Fat, Floating Dinosaur Bichir

[c0ntr0v3rs14L]

My husband and I Have a 125Gal. Tank full of Tropical fish (Freshwater). We occasionally feed them Veggies, bloodworms, or brine shrimp that have been processed and frozen into small cubes.

We have a Dinosaur Bichir (about 5in) in a smaller tank with a couple of otocinclus. Last night, I got the idea to give him some of the frozen bloodworms. I thawed a cube and poured it into his tank, not thinking to cut it in half first (Thank you, sleep meds.) . Long story short, I'm pretty sure that Leviathan has over-indulged. He's swimming at quite an awkward angle (Tail up), and "parking" himself under the branches of plants or decorations to keep himself down. He's looking quite fat and a little lumpy underneath.

Has anyone encountered and successfully alleviated this situation before?

 

[IRONWOOD]

Try Epson salt, acts like a laxitive

 

[c0ntr0v3rs14L]

Amount per gallon?

 

[PaiLum92]

http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/f...-in-Polypterides-and-the-purposes-behind-them

&

http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/f...d-health-issues-and-answers-(reference-guide)

Should be something in there about your Senegal floating. Usually that happens when they eat floating foods, but not sure about Blood Worms. Maybe he just has some trapped air.

P.S, wrong section, 'Dinosaur Bichir' is a common petshop name for a Polypterus Senegalus, or Senegal for short. Its not an Eel, but a Poly, or Bichir. Youll find a lot more info about your little guy here; http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?108-Polypterus...

Also, if you have an otocinclus, you may want to watch it, algae eaters are notorious for latching onto Bichirs and sucking off thier slime coat, which could lead to a dead Senegal.

 

[eklikewhoa]

I believe ocats are safe for just about any tank, it is the CAE-chinese algae eaters that destroy slime coat.

 

[eklikewhoa]

Amount per gallon?

I personally use 1tbsp per 5gal and only replace what you remove during a water change.

 

[rgonzales]

I believe ocats are safe for just about any tank, it is the CAE-chinese algae eaters that destroy slime coat.

O cats may be fine but the bichir may eventually eat them

 

[eklikewhoa]

O cats may be fine but the bichir may eventually eat them

They need to be removed somehow after they have exhausted their usefulness, buy a bunch of them to ensure survival rate during the time of need and watch them get picked off one by one.

 

[rgonzales]

They need to be removed somehow after they have exhausted their usefulness, buy a bunch of them to ensure survival rate during the time of need and watch them get picked off one by one.

Im more worried about the o cat spines hurting the bichir

 

[eklikewhoa]

My tropheus has eaten a few ocats and I haven't lost any yet.

I buy a bunch for my planted tanks and when they're done I net them one by one into my troph tanks. Some make it, others are done for as soon as they hit the water.