Stomach Swollen

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PBirdsong

Aquarium Advice FINatic
Joined
May 13, 2005
Messages
692
Location
Denver, Colorado
So a couple of our fish appear to have a swollen abdomen. One of our angelfish's belly is twice the with of the rest of his body. Our pleco shows the same signs. Any ideas?

Already did a 70% water change. Every acts fine except the pleco. He has started to act "tired" today.
 
Fast the fish for a day, then feed peeled, blanched peas and fast for another day.

And please answer the flollowing Qs to ensure we have as much information as possible about your ailing fish and its environment:

1~What type of fish is afflicted? In addition, please describe what is wrong with the fish to the best of your ability (i.e. cotton like growth, bloated, etc.).
2~What are your tank parameters (ammonia, nitrites, nitrates, temp, pH)? Please give exact values.
3~ How large is the tank? How long has the tank been set up?
4~What type of filtration are you using? Please give the name and number (i.e. Fluval 304) and amount of gph if known.
5~How many fish are in the tank? What kinds of fish are they and what are their current sizes?
6~When is the last time you did a water change and vacuum the gravel? How often do you do this? How much water do you remove at a time?
7~How long have you had the fish? If the fish is new, how did you acclimate it/them?
8~Have you added anything new to the tank--decor, new dechlorinator, new substrate, etc.?
9A~What kind of food have you been feeding your fish, have you changed their diet recently?
 
1: Common Pleco, Angelfish
2: Ammonia 0; Nitrites 0; Nitrates 20; Temp 82f; ph 7.0
3: 55 Gallon. Up for over Seven weeks.
4: Undergravel Filter
5: 1 pleco (about 4 inches); Three Angelfish (about 1 1/2 inches); 1 Redtail Shark (under an inch); 4 Bala Sharks (about 2 1/2 inches); 4 Tiger barbs (about 1 1/2 inches) and one ramshead snail.
6: Last time was today. 70%. Usually we do a 20% every other week.
7: Two of the angel fish and two of the tiger barbs are only a week old.
8: no. Dechlorinator is added after every water change.
9: It alternates between: Bloodworms, tubifex worm cubes, brine shrimp flakes, srimp pellets, and tetramin flakes. The fish "fast" every Thursday.

Hope this helps. The fish are officially on a fast untill tomorrow night when we will feed them the peas.
 
After only one evening and one night of fasting the Angelfish are looking normal again. But the pleco still doesn't look all that great. He just kind of lays there and his stomach still looks swollen. Whenever he tries to attach himself to the glass he just starts to slowly slide down the glass.
 
Is there any other sign of disease on the pleco? Discoloration, deteriorating fins? Is the pleco active?
If there is no other signs, I think the peas may help. All the fish will eat them, so make sure you see the pleco getting a pea or two ;)
 
Just dropped peas in for the pleco (after the light was out). He is not active at all . . . the poor little guy. And there are no other signs of disease. Really weird. Hopefully he'll at least try eating the peas tonight. I'll report back tomorrow.
 
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