How Can I Avoid My Betta Fish Stomach Explode?
What does it feel like to have a Betta fish’s stomach explode?
- This isn’t something that are very common, but when it does occur, it can be quite alarming.
- Believe it or not, stomach ulcers are caused by an organism called Helicobacter pylori. This is found in many places around the world, including the United States and Europe. The organisms causes the ulceration or lesions on the outside of the fish’s stomach.
- Once this happens, the bacteria will start to multiply in the affected area.
- Over time, this can cause the stomach to get inflamed and damaged.
Why does this disease happen? When the bacteria damage the inner linings of the fish’s stomach, it will typically get into the esophagus.
From there, it will continue to multiply until you get to what we call an anastomosis. This is where the anastomosis is able to escape and the infection spreads throughout your fish’s body. When this happens, you are likely to see that your fish is lifeless.
There are a few main reasons why this happens.
It all has to do with how the anastomosis is not being maintained.
If you fail to maintain proper hygiene in the environment that your fish is kept in, this can often lead to this problem.
Another reason is a poor diet. An unbalanced diet will lead to bacteria buildup in your fish as well.
When your Betta fish stomach explode, you will find that your fish has developed a fever.
This is because the bacteria have gotten into the esophagus. Now, it could just be acid reflux taking place, or it could be another condition.
Either way, you should take action right away. The longer you wait, the more severe the fish’s condition will become.
Now, if you watch carefully, you will note that your fish does not seem to be moving around.
It might even be lethargic.
This means that it is trying to conserve energy because the stomach explosion has left it with very little energy to do so.
This can be a good sign, but you still need to act when your Betta fish stomach explode.
First, you need to cleanse the water and remove any toxins that are in it. Then, you need to take your hand and move the affected fin very gently. You do this while the water is still cold but not cold enough to freeze. I would recommend that you take a few minutes and rest after doing this.
Finally, you should remember one thing.
Your goal is not to get your fish to heal itself.
You want to kill it off, once and for all. That way you can stop all future attacks.
Now, if your fish starts to swim agitatedly, it is an indication that your Betta fish stomach explode, so act quickly before it does any more damage!
When you see your Betta fish start to panic and swim agitatedly, you will probably have a few moments of quiet, painless death. But, as soon as the attack is over, your Betta fish will vomit and then swim calmly once more. However, you can’t let this happen too soon because your goal here isn’t just to get rid of the fish’s stomach, but to prevent a whole host of other problems from developing.
If your Betta fish stomach explodes, you will have to treat it with care. I would recommend that you use a natural remedy.
Some people recommend an herb bath to kill the bacteria that is causing the problem.
To prevent the Betta fish from developing a fish stomach ulcer, there are a few things you can do.
First, you should change your water frequently. I would avoid chlorinated water if at all possible.
This tends to create mucus which attracts the bacteria that causes the problem in the first place.
Second, you should make sure your tank has a good filtration system. Remove all of the algae, rocks, wood, and anything else that would help to develop an environment where bacteria can grow.
Lastly, you should keep the tank’s water circulating. This helps keep the bacteria from growing out of control.
This treatment method may not be suitable for everyone, but it’s certainly worth a try.
Betta Fish Stomach Explosion Due to TB Cyst
My Betta fish, Charon, fell sick and his breath became very bad. He was throwing up blood and his mouth was white and congested with mucus.
- When I took him to the vet, I learned that he had a bacterial infection called Staphylococcus aureus in his liver and his spleen.
- The spleen is a goldmine for bacteria since it contains a lot of amino acids that bacteria need to grow.
- The problem with my Betta fish’s case was that the toxins produced by the infection were getting pumped around his body instead of staying on the liver where they were needed.
Because the toxins were not staying on the liver, his body started to break down.
These extra toxins began to build up in his kidneys, which caused them to get inflamed and his stomach to explode due to TB.
He was coughing up blood, losing weight, having a depressed look in his eyes, and his color was pale.
His poop was white and sticky. The vet diagnosed him with Staphylococcus aureus, or gram-negative congenital virus, or GRV for short.
The gram-positive group is the same as the regular type. They are hardy and grow quite easily in fresh water. But, they can also become infected with the regular gram positive group. So, keep your fish on a healthy diet with plenty of oxygen and clean water. They will be fine.
My Betta fish’s problem with Staphylococcus aureus, or GRV, was not his fault. It was actually due to a failure by his aquarium filters to remove enough of the toxin.
His water pump was no help, either. His water had very poor quality.
We tried giving him tropical fish food, but this just made his Staph infection even worse.
When his older brother, who is now the owner, took him to the local fish store, he was told that antibiotics would help. But, they would not work on my Betta.
I don’t want to take unnecessary risks, so we decided to treat him with a natural cure for Staphylococcus aureus, or GRV. It took two days to see the first signs of improvement, but I have to say it worked well.
Why does a Betta fish develop Staphylococcus aureus? I do not know.
