- Have you tested your water?
- Yes
- If yes, what is your ammonia?
- 0ppm
- If yes, what is your nitrite?
- 0ppm
- If yes, what is your nitrate?
- 20ppm
- If I did not test my water...
- ...I recognize that I will likely be asked to do a test, and that water tests are critical for solving freshwater health problems.
- Do you do water changes?
- Yes
- What percentage of water do you change?
- 21-30%
- How frequently do you change your water?
- Every week
- If I do not change my water...
- ...I recognize that I will likely be recommended to do a water change, and water changes are critical for preventing future freshwater health problems.
Our Albino Bristlenose "Meringue" (a little over 3 years old) lives in an established 60L tank. Over winter this year we had a little trouble keeping the tank temperature from dipping during regular water changes, and I believe this triggered her breeding cycle several times. She would get quite round and become lethargic for a week, ignoring food and hiding. Then, she'd have a burst of activity and become ravenous again. She has a healthy appetite most of the time, and she has wood in her tank for grazing.
Lately she has become extremely round and it's concerning me that she might be bloated, not just gravid. I'm looking for some second opinions on which it could be. She is currently eating, pooping, and generally being active and is quite a social fish. Just very round.
We typically feed twice a day, but only when she's asking for food and try to feed mostly vegetables. Her favourites are peas, but she also gets sweet potato, carrot, and broccoli. Cucumber/Zucchini is her mortal enemy. She doesn't really like algae wafers, and typically only gives them a nibble before abandoning it. We've stopped feeding wafers entirely in the last few days.
Our second Bristlenose "McFlurry" shares the same diet and hasn't shown any signs of bloat, but she was acting gravid once over winter.
PH levels:
Test results 29/9/2026 (Last water change 25/9/2026)
Algae wafer nutrition information:
Meringue pics (full of gravy?)
Older Meringue pic with a healthier shape.
Lately she has become extremely round and it's concerning me that she might be bloated, not just gravid. I'm looking for some second opinions on which it could be. She is currently eating, pooping, and generally being active and is quite a social fish. Just very round.
We typically feed twice a day, but only when she's asking for food and try to feed mostly vegetables. Her favourites are peas, but she also gets sweet potato, carrot, and broccoli. Cucumber/Zucchini is her mortal enemy. She doesn't really like algae wafers, and typically only gives them a nibble before abandoning it. We've stopped feeding wafers entirely in the last few days.
Our second Bristlenose "McFlurry" shares the same diet and hasn't shown any signs of bloat, but she was acting gravid once over winter.
PH levels:
Test results 29/9/2026 (Last water change 25/9/2026)
Algae wafer nutrition information:
Meringue pics (full of gravy?)
Older Meringue pic with a healthier shape.
