It’s necessary to check the shape, size, and color of the poop that our pets produce, including betta fish. Poop is a significant indicator of digestive health.
Knowing what a betta’s normal poop looks like can help hobbyists know if something is wrong.
Normal betta poop is small and brown, though it might have some other color to it. White, large, or watery poops clearly show that something is wrong with the betta.
Providing small amounts of nutritious foods keeps a betta’s digestive system regular. It can also prevent illness.
Exercise is wonderful for digestive health, too.
Bettas commonly deal with constipation because their owners are prone to overfeeding them. Fortunately, constipation is relatively easy to correct and prevent.
Do Betta Fish Poop?
Betta fish poop like all animals, and their poop is a sign of health.
Not all new betta owners realize they poop because betta poop is small and gets lost in the substrate.
Betta Fish Pooping Habits
Owners may not see their betta’s poop because they hide it inside or behind a decoration.
The shy fish seem to prefer pooping behind their favorite plant or in a corner where they are mostly hidden.
Betta fish poop is small; many owners don’t notice it until it builds up in one area of the tank.
Hobbyists should search for betta poop while cleaning, even if they don’t immediately see it. Waste breaks down into ammonia and can make the water toxic. Regular cleanings at least once a week to remove poop is necessary for a healthy tank.
Some bettas aren’t as shy and will poop while flaring or swimming. In the wild, they may flare at other males while pooping.
Where Does The Poop Come From?
Betta fish have a small hole in front of their anal fin from which they poop.
How Often Do Betta Fish Poop?
Bettas poop a lot — about five to six times a day. They may poop more or less depending on how much food they receive and how healthy it is.
Cold Water Hinders Poop
Cold waters below 75°F (23.9°C) cause their metabolism to slow down, and they poop less often. Cold water may even lead to constipation if the betta eats more than their metabolism can handle.
Bettas are tropical fish that need warm waters between 75-81°F (23.9-27.2°C) to be happy and healthy.
Warm temperatures keep their metabolism regular and keep them pooping normally.
What Does Betta Fish Poop Look Like?
Betta poop is small and pellet-like. It looks a lot like the pellet food many caretakers provide their betta. Although betta poop looks like pellets, it’s often smaller than the food pellets they eat.
Bettas are ferocious eaters — they love food and aren’t likely to leave any sitting around the tank. Any “pellets” at the bottom of the tank are likely betta poop.
Most fish have long, stringy poop, making betta poop distinctive.
What Color Should Betta Fish Poop Be?
Like most fish, bettas have brown poop, though it tends to have a reddish tint.
Betta fish poop is not always uniform from fish to fish and varies with diet. It may be slightly redder, darker, or paler.
Hobbyists should use their instincts when unsure if their betta’s poop looks off. Poop color will stay the same if a betta receives the same healthy diet daily.
A color change may be cause for concern. It could also be from a new food they’ve eaten or a change in routine. Changes are concerning when there have been no changes in the fish’s life.
Foods like tubifex worms and bloodworms can turn the poop bright red. The vibrancy sometimes makes the poop look like blood and can be alarming, though it’s not cause for concern.
Likewise, brine shrimp can turn betta poop somewhat orange.
A betta with white or green poop is unhealthy and needs treatment.
Exercise Helps Pooping
Fish need exercise to remain healthy and prevent illness. Adequate exercise helps keep their digestion regular so they don’t become constipated.
Bettas are intelligent fish that become bored easily. They need plenty of mental stimulation.
Lethargy can signify many illnesses, though it can also signify simple boredom.
Bettas living in small bowls or tanks with few decorations will likely become bored. They won’t swim around as much, which can lead to stress and illness.
Hobbyists should keep their bettas in a tank no smaller than five gallons. Anything smaller than that prevents proper exercise.
Provide the fish with lots of plants and non-sharp decorations to encourage exploration. They are curious creatures that enjoy tubes, toys, and anything new.
Unusual Poop Is A Sign That Something Is Wrong
Poop should be brownish-red and small and round, like a ball. Betta poop that is any other color or shape indicates something is wrong with the fish.
Long, Stringy Poop
Stringy poop is not normal for bettas — it’s usually a sign of constipation.
Constipation is prevalent in betta fish as they are easy to overfeed. Overfeeding causes dehydration. It makes it difficult — sometimes impossible — for the betta to poop.
Huge, Round Poop
Bettas are small fish with small openings for their waste to exit. Large poop is not normal and can be a sign of constipation.
Watery Poop
Watery poop, or diarrhea, signifies a nutritionally-deficient diet or infection.
