Feeding peas can help a betta fish that is suffering from constipation.Feeding betta fish peas is not recommended because they can't digest them properly.Peas can be used to treat many types of fish, including common pet fish like goldfish, but they need to be prepared properly to work.If you want to feed your betta peas, you will need to get them to the right temperature, take off their outer layers, and cut them into small pieces.
Step 1: In a microwave-safe dish, put 1 pea per betta and a small amount of water.
If you only have one fish, you will only need to feed it one pea per day.Once out of the freezer, place the pea in a small microwave-safe dish with a 2 inch (1.3 cm) of water in it.It doesn't matter what type of peas you have.Most peas will work, such as garden peas, snow peas and snap peas.Just skip the defrosting steps if you have fresh peas on hand.Betta fish can be bloated if it is fed more than one pea a day.
Step 2: The pea should be cooled in the microwave.
It can be done in the microwave.In order to get the pea soft enough for your betta fish to eat, microwave it for about 10 seconds at a time, checking to see if it thaws between each 10-second session.Microwaving it for a long time could cause the pea to be over cooked.You can thaw the pea by submerging it in a cup of warm water.It might be hot when testing the pea's warmth.If your microwave has a defrost mode, try it.This will warm up the pea.
Step 3: After microwaving, cool the pea down.
If you remove your pea from the microwave, you can either dunk it in cold water or keep it at room temperature.The pea is small so this should only take a few moments.If you want to give a betta fish a hot pea, take the time to make it cool.
Step 4: Remove the skin from the pea.
Try to remove the outer layer of the pea with your fingers.You can use a pair of tweezers to start tearing off the skin if you can't hold it easily.The pea's skin won't be fed to your betta so you can dispose of it.
Step 5: The pea should be cut into 8 pieces.
You should have a pea with 2 distinct halves once the skin is off.Break the 2 halves apart and then cut each half into at least 4 pieces with a small, sharp knife.It is important to cut the pea into 8 pieces to make it easy for the betta fish to eat.
Step 6: Take a piece of the pea and put it in your betta's tank.
Drop one piece of the pea into the water at a time.Gradually, they will lure the betta to the food.The pea will fall to the bottom of the tank.In most cases, your betta will be able to find it.
Step 7: Slowly add the pea pieces.
You want the fish to eat the entire pea over the course of a few minutes, but you don't want a lot of un eaten pea at the bottom of the tank.As your betta eats the pieces, keep adding pieces to the tank slowly.The betta would take in less air if each piece dropped below the surface of the water.You don't want the food to be left on the floor.Dropping food in front of the fish will make it eat it as it sinks down.
Step 8: Within an hour, remove any leftover pea pieces.
Use an aquarium net to remove leftovers from betta fish.The tank water will be polluted by your fish and they won't eat them.Don't stress your betta fish out if you take out the leftover pea gently.
Step 9: It's a good idea to look for signs of bloated stomachs.
You can usually identify a bloated fish by looking at its abdomen.Scales are sticking out from the betta's body, so look for a swollen stomach.The entire fish's body can be contorted.Many fish stop eating.The betta could turn upside down if it has a severe case of bloat.
Step 10: Peas can be used for mild cases of bloat and constipation.
Feeding betta fish peas is not a solution for a fish that is dying.It decreases the strain on the fish's system by decreasing the amount of food it eats and giving it some nutrition.It is not possible to cure bloat caused by genetic factors, but it can help a slightly ill fish.Feeding peas can help with bloat because the peas sink and the fish have to eat them off the bottom of the tank.This prevents the fish from taking in a lot of air as they eat.
Step 11: There are other treatments for bloat.
In some cases, betta owners try to hold back food for 24 hours to allow the fish to digest it.There are drugs that can be used to treat bloat in pet fish.Mild laxatives eliminate the pressure in the GI tract.Pet stores and online retailers should carry the medication for bloat in fish.
Step 12: Treat the underlying cause of betta fish bloat.
It is important to make changes after treating your betta's case of bloat.Most cases of bloat are caused by a fish having a diet that is too high in food.The most common cause of bloat for betta fish is dried out pellets.It is best to soak your betta's pellets for 15 minutes before feeding him, and it is a good idea to only give him 1-2 minutes of food.Before putting hard pellet foods in the tank, you can presoak them for 15 minutes.This will make it easier for the fish to digest it.If you soak your betta's pellets, you will be able to feed it more and make it a healthy weight.