causing foul water in the tank. The filthy water can now cause drops in your fish. So, overfeeding will indirectly cause drops in your fish.
4. How Long Does Dropsy Take to Kill?
Dropsy is a fatal disease in bettas and can cause death within 15 to 20 days after contraction. You can use several methods to cure dropsy, but you have to be fast with the treatment. Therefore, you will not lose your fish. Although it is rare, bettas do survive battles with dropsy.
5. How Does Epsom Salt Treat Dropsy?
Epsom salt contains magnesium sulfate that helps draw the excess water that made the fish swell from its body. You only have to add the required quantity to your fish tank.
Conclusion
Your betta fish can have constipation and dropsy, and you might find it difficult to differentiate between these two complications. You only need to know the symptoms of the two diseases. It is better if your betta has constipation, but worse if it has dropsy.
Like every other freshwater fish, betas also face health, physical, and emotional complications which part of it is dropsy and constipation.
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