Perhaps the food we fed him was causing this problem. But, I have to believe that his tank mates were also contributing, because his tank mate and his siblings all had Staphylococcus infections of some sort.
What did I do? I changed the diet that I was feeding my Betta, from tropical fish pellets to brine shrimp, blood worms, and adult blood worms.
These all contain bacteria that help kill off parasites, which in turn makes your Betta’s stomach less acidic.
And, since these bacteria are live, you can feed them regularly and they will continue to keep their “friendly” bacteria level high. And, by keeping the “friendly bacteria” level high, your Staphylococcus infection will be much easier to treat.
While our Staphylococcus bacteria are helping to keep your Betta’s “friendly” bacteria levels high, there is nothing you can do to remove the other, opportunistic bacteria that can cause your betta fish to get sick.
Since Staphylococcus aureus is always present in fresh water, your best will come into contact with this opportunistic bacteria constantly.
When your butt gets sick, the bacteria will attack its immune system. This results in your betta fish stomach exploding due to Staphylococcus aureus.
Once you get the bacteria under control, there are other methods to prevent Staphylococcus from attacking your fish.
For example, don’t leave a lot of food in the water (it will be food for bacteria).
Always clean out your filter regularly to keep it clean and bacteria free.
And remember betta fish needs to eat all the food you put in your tank – your fish will thank you!
Why Does a Betta Fish Stomach Explode Due to Pineconing
It is common for betta fish to suffer from a condition called “butterfly belly”.
It is characterized by the appearance of a white circular patch on the lower abdomen.
This can be quite painful especially for the timid ones. This is caused by a sudden increase in blood flow in the stomach area, and it can even lead to death if the condition is not treated immediately. So how does this affect your Betta fish?
The sudden influx of blood can trigger the muscles that are located at the base of the tail to contract rapidly, which ultimately causes the fish to go into a painful spiral where its stomach explodes.
Although it looks like your Betta fish is going to die right away, in fact, it will survive this episode because it will heal within a couple of days!
However, it is recommended that you bring your fish to the veterinarian immediately to have it treated.
The cause of this condition is usually a bacterial infection called Planktonic dysplasia.
This is actually a common occurrence in many guppies and tropical fish.
This condition causes the production of excess amounts of a particular protein, referred to as a proteinase (or PLP), which is needed by the fish to break down food in their stomach.
This leads to abnormal growths at the base of the tail. When this happens, your Betta fish will develop fish stomach explode because of pineconing.
Although it seems like your Betta fish is suffering from a minor issue, it could have some serious consequences. It is important to understand that these are growths – not parasites – and therefore can be very contagious.
You must take the proper steps to avoid spreading this infection. These include cleaning the peritonsillar region of your fish with warm salt water and treating it with an anti-parasitic solution.
Some tropical fish are prone to having this condition, and if yours is one of them, then you need to be careful.
The first step is to make sure your Betta fish is eating properly. It is best for you to have a medical professional look at this problem if you suspect this is the reason behind your fish’s bout with a peritonsillar eruption.
They will be able to identify the exact cause of the growths by performing a biopsy, which will require draining the fish’s stomach to get to the peritonsillar area.
During this process, they will be able to extract a sample of the bacteria and other germs that might be present.
In many cases, the exact cause remains unclear. One thing that we know for sure is that this problem is caused by an overgrowth of certain bacteria.
Bacteria such as esophageal protozoa or PTB (or possibly giardia), and others, typically make up around 40% of the bacteria inside the fish’s stomach.
The other half are associated with an abnormality in the peritonsillar wall.
- Pineconing (also called “punching out”) happens when the peritonsillar wall is injured somehow.
- This can happen when a Betta accidentally bites its tail on something sharp, or perhaps through the mouth, causing a small tear.
- This small tear causes a pathway between the stomach and esophagus to open, thus allowing food to travel from the stomach into the esophagus.
- As you can see, there are many contributing factors to the cause of a Betta fish stomach explode.
Betta Fish Stomach Explosion – End Stage Kidney Failure
What is the best possible treatment for a betta fish suffering from a stomach bursting (or bloating) cysts?
Obviously, the best course of action is to take the fish to the nearest certified veterinarian, preferably one located nearby. The quick-fix remedies that are commonly administered for fish with cysts, such as artificial diet, oral fish laxatives and even surgery, should be avoided at all costs in favor of natural methods.
These natural remedies are gentler on the fish’s body and can help prevent a multitude of future health problems and illnesses.
A betta fish’s stomach is extremely resilient. It is made up of a highly complex inner mechanism, which when abused or otherwise abused in some way will quickly repair itself.
What happens, however, when this mechanism is forced to work under extremely stressful conditions, such as when a betta fish is suffering from a stomach exploding (or bloating) cysts? This is where things can become extremely ugly.
As mentioned above, the stomach produces an amazing amount of digestive juices, which aid the fish in digesting and absorbing its food.
