Bloated featherfin (and other problems)

[Maxkolbe]

I came home today and my new featherfin syndontis was bloated. I feed him Omega one shrimp pellets so I was wondering if that is an improper diet?
I also pit a fish in my tank that brought in some unknown disease, however with the exception of my cobalt zebra I believe most were unscathed. My question is could the fish have introduced Malawi bloat and if so could a catfish contract it? If it's not Malawi bloat how do I treat it. Other than the gloating he appears fine though.

Also in the tank that I'm using to treat "Bruce" for mouth fungus I discovered a baby cichlid, (No idea how that got there?) is it Ok to leave him in during treatment.

i will be leaving soon for the LFS soon so it would be great if I could get a speedy answer so I can get any medication I need there, thanks in advance.

 

[Maxkolbe]

Here's some pictures of the featherfin.

 

[Nu-Nu the eel]

From the pictures he doesnt seem too bloated to me. Mine is pretty fat as well and kinda looks like yours

 

[Maxkolbe]

I was just worried since he looked normal before I went camping and when I got back he was bloated. What do you feed yours?

 

[Nu-Nu the eel]

Blood worms, mysis, and algea wafers..

 

[toddnbecka]

Bloating is caused by an intestinal blockage from bad diet, not a contagious disease carried by other fish. Most often affects mbuna, Tropheus, or other species (even some pleco's) that eat a mainly vegetable diet and have long digestive tracts. I feed NLS pellets and spirulina flake to all my fish, and have never had any bloating problems. My eupterus is as fat as yours though.

 

[Maxkolbe]

Would shrimp pellets be considered an improper diet?

 

[toddnbecka]

Synodontis really should have some veggies in their diet too. I wouldn't feed shrimp pellets to anything as a staple diet, and certainly not exclusively. They're actually one of the worst foods as far as balanced nutrition.

 

[Maxkolbe]

Ok, the guy at my LFS said that the oils in the shrimp pellets can cause bloat too so I bought some hikari bottom feeder tablets.
Does this sound like a good plan?

-starve for one to two days
THEN
-only feed shrimp pellets occasionally to mbuna and feed mostly bottom feeder tablets

 

[Maxkolbe]

Forgot to say I got a blue zebra at the LFS. I just love how active zebras are!

 

[toddnbecka]

I'd just switch to NLS pellets, they're one of the best foods available and won't cause problems for the mbuna either.