Help! My oscar has bloat!

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
Okay I will go get some in the morning. What medication should I get? Clout, metro etc?
 
I have always heard Clout is the way to go. I haven't had the misfortune to have to use it yet, but like I said, I just bought some today to have on hand. I believe it's also the least expensive of the two.

By the way, there are several opinions on what actually causes bloat. But, the leading consensus is feeding your Cichlids processed food high in fish meal or soft foods like brine shrimp. I heard sinking pellets are worse than floating pellets.

I started out by feeding my guys "meatier" foods like beef heart, shrimp, blood worms, etc. After I heard and read some bloat horror stories, I stay with flake foods, floating pellets...and an occasional treat of shrimp or frozen blood worms. Oh, I do feed mine thawed out frozen peas once in awhile too.

Good luck bro...
 
I Give him tilapia and shrimp occasionally. I'm hoping that is what caused this and with some epsom salt he'll be better.
 
I hope so too. Trust me, if there was any way possible I could hand you a bottle of Clout through the screen, I would do it.

Epsom salt isn't going to cure him. It will help "relax" him internally until more stringent measures can be taken. I did some quick reading during these posts and it looks like, by the time "Phase II" sets in (which is where we're at now), he has 24-72 hours. He is already going to suffer from some degree of internal damage. I will keep my fingers crossed and I know you will do everything you can for him.

Good luck!
 
Thanks for the help and kind words. This guy is a fighter. He had ich and the worst case of HLLE ( or HITH if you prefer) that I have ever seen when I got him. I think he'll pull through. If not I'll be devastated.
 
If I treat my tank with clout should I remove my rope fish and plecos?
 
I would do some quick Google searches before actually adding the medication. I remember reading something about shutting down filtration (I might be wrong, but that comes to mind)...therefore you would want your bio load as low as possible. He should be isolated anyway to help reduce stress.

There's plenty of good topics on the treatment of bloat and they all seem to agree on the procedures. I don't know enough to suggest what to do other than Clout is a known cure.

I hope he makes it man! Good luck today!
 
Any updates?
 
My LFS didn't have clout so I bought metro. I added a little more than recommended and I'm going to leave it him for three days and do a water change, then treat again. I also bought epsom salt. Should I add that as well?
 
Good job man, hopefully he pulls through. Since you were able to get the proper medication, I wouldn't treat with Epsom. It was more to hold him over until you were able to get the right stuff.

Keep us updated. Good luck!
 
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