When a fish’s bladder is overly taxed, or the bladder becomes overly sensitive, these juices can sometimes backfire and cause immense pain, which is essentially what you’re feeling every time you feel a fish gasping for air at the top of your aquarium.
If your fish has a stomach exploding (or bloating) cyst, then it is likely this is what is causing the pain and discomfort.
Why do fish have bladders in the first place? In order to answer that question, we need to take a look at what happens when a fish’s bladder is not functioning properly.
When a fish’s bladder doesn’t work properly, the fish will experience pain and discomfort when attempting to “go to the bathroom.”
In most cases, the fish will begin by floating around slowly, with no effort whatsoever to go pee.
This is called a polyp formation, and is the easiest way to tell when your fish’s bladder is either completely blocked or simply isn’t working as it should.
As discussed earlier, a fish’s bladder is extremely sensitive to outside air pressure.
This means that anything that is overly strong or forceful will cause great discomfort for the fish.
This includes very strong air currents caused by an aircraft or even strong wind.
Bloating can also be caused by eating too much food (too much food will force the fish to expel air in the form of blubber).
As a result, you’ll often see fish that are severely bloated and feeling a little more pain and discomfort than they normally would.
The best way to alleviate the uncomfortable feelings of bloating and pain is to gently lower the water level in your aquarium.
Lowering the water level will force the fish’s body to release any excess air that has been stored within its bladder.
This excess air will force the bladder to shut down completely.
Once this happens, the bloating will stop and the fish should return to normal in a relatively short period of time.
Note that the bloating will continue to occur until the water changes have been completed, and then the cycle will repeat itself.
There are a few things that you can do to help with this problem, and all of them are preventative measures.
For instance, make sure that you never feed your fish food that is too large for their size, because the extra air and food will force the bladder to expand again until it finally bursts.
- Additionally, it’s important that you never place live food into the tank that is larger than the available space.
- In fact, it’s important that you never put live food in the tank at all! It’s just not sanitary and could cause your fish to get sick from the bacteria present in the food.
- Finally, if the bladder does burst, there are some things you can do to help reduce the pain and inflammation of the area.
- Simply changing the water in the aquarium frequently will help keep the bladder from expanding and causing a painful bloating feeling.
How to Cure Betta Bloating or Excess Gas Build Up Naturally
Gas or carbon monoxide can cause severe harm to your Betta fish’s internal organs.
When the levels of this gas become very high, your Betta fish will start acting out and show several signs of distress such as gassy behaviour, tail dropping and even a tail fluke.
This is actually a sign that the internal organs are starting to feel the effects of being attacked by this dangerous gas and trying to expel it from their system.
This is why you must keep a close eye on the levels of this gas inside your tank.
If this gas gets too high, you must act before too long or your fish will start to suffer from internal organ failure – this can be fatal for your poor little buddy.
There are several reasons why your Betta fish may be experiencing gas or bloating.
One is a change in diet.
Another is a sudden increase in food consumption.
This is because fish are particularly sensitive to changes in their eating patterns when they are stressed out.
If you notice your Betta fish acting out of the ordinary when you feed them, then this means that their stomach is working overtime and is unable to cope with the extra food.
When this happens, the amount of gas produced can become too much and can cause your betta fish to start suffering from stomach exploding or other internal organ damage.
To combat excess gas production, there are a few simple things you can do.
Firstly, always feed your Betta fish only enough food at one time so that they do not confuse food portions.
Secondly, always keep a check on the water levels and add extra aquarium salt to the water as and when required to reduce the gas levels.
Lastly, there are a couple of easy steps you can take that can help your fish to avoid gas or bloating altogether.
These include removing unwanted parasites from the aquarium (which will also prevent waste products like ammonia from accumulating in the aquarium) and giving your Betta fish regular and adequate exercise.
Can Betta Fish Stomach Explosion From Parasite Attack
This is a very serious problem that occurs when the eggs hatch and the worms begin to move around within the fish’s body.
The worm along with millions of other microscopic bugs will begin to cause damage to whatever organs or systems of the fish is secreting.
If left untreated, this can be a deadly and even fatal situation for the can betta fish.
There are many things that can cause a can betta fish to become seriously ill such as parasitic worms, cantharis worms and cantharis bugs, and catharsis bugs.
Parasites such as these must be treated or they can severely affect the health and lives of your fish.
It is not uncommon for can betta fish to experience diarrhea as well. Fish that are sick generally lack appetite, and instead will eat whatever is available to them. This can be both good and bad depending on how much the fish is willing to eat.
A can betta fish stomach explode from a tapeworm infection can be very serious and should not be ignored.
Once you have identified the problem you must take action to correct it or the effects could be lethal.
Tapeworms like catharsis and cantharis worms thrive in water that is dirty, clear, and has a lot of protein in it.
These tapeworms can also attach themselves to an internal tube that supplies nutrients to the fish.
