Gold barb bloated and exposed gill

[Joebt]

Initially I thought she was pregnant due to swelling that did not affect her swimming and kept getting bigger For a few weeks. Guessing she is a female due to her paler, less vibrant coloration. Yesterday she started having issues swimming. Today one of her cheeks covering the gills appears to be receding, exposing more red.
My 26G tank is planted, has been established for 2 years, 25% water changes/2 weeks, no deaths in the past 8 months, parameters are
GH 120 ppm
KH 50 ppm
PH 7.0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 20-30
Using API 5 in 1 test strips.
Temp is 82
5 gold barbs
2 fancy guppies
1 green black barb
1 pleco

Haven't tried feeding her cooked pea yet in case it is a swim bladder issue.

 

[Fishdude3233]

2 things buy the API master kit and get rid of the pleco they are pooping machines.LOL

 

[Joebt]

2 things buy the API master kit and get rid of the pleco they are pooping machines.LOL

Funny you say that. I was thinking the same thing.

 

[Joebt]

2 things buy the API master kit and get rid of the pleco they are pooping machines.LOL

But that doesn't help my two swollen fish. Switched up their diet to see if that helps. No luck.

 

[Vatilla]

Try fasting for three or four days, then very small and once daily feedings for another two. See if that helps her at all.

 

[Joebt]

Try fasting for three or four days, then very small and once daily feedings for another two. See if that helps her at all.

I have a planted tank, and ghost shrimp and no QT. problem is they will eat anything, to include all of my plants. Looks like every one is getting a diet. Perfect timing, over e weekend.

 

[Joebt]

Can someone post what a pregnant/ gravid gold barb looks like?

 

[Joebt]

Barb neither pregnant nor sick. She appears to have eaten fishing line used to hold driftwood down. Now to figure out how to get it off/out of her.