Help, my bloated fish!!

[tizzo]

He is one of my fish in QT, undergoing hypo for 1 week and 2 days now. He mostly stays under this rock, so I don't see him much. This morning I look at him and he's all bloated!
What would cause this? All other tankmates appear "normal".
5/24/08

Today, 5/28/08

 

[perfectdark]

Tizz I have had this happen to 2 of my fish in my QT in the past. Both were different fish, one was a True Perc, the other was my white tail Pygmy angel. No one could answer my question difinitivly other than a gas bubble or an air bubble. Too much protein not enough greens when the pygmy had symptoms. And the perc was speculated as an internal infection. I knew it wasnt because it was now becoming more boyant, like a dobber. Very odd, but unfortunatly they both died.

 

[spanko]

Quote:
A more serious problem is pygmy angel bloat. The stricken fish develops edema and its body fills with fluid. This results in death in a very short time. The disease is most common in newly imported Centropyge angels, and may be the result of bacterial kidney disease. Internal bacterial diseases are extremely difficult to treat, usually requiring special antibiotic-treated foods.
Don't know what kind your fish is Tizz but maybe suffering the same kind of problem.

 

[perfectdark]

it looks like a lawnmower blenny, not sure how susceptible to that they are...

 

[spanko]

Quote:
There are several causes of kidney disease (also referred to in medical terminology as renal disease) in aquarium fish.
Bacterial infections
Numerous bacteria can infect fish, and if the infection becomes systemic (spreads throughout the body) the kidney is usually affected. The kidney may become enlarged and there may be an accumulation of fluid in the abdomen. Systemic bacterial infections often cause external signs as well, including skin ulcers and hemorrhages. Diagnosis is made through a bacterial culture or immunological tests. An antibiotic sensitivity test should be performed to determine the appropriate antibiotic. Many bacterial infections can be prevented through proper husbandry such as maintaining high water quality, providing good nutrition, and preventing overcrowding and other sources of stress.

 

[tizzo]

Well, I did a lot or research on hypo and the reason we can't leave them there for to long is because of kidney failure. So the fact that you guys are mentioning kidneys has me worried...
I may try to take him out and raise his salinity today in another tank...
These pics are only 4 days apart so I'm afraid to wait much longer.
Or should I treat the whole QT with some bacteria medications?? This sucks!

 

[spanko]

Haven't read the research on hypo and renal failure. I guess you cannot be sure then that is a bacterial infection if hypo is also a possible cause.
I guess if it were me I would begin the removal from hypo option, although I have not done it before don't you have to do it slowly over a period of time?

 

[tizzo]

Yes, it takes at least 5 days to raise the salinity.
BUt since his kidneys are already in a delicate state, I may go even slower.
I know that too can be a death sentence, but I can only do what I have control of... I really believe bringing him up faster would be like giving a NY strip and a Bud, to somebody who's been in a coma for a year, lol.

 

[spanko]

Yeah at this point probably nothing to lose. Reverse the hypo process and see how it goes. Good luck and keep us posted..

 

[tizzo]

Wow... Its amazing how much time and energy we hafta put into these fish!
I dont know how anybody, in THIS hobby, can even HAVE any "other" hobbies.
Well the blenny is in another qt with my dt dripping into it at one drop every 3 seconds. He went in at 1.008 and after dripping for 30 minutes... He's still at 1.008, LOL.
I will close the dropper at 1.009 unless it takes 12 hours.
Here's to hoping.
In the off chance that he does recover, I dont know what I'm gonna do with him. Maybe copper?

 

[spanko]

Is he a brand new fish, just is hypo as a quarantine function, or there because of an Ich outbreak in the display? If just in quarantine and it were me he would go into the display after getting him back to NSW/DT specs.
But that is just me.

 

[tizzo]

Well, this particular fish came from another hobbiests tank, and while I was observing his fish they flashed, darted and shook, so I am almost certain they had ick. I did not however see any spots, and one of the fish is a blue hippo.
BUT... That being said, while these fish were in hypo, my purple tang in my dt DID get ick...2 days ago.

So now ALL the fish... my 4 AND the 4 I recently acquired are all in my 125 QT undergoing hypo for 4 weeks from today.
But this little guy is in a 15 gallon rubbermaid bin all by himself being raised up very slowly. It took 2 hours to get his sg up .001. So I am happy about that.
As you can prolly tell, I have been nonstop busy with these tanks the past couple of days.

