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Tank size:
pH:
ammonia:
nitrite:
Hi i'm new to this forum but here is my problem ... my pleco is 2+ years old ..and his stomach looks really big ... hi acts normal ,havent seen im eat anything and tryed some medication ,recomendet at local pets shop ... is calles SULFATHIAZOLE,and also tryed some antibiotics ...

nitrate:40
kH:120
gH:75
tank temp:80-82

Fish Symptoms (include full description including lesion, color, location, fish behavior):
everything looks good ,but his stomach ----- its 10 times MORE THAN HIS NORMAL SIZE
Volume and Frequency of water changes:

Chemical Additives or Media in your tank:SULFATHIAZOLE,antibiotics

Tank inhabitants:BARB<CAT FISH<SILVER DOLLAR

Recent additions to your tank (living or decoration):NOTHIG!

Exposure to chemicals:

Digital photo (include if possible

has he been going for air to the top at all, sometimes they get too much air in their stomach and it causes that, i have seen it in gold fish and when they swim theyswim kind of upside down. Is your pleco showing these signs?

no hi seems to be fine when swiming ... hi stoped cleaning tank and eating ... but i dont put much foor now anyways ....hi became like that 5 days ago .... than after medecine hi became smaller ,and yesterday hi grow again

Cmon ppl !!!! sorry but #### >???? no 1 knows whats up with my fish >? ////////
NEED HELP !!!

He could be having digestive problems, like plugged up inside. My brother's geophagus was bloated like your pleco, and some how he cured it with epsom salts, don't remember how though.

Once a fish stops eating bad news.
Bloated stomach can be constipation, internal parasites, bacterial infection.
What does it look like when the fish goes to the toilet.
Is the anus red and inflamed or enlarged.
What do you feed your fish?
Epson salt baths help draw the fluids out.

This post has been edited by Wilder: Dec 5 2007, 10:54 PM

On top of that try feeding green peas, if it's constipation this will help.

Hi still alive,i put him in separate tank with maracyn...havent seen hie eating but hi acts fine ...... hope hill get better ....

de shell some peas and feed him them that should sort it out


cheers dane

I'd imagine peas will float on the surface? What can you do to keep them on the bottom?

Cook frozen peas for a few minutes, let cool down, pop out of shell, much between fingers and add to the tank.
If you mush them up between your fingers they will sink.

Does any one know if the peas fixed the problem. We have a pleco with the same problem fat belly. We did drop a few peas last week but we didn't shelled them first, we just dropped them in, after a few minutes they sunk to the bottom. But it doesn't look like anyone is eating them anyway. Should we try to seperate him from the rest of the tank? Any other ideas?

Thanks for the help

hrh

Had plecs and once they bloat up bad news.
Bloating up can be constipation, internal parasites, to bacterial.
Can the plec maintain its balance on the bottom of the tank, does it lay to one side.
What does it look like when the plec goes to the toilet.
Is the anus enlarged or red and inflamed.
Daphnia is also good as it digest the fish food.
Also has the plec changed colour gone paler or darker in colour.

It seems fine except for being fat. It swims ok and seems to be eating, its mouth is always moving anyway. I will check the other things you asked about, but could it be pregnant? We had another plecostomus in the tank for awhile. Maybe something happened?

Check in the plec part of the forum about being pregnant as i'm not that good on plecs.

Looks constipated. I would move it to an H tank that is bare bottom so you can see if it is pooping for sure. I would add epsom salt to the water. The ultimate dosage level should be as much as 3 tablespoons/10 gal of water. This should be added slowly over time and it should be disolved in a container of tank or dechlored water and then poured into the tank. Start with 1/3 the dose and pour it in gradually. Wait a few hours (4-6) and then add the second dose. I would then wait til the next day and if there is no poop in the tank, add the 3rd tablespoon. Alternatively you can mix up the full dosage and then use a drip system to add it over 18-24 hours gradually.

The reason you need to add Epsom gradually is that it will increase the hardenss of the water. If it is added too quickly it can be harmful to the fish. This is similar to pH shock caused by a too rapid change.

Constipation can be a simple blockage or it can be the result of other problems. the most common would be an internal infection which reqquires an anti-biotic treament. The next most common cause would be parasites which also requires meds. here in the USA fish meds can be easily obtained and I would consider dosing the H tank with Erethromycin along with the Epsom just in case. However, where you are this may be harder to do.

This post has been edited by TwoTankAmin: Dec 11 2007, 09:48 PM

What is the common name for Erethromycin? Would you treat the whole 150 gal fish tank or take him out and treat him in a smaller tank? I have about 55 fish but he seems to be the only one with a problem. The placo is about 12" long, but now he seems so much bigger with that fat belly.

hrh

Is far better to issolate a sick fish and cheaper on meds if you have a very big tank.

I just wanted to thank everyone who helped us get our 13” 5yr old placo get back on track! The mushy peas worked!. My wife is so happy to she her placo moving around again that she offered all those who helped us to stop by our house the next time they’re in Tucson so we can offer them a beer.
We took your advice and for the last four days have cooked peas and mashed them up for our placo, his big belly has shrunken down quite a lot.
For anyone looking for advice this is place to come!

Cannot thank all of you enough!

hrh

Glad he has made a full recovery.