Bloat case #2

[Steve]

Lost my fav fish (Lab.Mbamba) on Monday to what I believe is bloat. I think this my be the next fish but it's not showing any other signs of it. On the advice of Tony (thanks Tony) I've been treating with Epsom Salt since Monday night and also have some Metro on the way to me which should be here soon so I will step it the treatment with that soon as it arrives and treat the whole tank.

But I wanted you guys to look at this fish and get your thoughts on if it wasn't bloat (i think it is though) then what else it could be. The only thing that has me confused is she/he has no other signs of bloat besides the swollen belly. It eats perfectly normal, no spitting out food, no hiding, no white waste, no redness around the vent, nothing besides the obvious swell. Water quality is ...

Ammonia - 0
Nitrite - 0
Nitrate - 10/20
Ph - 7.6
Kh - 4 drops (can't remember the conversion off hand)
Filter - XP3
Media - Matrix bio/Rena 30ppm/20ppm pads/polishing floss
Temps 79.8F
Food - NLS 1mm sinking pellets & Veggie kelp flakes feed twice per day what they eat in about 30 seconds (have since cut to once per day and only flakes for the time being)

30-40% water changes every 3rd day.

[four_by_ken]

I would like to hear what others say.  We had some trouble with our Victorian haps just like this.

[nismo_sky28]

If feeding sparingly with flake food only I would say yes to bloat.  Something I have also noticed with bloat it'iss that the stomach on the fish bloats out more on the sides as well as down compared to mainly just down when over fed. Once the fish shows that symptom it's often to late to save it. Keep treating with Epsom salt and treat with metro once you get it. Make sure to up the surface agitation if you can because oxygen levels drop when salt and meds are  added

[Marty]

If you have a small hospital tank, I would take the fish out and put it in there.  I would then take some small pellets put them in a small container like a cool whip container with water and a dose of metronidazole.  Soak the pellets in there for an hour and then feed to your sick fish.  This is provided that your fish is still eating.

[GrizzlysDad]

If you have a small hospital tank, I would take the fish out and put it in there.  I would then take some small pellets put them in a small container like a cool whip container with water and a dose of metronidazole.  Soak the pellets in there for an hour and then feed to your sick fish.  This is provided that your fish is still eating.

@Marty~he's waiting on the metronidazole to be delivered, so....this can't be done yet.
I also hope you aren't suggesting that he not treat the main tank....that would be a huge mistake IMHO.

[Marty]

Tony - I've been treating this way the last 3 times I've seen Popeye or Bloat.  I saved 2 out of the 3.  The only thing I did with the main tanks were water changes and add regular salt

[Steve]

There's no "downside" to treating the main tank though is there? Outside of just using up more meds because it's a larger tank? Because even though the others seem fine I just want to be on the safe side so unless there is a reason not to treat the main tank I plan on treating the whole thing when the Metro comes.

Also I was reading about bloat/treatments and read where meds like "clout" are not good in a tank that has Synodontios cats. Is the Metro going to be okay to use in my tank which has four Syno's in it?

BTW the fish is still the same, eating well and active...yet bloated looking.... Very strange.

[Michael Zebrowski]

As a preventative to bloat, I do not feed new fish for a few days until they are fully acclimated.  This is critical for West African Pelvicachromis and Nanochromis, which are detritus feeders in nature.  Seems their digestive systems shut down during shipping and any food consumed prior to system restart just spoils and results in an intestinal bacterial bloom.

My understanding is that once a fish starts spitting food, their kidneys are shutting down due to accumulated bacterial toxins and that results in the fluid build-up known as bloat.

Also I feed lighter rather than heavier and do not feed anything on Sundays.  This gives their systems time to clear. 

Once a fish bloats up, I do not treat it;  It's disposed of humanely.

Popeye, on the other hand, is treatable.

[Michael Zebrowski]

If the fish is eating well could it be an internal blockage or parasite?

[Steve]

If the fish is eating well could it be an internal blockage or parasite?

That's what I am wondering as well. Because it shows zero signs of bloat as far as "symptoms" go, it's just visually you can see the swelled belly. That's why I am a bit confused by it.

[Michael Zebrowski]

Wonder if it just ate too much and will thin down on it's own???  Doesn't really look/act sick.  Keep us informed.

[dbo2212]

Using Clout has worked for me.

[Steve]

I looked and I see the meds I ordered are in the next town over (allen park) which usually means Royal Oak is next. No I asked before but no one said...when I get the Metro tomorrow(today) can I treat the whole tank that has four Syno cats and be fine without worring about the cats? becuse I heard Clout is bad for snyo's...id Metro okay?

[GrizzlysDad]

I looked and I see the meds I ordered are in the next town over (allen park) which usually means Royal Oak is next. No I asked before but no one said...when I get the Metro tomorrow(today) can I treat the whole tank that has four Syno cats and be fine without worring about the cats? becuse I heard Clout is bad for snyo's...id Metro okay?

Metronidazole is okay Steve. Popeye treatment would be okay in a hospital tank but I strongly suggest treating the whole main tank for bloat. You already lost one fish that had the same visual symptoms as this latest fish. IMHO it's silly to move a fish to a hospital tank that is acting the same as the fish you already lost. If you just move the "sick" fish to a hospital tank, what do you do when the next one starts showing signs...move it too? (and possibly the next, and the next, etc.)
I just say, nip it in the bud and hit the main tank.

[Steve]

Thanks Tony, I plan to treat the whole tank tomorrow soon as the metro is in the mailbox, just wanted to make sure my Snyo cats would be fine. Thanks again.