Rosaline shark pregnant, constipated, or tumor?

[tinasmith1971]

Hey guys,
You've been so helpful in the past I'm hoping I could pick your brains again. My Rosaline shark has a huge belly and I'm not sure what to. It started over the summer and has increased in size since then. At first I thought it was a belly full of eggs but it wouldn't still be full months later, then I thought constipation but I would think she would be dead by now. Tumor?
They are 5 years old, water perimeters are all normal levels. It's a 75 gallon tank with live plants. They eat flakes and frozen blood worms.

 

[V227]

I've been keeping Roselines aka Denison Barbs for many years.
It seems that five years is a ripe old age for them. Mine haven't lived much longer than that.

I think there is a good chance in this case, fluids are being retained due to the beginning of organ failure. Bloat is the end result.

I currently have an older Rosy Barb experiencing similar symptoms. Once Bloat has reached such a stage, recovery is unlikely.

Here's a pic of the bloated Rosy.

 

[Andy Sager]

Hey guys,
You've been so helpful in the past I'm hoping I could pick your brains again. My Rosaline shark has a huge belly and I'm not sure what to. It started over the summer and has increased in size since then. At first I thought it was a belly full of eggs but it wouldn't still be full months later,

Actually, that's not true. Female fish once they become sexually mature carry eggs for the rest of their lives basically. What happens is they prepare some of their eggs for spawning when conditions become right for breeding but typically, if no breeding occurs during the cycle, they reabsorb the eggs. What seems to be happening in many breeds that are being farm bred and raised, the fish are not doing the reabsorbing so they look abnormally large.

then I thought constipation but I would think she would be dead by now.

This is true. Fish will usually stop eating once they get overly constipated.

Tumor?

Possibly but the shape is a bit odd for a tumor.

They are 5 years old, water perimeters are all normal levels. It's a 75 gallon tank with live plants. They eat flakes and frozen blood worms.

What it appears like is that the fish is filling up with fluids in the abdomen. This is usually from organ failure. There is a process you can try to help determine if the cause is going to be fatal:
The fish would need to be placed in a separate quarantine tank with Epsom Salt added to the water. Epsom salt ( not regular aquarium salt) will help with removing the fluids from the body. IF this is successful and some fluid is being removed, a treatment with the appropriate antibiotic ( based on water parameters) can be administered to address a possible disease pathogen effecting the internal organs. If the organs are not too badly compromised and heal, the fish should be able to remove the rest of the fluid on it's own. Once the fish has regained it's normal size, it can then be placed back in the main tank.

It's a shot in the dark approach but if the fish has been swollen like that for a while but the scales have not pineconed yet (as seen in advanced dropsy), there is a chance the fish can be saved. If this enlargement is just the fish being full of eggs, nothing I've described will hurt the fish. If the organs are too far gone but the Epsom salt helps reduce the swelling, the fish will not be able to move the fluids out on it's own and nothing I've described will have harmed the fish.
So the bottom line is that you are going to need to weigh the cost of doing all this vs the cost of replacing the fish once it passes because this should not be done in the main tank.

Hope this helps.

 

[tinasmith1971]

I think I may try and give the Epsom salt a shot. I have a 10gallon hospital tank I can move her too. How much Epsom salt is the appropriate amount? And if this is just eggs, will it eventually kill her if she can't reabsorb them. Her belly has been growing since around June and it's just getting bigger.

 

[Andy Sager]

I think I may try and give the Epsom salt a shot. I have a 10gallon hospital tank I can move her too. How much Epsom salt is the appropriate amount? And if this is just eggs, will it eventually kill her if she can't reabsorb them. Her belly has been growing since around June and it's just getting bigger.

I'd do this: for the initial treatment, do these 2 things:, 1) make a dip/bath of 1tablespoon of Epsom Salt per gallon of water in one container. ( You may need to use more than one gallon of water depending on the size of the fish. ) I like to use a white 5 gal bucket for this so you can see through the bucket to observe the fish. Supply aeration with an air stone. 2) Measure out 5 gallons of water into the 10 gal tank and add 1/8 teaspoon of Epson Salt to that. If your current main tank's water contains a low nitrate level ( less than 10 ppm), use tank water for both the dip and the 10 gal. If the water has a high nitrate level (greater than 10 ppm), use a mix of tank water and new water to get the nitrate level under 10 ppm in the 10 gal. The key is to have a measured amount of water. No guessing.
step 1: Place the fish in the dip for 15-30 minutes. If the fish reacts poorly after the first 15 minutes, place the fish in the 10 gal tank at the 15 minute mark. If the fish is okay at the 15 minute mark, try to keep it in there for the full 30 minutes.
step 2: After the dip, place the fish in the 10 gal. Make sure you have aeration in the 10 gal. You will need to test daily for ammonia in this tank and do water changes with water treated with the Epsom salt to keep ammonia no higher than .25ppm. You will be observing this fish for approx. 7-10 days to look for reduction in size.

You want to set up the 10 gal as I describe in this thread: Quarantine tanks and Hospital tanks, are they really different? Post #2- hospital tanks.

Lastly, if there is no change, there is a slight chance ( due to how long you've had the fish) that the fish has an intestinal worm which is growing. You would have the option of treating the fish with a dewormer like Fritz Expel-P or Fritz Paracleanse if there are no results with the Expel-P. I would be cautious about this approach however as the chances of this being a worm is minimal but not zero and a more extreme and costly treatment. If you choose this route, you want to do this in a bare bottom tank so that if a worm is the cause, you want to see it being expelled from the fish.
Any further questions, just ask.
Hope this helps.

 

[tinasmith1971]

Awesome! Thank you for all the detailed info. I'll try it. Just realized these guys are turning 6 so hopefully it's not old age and can be treated.

 

[Andy Sager]

Awesome! Thank you for all the detailed info. I'll try it. Just realized these guys are turning 6 so hopefully it's not old age and can be treated.

Fish in captivity can have much longer lives than what is reported in the wild. That said, they are on the old side, based on average of barbs in general, which is why I suggest the Epsom salt treatment over the medications because it's a more gentle treatment. If it helps, it will just make life a bit easier for the old timer.
Keep us posted.