Severum big belly?

[EccelaEkaj]

Just recently got this Red Spotted Severum a few weeks ago he’s about 2.5 inches and he seems perfectly healthy. The past few days his belly has grown a bit and I’m curious if it’s bloating or not. not showing any signs of bloating still eating like a big and actively swimming throughout the tank. Also noticed a faint black bar showing up by his tail, any idea what that is?

 

[neutrino]

Imo it would be very unusual for a severum to bloat, I've never seen it and I've had a lot of them. I suspect there would have to be a fairly advanced illness with other symptoms at that point. The fish in the background also has a bulging belly, a little less extreme, maybe, but it's obvious. I suspect cutting back on feeding would help, something you'd have to do even if it was bloat, as in step #1. It's also step #1 in preventing bloat when fish are eating so much they get bulging bellies. I simply don't allow fish to eat like pigs, period. if you cater to them overeating you can create health issues, including bloat.

In fact, at this point I'd cut way back on feeding until the belly flattens out.

 

[ryansmith83]

The red spotted/super red severums do bloat easier, mainly because a lot of them have a shorter spine and are more short-bodied than normal Heros.

Your best option is to add Epsom salt at 1 tablespoon per 10 gallons as a laxative. It should be effective within 24 hours if it's going to help. My super reds that bloated did not survive, unfortunately.

It could also be an internal bacterial infection. Usually it would show other symptoms and it would get progressively worse over the course of several days. If the fish has been eating regularly it's likely not a bacterial infection. It probably would have acted sick before the stomach got this bloated.

 

[EccelaEkaj]

The red spotted/super red severums do bloat easier, mainly because a lot of them have a shorter spine and are more short-bodied than normal Heros.

Your best option is to add Epsom salt at 1 tablespoon per 10 gallons as a laxative. It should be effective within 24 hours if it's going to help. My super reds that bloated did not survive, unfortunately.

It could also be an internal bacterial infection. Usually it would show other symptoms and it would get progressively worse over the course of several days. If the fish has been eating regularly it's likely not a bacterial infection. It probably would have acted sick before the stomach got this bloated.

He still is acting perfectly normal and eating as much as he can so I think I’m over feeding them. I’m gonna cut out their pellets for awhile and only feed them omega one flakes until their bellies flatten out

 

[EccelaEkaj]

Imo it would be very unusual for a severum to bloat, I've never seen it and I've had a lot of them. I suspect there would have to be a fairly advanced illness with other symptoms at that point. The fish in the background also has a bulging belly, a little less extreme, maybe, but it's obvious. I suspect cutting back on feeding would help, something you'd have to do even if it was bloat, as in step #1. It's also step #1 in preventing bloat when fish are eating so much they get bulging bellies. I simply don't allow fish to eat like pigs, period. if you cater to them overeating you can create health issues, including bloat.

In fact, at this point I'd cut way back on feeding until the belly flattens out.

Sounds good, I’ll cut out the pellets for awhile and stick with smaller servings of omega one flakes until their bellies flatten out. not worried about it being bloat really as they still act normal and eat normally

 

[neutrino]

Sounds good, I’ll cut out the pellets for awhile and stick with smaller servings of omega one flakes until their bellies flatten out. not worried about it being bloat really as they still act normal and eat normally

Good move imo.

Not disagreeing with Ryan on short bodied fish or certain types being more susceptible. In either instance, bloat or overfeeding, cutting back on feed is important. Overfeeding is a cause of bloat, not the only one, but one of the main ones, a common one that often flies under the radar, which is why I mentioned the other fish with the bulging belly-- somewhat obvious clue imo.

Stress, pathogens, aggression can also be causes, but typically include other symptoms of stress or illness ime, besides a fat belly. But-- a chronically fat belly can lead to bloat. It's not always that you're overfeeding the whole tank, some individual fish are pigs and overeat individually. Even so, you need to address it to prevent bloat. If you've got a fish more susceptible to bloat than average this becomes even more important.

Epsom salt not a bad idea, wouldn't hurt either way, could help empty out an overloaded digestive system, though at least for me, putting a pig fish on a diet is often enough if it hasn't progressed to something more than a fat belly.