loach sick? What to do?

[current516]

I just noticed that one of my zebra loaches has a swollen stomach and seems lethargic. He's just kind've sitting on the bottom.

My other fish seem fine. I'm going to try to do some research and figure it out. I dont want to over- or under-react, does anyone have any ideas?

Is this something that could spread to my other fish? Do I need to act fast? What should I do?

thanks

 

[Satsumas]

Im no expert but i know that loaches do get fat. Its normal, especially with Clown loach.

I dont know a lot about Zebra's (Striata) but my brother has 3 young zebra's that dart about together from time to time.

What size is your sick one? I think once they get to a certain age or size, lazyness kicks in. I have a really fat yoyo and he sits ALL DAY! under his wood and comes out, zipping around at night.

Also could he have been overfed?

 

[crazycat]

my loaches spend a lot of the time lying on the bottom of the tank "resting". often they look dead--lying on their sides completely not moving--until i start to freak out--and then they twitch just a little so i know they're alive. lazy buggers!

 

[current516]

hmm…

Now it's swimming aroud and eating, but its stomach is still swollen. Maybe constipated? Don't know it it's male or female. Could a she be swollen with eggs? hmm... maybe I'm worrying too much.

 

[current516]

Also could he have been overfed?

I guess so? I try not to overfeed but can't control the number of snails it might have eaten. I just put in some new plants yesterday. Maybe it over-indulged on hitchhikers.

 

[Wizzard~Of~Ozz]

I think I read that Epsom Salts (Magnesium Sulfate) is good for constipation (and plants).. perhaps adding a little wouldn't hurt anyway..

How big is "swollen", could it be "I ate too much" swollen?

 

[current516]

How big is "swollen", could it be "I ate too much" swollen?

It's an odd looking swollen, but maybe it just ate too much. I guess I'll just keep an eye on it.

 

[Satsumas]

I think it may have just ate too much. Although if there are other loaches then either they didnt eat any snails or you have a lot of snails to go round.

I'f just wait and see how it is tomorow im guessing all the snails are gone or will be soon. So i think it'll be fine, just needs to let the snails digest.

If the loach did eat loads then i find that quite funny, its clearly just stuffed its face full of snails! lol

 

[crazycat]

you could try throwing a couple of peas in there (shell them first)--they are good for unblocking constipated fish--and your loaches will definitely go for them.

 

[Lonewolfblue]

Try some peas, they work wonders if they will eat them.

 

[crazycat]

lone wolf--JINX!

 

[Lonewolfblue]

lol

 

[current516]

Loach OK. Maybe I am overfeeding?

Loach seems OK now, even though I didn't have any peas to give it. It still looks a little fat, but it doesn't look swollen anymore.

ugh. Now I'm thinking that I have been overfeeding! That could explain my cloudy/greenwater problem that keeps popping up, right? I thought I just hadn't found the proper balance between CO2, Light, etc.

 

[iamchris]

Is it possible at all that it's dropsy? Or is that a Betta-only problem?

 

[crazycat]

dropsy is a disease common to a lot of fish. but it doesn't reeally sound like dropsy. it sounds like the loach overindulged. cut down on the feeding--loaches are really good scroungers and will always find plenty to eat.

how is he doing now?

 

[current516]

how is he doing now?

It's looking OK now. Thanks.

No more swollen belly. Most likely overfeeding, that's why I posted that question about feeding.