 

[tizzo]

Well, good news (I think) and bad news.
He SEEMS to look a little better, but he's still not eating.
He voluntarily comes out from his hiding spot every morning when the lights come on. He swims and perches on the powerhead.
He had gotten so swollen he looked like his skin was going to tear... Now he looks like he has residual blisters instead of the whole belly being swollen. And his color is very pale.
I havew been raising this SG .001 twice a day. One time it accidentally went up by .002, so now he is in 1.016.
I have been treating him with a double dose of Maracyn 2.
Here he is this morning. Any suggestions on foods to try would help. I've tried 2 different brands of sheets, a lot of different frozen, when he WAS healthy he didn't like the ones with meat in them.

 

[al mc]

Tiz...been away for a few days. Read your post about abs in Aquarium and linked back to here. I am truely amazed that that Blenny is still alive..good job!
I agree with the advice you have been given and suspect that he does have a renal disease (probably infection) that was exacerbated by the hypo.
Since kidneys regulate electrolyte balance (salts, etc.) in our bodies, if the kidneys are working poorly you can get fluid build up in the body. On top of that you need good kidney function when undergoing hyposalinity because the kidneys are forced to work harder to maintain the body's internal 'salt' level.
Sep is right on about a water change with fresh antibiotics added. Personally I would treat the guy for at least 5 days beyond when all visible symptoms are gone.

 

[beth]

Wow, that is really bizarre looking. Are you using a refractometer? How is your pH?

 

[sepulatian]

Wow Tizz, he is looking rough. Keep treating him. I have not seen anything this bad before. Seriously, we have seen some stuff but I have never seen this. Keep trying.

 

[tizzo]

Al mc, I do have a question for you but I am on my phone now with not much time. Please check this thread tomorrow.
Beth, yes refractometer.
Sep, he actually looks a lot better than he did. His body was so big it looked like his skin was gonna split! Now its just those blisters. I am getting my hopes up with him, but I shouldnt cause he's still not eating.

 

[sepulatian]

Originally Posted by Tizzo
http:///forum/post/2628910
Al mc, I do have a question for you but I am on my phone now with not much time. Please check this thread tomorrow.
Beth, yes refractometer.
Sep, he actually looks a lot better than he did. His body was so big it looked like his skin was gonna split! Now its just those blisters. I am getting my hopes up with him, but I shouldnt cause he's still not eating.
Are you adding any garlic to the food to entice him at all?

 

[tizzo]

Beth, sorry I missed it. I buffer the oN up to around 7.9, hasnt been higher than that much.
Sep, I tried garlic tonight. Seems when I put food in his tank he comes out (from his PVC) and swims around, but I never see him actually eat anything.
I have a minute so lemme try to ask my question...
Al Mc,
This fish is in 10 gallons of water.
the medicine is administered daily- 2 packets
day one was a double dosage- 4 packets
The instructions are that if on, say, day 3 you wanna do a 50% water change, you are to medicate the new water to match the old. So for 50% you'd put in 1 packet for day 1, 1/2 for day 2, and 1/2 for the third day before you put it back in with the fish.
That being said, if I continue the antibiotics for another 5 days, would you suggest I keep adding to the current water or is it possible to do a 50% water change and if so, am I to add 3 packets all at once to the new water?

 

[tizzo]

Beth, sorry I missed it. I buffer the pH up to around 7.9, hasnt been higher than that much.
Sep, I tried garlic tonight. Seems when I put food in his tank he comes out (from his PVC) and swims around, but I never see him actually eat anything.
I have a minute so lemme try to ask my question...
Al Mc,
This fish is in 10 gallons of water.
the medicine is administered daily- 2 packets
day one was a double dosage- 4 packets
The instructions are that if on, say, day 3 you wanna do a 50% water change, you are to medicate the new water to match the old. So for 50% you'd put in 1 packet for day 1, 1/2 for day 2, and 1/2 for the third day (totalling 2 new packets) before you put it back in with the fish.
That being said, if I continue the antibiotics for another 5 days, would you suggest I keep adding to the current water or is it possible to do a 50% water change and if so, am I to add 3 packets all at once to the new water?