Bloated Jack Dempsey

[dlplunkett44]

I bought a few jack dempseys a few months ago. They all have looked fine, except for one. He/she looks very bloated at times, I've treated the tank with Marcyn II twice and added salt to the aquarium a few times as well. I've also fed all the fish in the aquarium antibiotic food (by Jungle Labs) for 12 days straight. It seems like the bloating will lessen at times when I'm treating but never goes away completely. I was thinking dropsy, but I'm not sure. Let me know what you think I should do.

 

[Lupin]

I don't think that is dropsy. What do you normally feed your fish and what is your feeding schedule? Focus on high fiber diet to flush out foods that may be trapped in the tract and encourage it to try consuming a couple chunks of epsom salt, or fast it for a few days and then switch to high fiber diet. Don't treat your fish with anything else especially aquarium salt.

 

[dlplunkett44]

ok, so feed it epsom salts directly? and what kinds of high fiber foods should i feed. I usually feed cichlid bio gold by hikari twice daily, as much as they'll eat in 2-3 minutes.

 

[Lupin]

Try vegetables. Peas work but they're a little sugary so other leafy greens are a much better option. You could always make gel foods to encourage him to eat using Knox gelatin and Gerber baby foods (vegetables). Add some smelts or shrimps (a small portion of the recipe) and then garlic to help increase his appetite there.

 

[dlplunkett44]

ok, so I've been trying to feed them vegetables, but they don't really like them, they'll eat a little bit, but most of it has to be removed later. I have to then feed them their usual (Hikari Cichlid Gold). It is 35% protein and 1.8% fiber. As for the salt, I've been dosing 1 tablespoon per 5 gallons for the past 2 days. I did a 50% water change today, and added 2 tablespoons of salt to make up for the loss (20 gallon tank). The bloated fish doesn't really look any better. Should I increase the salt concentration? Would an increase in temperature help (currently at 78F)? Is there anything else I can try?

 

[Lupin]

Are you using epsom salts? Sodium chloride will not help matters. Try making gel foods using vegetable-based Gerber baby foods. Keep temperature steady for now.

 

[dlplunkett44]

yeah, i'm using epsom salts

 

[Lupin]

Don't increase the salt concentration anymore. Keep it steady where it is and update us how the poop looks if the fish is still excreting wastes.

 

[dlplunkett44]

ok, i'm going to go to the store and buy some peas, maybe they'll eat that. I'll look at the baby food too. I haven't seen it poop in quite a while, but when I do I'll post an update. Thanks for your help so far.