Oh no! Help needed! Stuffed betta.

Yesterday, I put one of those TetraVeggie algae wafers in my tank for my mystery snail to munch on. I left it in overnight and throughout today, figuring the snail would finish it up, even though it was all soggy and water-logged. Never in a million years did I think that my betta Flame would be trying to eat it while I was gone! This evening, I looked in the tank and what was left of the algae wafer is in tiny bits and pieces all over the tank (probably due to Flame tearing it up). I saw Flame grab some bits and eat them so I know he was chowing down! And now poor Flame's stomach is hanging down in front! He looks deformed and he acts uncomfortable. I don't know if that's his stomach hanging or his swim bladder. I feel just awful! Algae wafers are all veggies -- I didn't think that a betta would touch it! I hope he doesn't die. Does anyone have any suggestions? Should I not feed him in the morning? I just vacuumed the tank to clean it up. Maybe I shouldn't have ever gotten this snail. Flame has not built a bubble nest since he arrived and is very distracted by him.

Another question for you guys. Is there a way to keep a tank algae-free without a snail? The snail leaves more waste in the tank than I ever expected plus every time I put any kind of food in there for the snail, Flame tries it. I put a tiny piece of spinach in the tank a couple days ago and Flame immediately took a bite. I saw him spit it out but who knows how much of this stuff he actually ingests. I know bettas aren't supposed to eat that stuff. I am really tempted to find my snail a new home. I would really appreciate anybody's thoughts out there. By the way, I do feed Flame, even though he acts like he's starved. He gets about five flakes of BettaMin in the morning and sometimes a bloodworm.

Try not feeding him for a day or 2 and he should go back to normal size, if he is having trouble pooping try a pea.

I'd follow Strom's advice. Get some moss balls for your tank - they are a form of algae (which won't spread, just stay in nice balls) that will outcompete the tank algae for food, therefore the glass should remain pretty much clean

Yeah, my son over-fed my fishy yesterday and he got HUGE. This morning was a big pile of fishy poo and he seemed back to normal size, even without the help of a pea which I was ready to use if I had to.

So yeah, just as they say, just keep an eye on him and wait till he's back to normal size and if he's still huge after, I think, 36 hours then do the pea thing (cook, skin off, and mush the insides). He should be just fine ^_^

Thank you! He's starting to look better. I'll see about buying some moss balls.

Moss balls are great I used to get terrible algae in the puffer tank as it's under a window... I hardly have any now!

Would one moss ball be adequate for a divided 37L or should I divide the moss ball for each side?

I hope Flame is feeling better, Sienna. I also thought snails would be a great idea for algae eating but they're so slow at it, and they make so much mess! I only keep a few small zebra snails in my tanks now, and they poop to high heaven *grrr*. Mossballs are deffo the way to go! If none fo your lfs's have them, you could probably pick them up for a good price on eBay.

I'd say you need around 3 or more mossballs for a 35L tank for them to really be effective. I have 15 mossballs in my 85L tank, 1 gigantic one and 2 small ones in my 60L, 3 in my 18L and 4 in my 35L breeding tank. The more mossballs the better IMO, and they looks so nice and bettas love laying on them (well my lazy ones do!) ^^

Size is relative so hows this for comparison?

Lg/X-Lg =Tennis ball
Med=Golf ball
Sm=Ping pong ball

Sounds about right! xlg though is larger than a tennis ball, maybe the size of a man's clenched fist (my biggest one is ridiculously gigantic).

Do they grow fairly fast?

Mine have grown in diameter by about 2cm and I got them maybe 2months ago.

Thanks Jessie! If I get them at the lfs they are about 5lbs.(we have a dollar sign here instead of the lb. symbol) each for golf ball size.

Lol, do you mean the weight lbs or do you mean British currancy which is pounds ££? If you mean a mossball that weighs 5lbs that'd be MEGAMOSSBALL!! Lol :-)

jessie1602 wrote:Lol, do you mean the weight lbs or do you mean British currancy which is pounds ££? If you mean a mossball that weighs 5lbs that'd be MEGAMOSSBALL!! Lol :-)

with my tap nitrates being so high my moss balls are growing really quicky and are a lush colour

LOL! I meant British pounds!. It got lost in the translation!

There are some great moss balls on eBay! I'm getting some from there. I think my snail is going to go in a separate tank or bowl. He is so cute I hate to get rid of him...

The moss balls on ebay are such good value - so much cheaper than the shops!