Big Belly Betta

Question
Hi,  

We're hoping you can help us.  We have a betta fish.  He is in a
very clean tank that has a filter and wheel and a snail.  But
recently he has begun to balloon.  His belly looks huge.  I would
almost think he was pregnant, but I know that he hasn't come in
contact with a femle, because we've only had a him for a few
months.  We went to the local pet store and they said they have
never seen anything like it, but from the books it seems like he
has a tumor.  We bought a bacteria killer that we put in the
water, and we changed his food- we are now giving him dried
blood worms.  Do you know what causes the tumor?  Or if it isn't
a tumor what it is and how we can fix it.  We love him and don't
want him to die, but we also don't want him to suffer.  He is still
active, but he is staying closer to the rocks and inside his house
now, where as before he would swim all the time.

Thank You,
We hope you have the answers,
Monica and Pat

Answer
Hi Monica and Pat;

It could be as simple as constipation. Here are links to info about it with treatment options;

http://www.petfish.net/kb/entry/31/332/
http://groups.msn.com/TheBettaObsession/constipation.msnw
http://groups.msn.com/TheBettaObsession/epsomsaltbath.msnw
http://www.healthybetta.com/articles/Illness%20Diagonsis/constipation.html

At Your Service;
Chris Robbins