It is difficult to notice a betta with diarrhea — hobbyists usually need to catch their fish in the act.
Diarrhea that persists for over 12 hours is a bad sign that the fish is ill.
A Poor Diet
A poor diet is the easiest thing to correct. Low-quality foods are notorious for causing digestive problems.
Check the end date on the food container, and ensure a reputable brand makes the food.
Pick food that is made for bettas and is high in protein.
DO NOT buy food made for other species, like tropical fish flakes. These foods don’t contain enough protein.
Bettas are obligate carnivores that need lots of protein in their diet.
Pellets and flakes made good staple foods, though hobbyists should offer variety.
Offer live, frozen (thawed), or freeze-dried foods a few times weekly. Bloodworms and daphnia are particular favorites.
Daphnia tastes great to bettas. It also helps fish maintain healthy digestion because it’s full of fiber. We recommend feeding daphnia to constipated bettas to help move their digestion along.
Bacterial Or Viral Infection
Bettas eating a nutritionally-sound diet should not have diarrhea. Those who do likely have a bacterial or viral infection.
Hobbyists will need to track their fish’s other symptoms. They can help determine which kind of infection the betta has.
Once they know the type of infection, they can proceed with treatment.
White Poop
Seeing white poop often means that the betta isn’t eating. There is no poop to pass through their body. Their digestive system pushes out mucus instead, which creates the white-looking “poop.”
Bettas may stop eating due to stress from aggressive tank mates, poor water quality, or a small tank. They will also stop eating if they are sick or have an infection.
Correct their environment and treat any illnesses they might have. Usually, doing these things will encourage it to begin eating again.
When all else fails, try feeding them live foods which encourage feeding behavior. Bloodworms, daphnia, and brine shrimp are great for this.
Parasites
White poop is often a sign of internal parasites. The poop contains no food; instead, it comprises mucus from the fish’s digestive tract.
Even if they are still eating, they will not digest their food because the parasites consume it.
Bettas with parasitic infections often look overly thin with sunken stomachs.
Parasitic infections, like ich or velvet, need immediate treatment. Medication is often necessary to kill all the parasites in the tank.
Green Poop
Green poop is not usually as dangerous as white poop. It still signals digestive issues.
Red Poop
Betta fish poop naturally has a reddish tint, though it’s rarely bright red. Certain red foods can produce a bright red coloration in the poop.
Bright red poop that isn’t from food is cause for concern.
Black Poop
Likewise, black poop can occur due to the type of food the fish is eating. As long as the poop is consistently black, there is rarely anything to worry about.
Constipation — What If Bettas Don’t Poop?
Constipation is one of the most common problems that bettas face.
They are hearty eaters that don’t realize when they’re “full.” They’ll continue eating even if their stomachs can’t fit any more food.
Their habit of stuffing themselves makes them particularly easy to overfeed. Overfeeding is prevalent, especially among new owners who don’t know better.
We, as caretakers, must be careful not to overfeed our bettas.
Only feed bettas two to three pellets at each meal, and only feed them once to twice daily. Remove any uneaten food from the tank after two to three minutes.
Fortunately, constipation is easy to treat, especially when caught early.
Treatment For Constipation
Usually, it only takes one to two days of fasting to clear up constipation. Hobbyists can feed their betta some daphnia if fasting doesn’t work. Epsom salt baths relieve constipation if fasting and daphnia don’t work.
Aquarists should always address their betta’s constipation. It rarely goes away on its own. Without treatment, constipation can turn into bloat or swim bladder disease. These conditions are fairly easy to treat, though not as simple to clear up as constipation alone.
Constipation that occurs for too long can turn fatal once the fish cannot pass any feces.
FAQs
Does Betta Fish Poop Float?
Poop from a healthy betta fish does not float; it sinks.
The sinking nature of betta poop is why it’s often difficult to see in the tank. It blends in with the substrate well, and bettas tend to poop in private places where it’s less visible.
Betta poop that floats is likely a sign that something is wrong.
What Is The String Coming Out Of My Betta Fish?
Unhealthy bettas may have stringy poop, which is usually a sign of constipation.
Poop-like stringy material could be a parasite protruding from the fish’s body. Some parasites, particularly anchor worms, penetrate the skin. Most of their body hangs from the fish’s body.
How Do You Clean Betta Fish Poop?
The best thing for cleaning betta fish poop is a gravel vacuum. They are effective for sucking poop and other waste from between gravel.
Water changes are fast and easy with a gravel vacuum, and their clear, plastic tube makes them safe for fish.
