My swollen Betta

Question
My office mascot, Ruby, who is a Betta fish has been quite swollen for several weeks now.  We have noticed that she has not been having bowel movements regularly. We gave her some peas. Also, mixed in some epsom salt in her water. Nothing has seemed to help. We have cut her food back, but she does seem to have a very healthy appetite. She is swimming normally and seems fine otherwise. Please, help! Do you have any ideas on what could be wrong with poor little Ruby?

Answer
Hi Holley;

Is it a female betta? They get pretty fat when they have eggs in them. Females have short fins and males have long flowing fins. Here is a link to photos of them so you can be sure;

Females;
http://www.aquariumfish.net/images_01/three_female_bettas.jpg
http://www.gorge.org/fish/new2/redfemale3.jpg
http://www.aquahobby.com/img/betta2.jpg
http://www.bettacave.com/Graphics/BettaPhoto/Red%20Crown%20Tail%20female.jpg
http://www.uvm.edu/~kshafer/bigFemaleBetta.jpg

Males;
http://www.bettacave.com/Graphics/BettaPhoto/dbltail%20butrflys.jpg
http://www.bettacave.com/Graphics/BettaPhoto/Red%20STM%201981.jpg
http://www.bettacave.com/Graphics/BettaPhoto/Red%20Crn%20DR.jpg

The female will reabsorb the eggs into her body if she has them without a male there to spawn with.

If it turns out to be a male, he may just be fat and needs his food cut back some more.

Whichever the case, since Ruby is eating and active he/she at least sounds healthy otherwise.

Followups welcome

At Your Service;
Chris Robbins

Come on over and join us on the freshwater fish forum at About.com to get even more information too;
http://freshaquarium.about.com/od/questionsanswers/a/naavigateforum.htm

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