Bloated red phantom

[Bish67]

One of my three red phantoms is extremely bloated...so much so that his eyes are protruding out too. The tank is 10 gallon...with 9 other fish....tetras and phantoms...all are well.
Tank is fully cycled ....water tested this morning and is near perfect with a PH of 7.2.
The poor phantom is struggling to swim...and eat and spends its time in the plants. Whats wrong with him...i assume its a condition rather than a disease?Not sure??Help please?

 

[Aqualove]

One question... Are his scales protruding from his body? In other words does he look like a pine cone? If so he has dropsy. Which is a condition where in poor habitat conditions or temperature changes or stress.I have a platy going through dropsy and I have given her a tablet called fungus guard which sounds weird but, that's what it is for. She seems to be doing better.
I hope this solves your problem.
Also that is a lot of fish in a 10 gallon which means he could have dropsy because of stress.

 

[Bish67]

Thank you for reply....scales were protruding yes...sadly he went to the huge aquarium in the sky last night

 

[Wiggles24]

Make sure you do a large water change. I agree that it sounds like dropsy brought on by poor water, you have too many fish in a 10 gallon.

 

[Aqualove]

Sorry about his death. Yeah you definitely have way to many fish.

 

[Bish67]

9 fish in a 10 gallon tank is too many....isn't general rule of thumb one inch of fish per gallon? Though I know there is no hard and fast rule...just thought that smaller fish would be ok?

 

[Aqualove]

Well phantoms are 1 1/2 inches so that makes 9 too many and that is generally the rule but you still wan some extra room.

 

[Fishanatic]

9 fish in a 10 gallon tank is too many....isn't general rule of thumb one inch of fish per gallon? Though I know there is no hard and fast rule...just thought that smaller fish would be ok?

That one inch of fish per gallon rule is really not something to base on. I would never use it. It makes no sense. You cant put a 12'' goldfish in a 12gallon, and you cant put it in a 50 gallon either, even for small fish, they grow 25%-80% of they're size. All i can say is to use you're common sense, it works a lot better.

 

[Bish67]

Thanks a lot for your replies

 

[Fishanatic]

Thanks a lot for your replies

That's what were here for

 

[Bish67]

I know...and its(and people like you) are a god send