I am so sick of the BLOAT!!!

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scottgeeze

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Mar 5, 2007
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Michigan, U.S.A.
I have been trying to get my tank's up for seven years now. I have always liked African Cichlids and have always kept them because of their color and body shape. I have finally had it because every time I get them and get my hopes up they develop the bloat after 6 or 7 or 8 months:irked: .I am so sick of the bloat that finally after 7 years I have decided to go with South American cichlids even though they have less color. African cichlids NEVER used to be this sickly and I'm tired of this !t! I have always done water changes and cleaned the filter as needed and all of the other stuff that you have to do to keep them healthy. I talked to the woman who works at the local fish store to see if it was a fact and she said that it was and that she didn't exactly know why it was (inbreeding) or whatever, but she did say that the fish aren't as healthy as they were even five years ago. W.T.F., start breeding healthy fish for god's sake!!!!!!!! I'm sick of this !!!!!!.:irked:
 
I have many quite a few african cichlids and haven't had a single problem with bloat. Maybe you're feeding them the wrong thing?
 
scottgeeze;971817; said:
I feed them a varied diet (flakes, pellets, bloodworms) but I still get it. Maybe it's just the cichlids in Michigan. It's Bulls*#t!!!!:irked:
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If you research protozoan parasites i.e. bloat & alike ailments you well find that the possibility of such is w/ all fish no matter where they're from. Research has found this problem all over the world, in all rivers, all lakes & all oceans etc. I hope you have read all you can about the common related issues, because it can be avoided w/ certain strict procedures in handling & caring for your fish. Personally I stopped feeding my African Cich's "frozen" bloodworms, PERIOD. I fed them "frozen" bloodworms for 20+ yr.'s & then in the last few yr.'s every time I try feeding them even the smallest amount of "frozen" bloodwrms for any extended period of time I can't seem to avoid a break out of bloat. Just a thought. I know plenty of folks make them part of they're main diet & for some reason they're fine w/ it, but since I've completely stopped I have yet to have any problems, while maintaining proper water changes & general care, removal of fish to quarantine immediately when there is any suspicion of any problem, along w/ absolute 30 day quarantine for new fish, how many of us can really say we do this & yet it could save entire communities if done so absolutely. It's really a "big picture" scenario situation. There are many biologist who have begun to insist that much like cancer dwells in all of us, it's just "turned on" in some of us for varying reasons, protozoan parasites that are part to blame for the intestinal blockage that is related to bloat is present in all fish & "turned on" by a certain series of stressor's that can be avoided if proper care is strictly followed. Please don't get me wrong, I'm sure you take very good care of your fish, but so do I & it took allot of searching to come close to an answer for my particular prob. w/ bloat & the reverse, which is like a progressive emaciation problem that generally like bloat leads to death. Just a few thoughts I hope might help, if not you maybe someone, that's the hope at least :) :) :)
 
I have always been under the impression that bloat is dietary not a filtration issue. The only bloat death that I had was a herbivore African in an omnivore/carnivore tank with a way too high meat diet.
If it is a Michigan fish store problem I hope you do not live in SE michigan (cause I do!)
 
Bloodworm with the wrong African can definitely give you bloat. As will a high protein pellet diet. I usually make my own mix and fast at least one day a week but even if you dont, I recommend you add some elodea or duckweed as food & fiber.

But S Americans are nice too.
 
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