BellaOnline Forums Home and Garden Fish betta flaring problem

Our 6mo old betta named Buddy is very well cared for - in a 3 gallon eclipse tank at abt 79 degrees, and weekly water changes of abt 60-70%. We realize we have been overfeeding him, and are now going to limit his diet. He is healthy and personable except for these new problems:

1. There are a couple bumpy or swelled areas around the back of his body, which I imagine are where his intestines or stomache would be. I've seen him pooping, so I don't think he suffers from constipation. Could it be from overfeeding? We plan to adjust his diet starting today to:
3-4 pellets per day with one day of fasting and interspersed with some more eciting foods like blood worms which he goes bananas for.

2. Second, and most disturbing: he's having a problem extending one side of his flaring fins. Occassionally he just gets excited, and you can see his flaring fins pulsating, even though they are not out. This all seams normal. However when he does fully flare, now only one side comes out. The other pulsates but seams stuck. <img src="/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

I've tried adding salt, but not enough time has gone by to see if it will help (hasn't helped over the last week yet).

Help our little buddy!! <img src="/images/graemlins/fish.gif" alt="" />

T&L

I am not sure what is causing either of your betas health concerns, but I can truely understand why they would be alarming. Perhpas you should try to get a hold of a breader or a vet and ask them. I've been following your posts but have had no ideas of the cause. <img src="/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

Now that you have mentioned that you give him bloodworms, I've been told that live feed can give betas paracites. Could he have gotton something from them that is causing the swelling? -Not sure they would have affected his pulsates nessessarily.

Good luck.

Fantails and Betas

The bloodworms are frozen, so hopefully they are parasite free as they say they are. He's been making bubble nests and is in good spirits otherwise. I think we'll just keep adding salt and hope for the best for now. Thanks for your thoughts!