My Betta Fish, Sophie.

Question
QUESTION: I asked you a question about my fish Gerald already but now I have a new fish Sophie. She is fat and full of eggs and has been full of them for sooooooo long...literally months. I don't know how to make her expel them and I don't know what will happen if she never does. I thought at some point she would reabsorb them but it's been so long that I don't know if she ever will. I'm starting to feel bad for her because she is so fat. I know she doesn't have dropsy and know for sure it is eggs. Also, she has that white thing sticking out of her butt area. I want to know what I can do to make her expel the eggs, besides breeding because I don't know how to do that and don't want the eggs. Also, I want to know how long it can be before she would reabsorb them. How long do bettas carry their eggs before doing something with them (expelling them or reabsorbing them). I also want to know what will happen if she does not expel or reabsorb them. Lastly, I guess I just want to know what I can do, if I can do anything at all.

ANSWER: Hi Hannah:  She is probably waiting for a suitable mate.  The white thing sticking out of her butt area is a tube she will use to lay her eggs... If you have a male and it sounds like you do... try to introduce them and see if she will spawn.  You may want to put them next to each other in separate containers to see if the male will build a nest... dave

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I don't have a male. Only her. Gerald died. That's why I got her. My questions are:

I want to know what I can do to make her expel the eggs, besides breeding because I don't know how to do that and don't want the eggs.

Also, I want to know how long it can be before she would reabsorb them.

How long do bettas carry their eggs before doing something with them (expelling them or reabsorbing them).

I also want to know what will happen if she does not expel or reabsorb them.

Lastly, I guess I just want to know what I can do, if I can do anything at all.

Answer
Well... the best thing to do is get a male... if that is not possible she should eventually spawn without the male but she will hold her eggs until she has no other choice but to lay them.  Secondly... she may  not have eggs at all... she may have a small intestinal blockage which is causing her to swell up but not present all the signs and symptoms of dropsy... Try to feed her some brine shrimp and see if that helps.  Chances are she will not re-absorb the eggs at all... Fish, like other creatures, take the reproductive chore very seriously and that is why Sophie is waiting before she lays her eggs... Reproducing is almost a subconscious event for fish.  Besides helping her to complete the process ( getting a male) there is really not a whole lot you can do if she is full of eggs.  If the brine shrimp do not help then your choices are to get a male.. or let her be.   dave