Fat Beata fish

Question
My Beata fish's stomach has suddenly become very big is this some kind of disease? if so what can be done if anything and should I remove from tank so other fish don't get it

Answer
Hi Tracy;

There usual two possibilities when a Betta is bloated or it's stomach is enlarged; Constipation or Dropsy. Here are web pages that tell you about their symptoms and what you can do to treat;

http://www.petfish.net/kb/entry/12/332/

http://www.healthybetta.com/articles/Illness%20Diagonsis/dropsy.html

Other possibilities are tumors, enlarged internal organs or abscess from infection. If it doesn't seem like dropsy or constipation are the problem it could one of these other ailments. The only treatable of these three is abscess from internal infection. He would need an antibiotic food with tetracycline in it or a fish antibiotic medicine called "Maracyn Two". It's the only antibiotic readily available that absorbs internally to treat inside the fish. Other medicines treat the outside of the fish with little absorption. That's why I recommend antibiotic food if the fish will eat it. It gets right to the inside where the possible problem is.

I hope he feels better soon...

At Your Service;
Chris Robbins