betta fish constipated?

Question
From the symptoms, my betta fish is constipated. He won't eat peas. I have given him 3 epsom salts soaks (20 min.) like one website described for this condition; first day in the evening l e.s.soak and yesterday 2 soaks 12 hours apart. I have not fed him. He is at 78 degrees. Any suggestions? He is not better. This is his third day of this.  He is in a 2 1/2 gallon tank.
Debbie

Answer
Hi Debbie, this is Nicole from the category Fish. I am answering your question from the Question Pool, since the expert you directed your question to is not available. Your question just became available to the rest of us. On behalf of AllExperts, apologies for the lack of a timely response.

I suggest that you add Epsom salt to the tank itself. 1 teaspoon per 10 gallons is about right. You can safely use up to double the dose, but don't keep adding more, since salts don't evaporate. If possible, pre-dissolve the salt in warm water to avoid burning his skin with salt grains.

It's odd that your betta won't eat peas, he must be a fussy eater. There are lots of other foods that have a laxative effect that he will enjoy eating, such as frozen brine shrimp cubes. Just a little piece will do. The water content in the brine shrimp is what will get him moving. Daphnia is more nutritious, and has a similar laxative property. I have been able to find Hikari brand frozen daphnia at Petsmart. Brine shrimp is more commonly available under different brands. If you can find it, buy it spirulina or multivitamin enhanced. This makes it more nutritious for your betta.

About the temperature - I recommend you bump it up to about 80 degrees, 1 degree per hour. Bettas like it fairly warm. I hope that helps, check out www.bettatalk.com for reference - it's loaded with information about our anabantoid friends!

Nicole