Prolonged, extreme bloating

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
M

moonstruckmuse

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Jul 10, 2007
49
0
0
NJ
This is crossposted in AC, but didn't get much in the way of help there. Hopefully one of you guys has seen something like this before?

VIDEO HERE: http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v153/jadedmoonlight/issues/?action=view&current=MVI_0780.flv

IMG_0775.jpg
IMG_0765.jpg


Quick recap of his past:
Lived in 46g with severums, balas, SAE, some big barbs, etc. Was going to get moved up soon.
Developed small bump over ONE YEAR AGO. Thought it was a food bump, ignored it because behavior was still great. Went back to college.
Came home to find that it ballooned to this current size. Seems to have stayed consistent at this size for over 4 months.
Put him into Quarantine Tank - has been there for 4 months.
Ate shrimp pellets, prawns, tilapia, salmon, bloodworms, occasional worm, etc.
Still very active, as you can see in the video.
Bump only on ONE side. Has a tiny bump/wart on the top part of that curve.
No pineconing. scales appear stretched out over the area.

Treatment thus far - over the span of several months, haha.
-Tried water changes, lots, for around a month.
-Tried Praziquantel (PraziPro) because it worked on one of the other fish that we had just gotten in with worms. No effect on him.
-Tried to change his diet - specifically, tried to get him to eat peas and such. He wouldn't, so maybe someone can suggest something there?
- Tried a treatment for bloat with Metronidazole, as listed on this forum.

Any ideas on what it could be? I want to get him out of QT. he's always been a super interactive and adorable guy, and I'm not sure what to do! I just feel like it's unethical to keep him cooped up like that if it's not contagious (like cancer or something), but I don't want to find out it's some strange strain of parasites. 3 MONTHS in quarantine sucks. =(
 
If those meds didn't work, I'm guessing that it could have swallowed a gravel before that it happened. Then it got an internal infection inside and just gotten worst over the months. I wouldn't call it a bloat as the swimming style seems normal to what a bloated bichirs usually swim with it's tail up and have a trouble swimming.

Try to warm up the temp to 86-88F. Do 70% water change and add salt about 1tsp per 1g.
 
Hm, the gravel thing does seem possible. If that's the case... is there any way to pass the gravel, or is he always going to have it inside him? Haha.

I didn't realize they can go up to 86-88 safely. I'm not trying to doubt you, but can anyone else confirm that bichirs are comfortable at those temperatures? I'll do the salt and the water change shortly.
 
moonstruckmuse;3808702; said:
Hm, the gravel thing does seem possible. If that's the case... is there any way to pass the gravel, or is he always going to have it inside him? Haha.

I didn't realize they can go up to 86-88 safely. I'm not trying to doubt you, but can anyone else confirm that bichirs are comfortable at those temperatures? I'll do the salt and the water change shortly.
Click to expand...


If king-el tells you to shop the head of because it will grow a new one, it will.. (His tank is what you call extreme circumstances and he is very knowledgable) nah, jokes aside, they are comfy at real high temps!

I really hope for the best but I can only see this one ending one way.. sorry!
 
Haha, sounds good. I'll keep him nice and toasty then.

I hope for the best too. I thought he was a goner when I saw the little bump, but it's been a bit over a year now, with it staying the same for the last few months, which really confuses me. I was happy to let him live out his life in the QT, but now it's just been so long it seems a bit stupid.
 
How long would you suggest having the temperature elevated? Is this a lifelong condition (however long his life may be)?
 
moonstruckmuse;3808702; said:
Hm, the gravel thing does seem possible. If that's the case... is there any way to pass the gravel, or is he always going to have it inside him? Haha.

I didn't realize they can go up to 86-88 safely. I'm not trying to doubt you, but can anyone else confirm that bichirs are comfortable at those temperatures? I'll do the salt and the water change shortly.
Click to expand...
King-eL knows what he's talking about.

I keep mine at 84-86 steadily.



I hope the best for you... Good luck.
 
moonstruckmuse;3808702; said:
Hm, the gravel thing does seem possible. If that's the case... is there any way to pass the gravel, or is he always going to have it inside him? Haha.

I didn't realize they can go up to 86-88 safely. I'm not trying to doubt you, but can anyone else confirm that bichirs are comfortable at those temperatures? I'll do the salt and the water change shortly.
Click to expand...

My bichirs were able to survived 96F last summer and they went super hungry every time.

How long would you suggest having the temperature elevated? Is this a lifelong condition (however long his life may be
Click to expand...
Just steady the temp till it's gone.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
MonsterFishKeepers.com
Top Bottom