Bloated Barb

[rabidric]

Hi

I know i've seen stuff on this before but as the search doen't seem to work at the moment I'll post the question again. I have a rosy barb which is either bloated or fat and spends it's time near the surface only venturing down to the middle of the tank to feed. So as it's obviously not right we've moved it to a QT just in case. Now it has a long stringy white item hanging out of its anus. This thing doesn't look to be moving or alive so I would suggest it's crap. The fish is also breathing faster than any of the others. I'm treating with Interpet for interial bacteria but not sure if this is the right course of action.

Anyone with any ideas.

Thanks

 

[TribeOfShroom]

Could be dropsy.. although it does sound like your fish might have constipation. The internal bacteria will sort out the dropsy (well it has done for me in the past) I don't know what to suggest if it's constipation.. can't exactly give fish choco lax now can we.

 

[chrisovington]

Peas seem to work for constipation. Blanch them on stove to soften them somewhat, then remove the skin and feed. Good luck!!

 

[WILDER]

Were they breathing faster before the med or after.
Can the fish maintain there balance in the water.
What do you normally feed the fish?
Are the scales sticking out.
Epson salts are good at helping draw the fluids out.

 

[rabidric]

Thanks for the interest.

The breathing was fast before the meds. It (no idea how to sex a barb) is swimming ok with no loss of balance but did spend most of the time near the surface - it only came down to feed. Normally feed them on thawed bloodworm mixed with mysis shrimp and a variety of cat pellets. No the scales aren't sticking out even with the fat gut it's sporting at the moment.
How do I get it to drink epsom salts!? How much do I add to the tank?

Cheers

 

[WILDER]

http/www.fishjunkies.com/Treatments/salt.php

 

[rabidric]

Cheers but too late for the fish. I'll read up on it for the future. I did a quick "post mortem" - a first for me and the fish was full of green bubbles and deflated back to normal as soon as I punctured the skin, so I'm guessing at internal gas. Could that be as a result of being egg bound and they went off? It was tricky given that the fish was only 4cm long so not a lot to work on. Now I've gutted many a fish, from trout through conger eels to giant tuna, over the years for tea that is and I've never seen one full of green bubbles. There was no sign of worms or anything else you wouldn't expect so I thought it probably wasn't parasites.

Any ideas?

Thanks

 

[WILDER]

R.I.P.