Bloated Bristlenose With Bubble Bum!

[spugs]

Male common brown bristlenose is majorly bloated with scales sticking out and skin very stretched. Has what looks like a bubble coming out of its bum as well. Seems to be swimming about ok and was in normal condition yesterday. All other fish in tank are fine and water parameters are normal for this kind of fish. ANy ideas because I cant see it living like this much longer, thnks.

 

[KittyKat]

Water parameter readings, please.. they may be normal, but they can also help us determine what is wrong with it.

Describe the set up and tank mates in more details.

What do you feed the pleco specifically, and what do you feed the rest of the fish? How often?

Any diseases had and medication used in the last 3-6 months? For all fish.

 

[spugs]

Water parameter readings, please.. they may be normal, but they can also help us determine what is wrong with it. PH7, amonia 0, nitrate 20, nitrite 0.1 temp 27C

Describe the set up and tank mates in more details. 3 1/2 foot tank, 180 litres, gravel substrate, wood and couple of slate caves, one plant. Tank mates are a female common brown bristlenose, pair of albino bristlenoses, several guppies, red fin shark

What do you feed the pleco specifically, and what do you feed the rest of the fish? How often? waffers, courgette (have only just started feeding this but regularly have cucumber), other fish get flake food and blood worm

Any diseases had and medication used in the last 3-6 months? For all fish. No diseases and no meds

 

[KittyKat]

Water parameter readings, please.. they may be normal, but they can also help us determine what is wrong with it.

nitrite 0.1 temp 27C

Why is your nitrite not 0 ppm? This is most definitely not "normal" and may be the cause of the problem (directly or indirectly).

The temperature is on the upper side of what they do best in, but should not be causing problems.

Describe the set up and tank mates in more details.

3 1/2 foot tank, 180 litres, gravel substrate, wood and couple of slate caves, one plant. Tank mates are a female common brown bristlenose, pair of albino bristlenoses, several guppies, red fin shark

Sharks are aggressive, are you sure he is not picking on the bristlenoses?

Another problem could be the two male bristlenoses fighting. With only two females, they are probably not always with clutches which means they have time to be territorial. I have a male in a 3 ft * 1.5 ft (bottom area) aquarium and I can't have any other males as they start fighting immediately, even though my male is only without a clutch for a few days every month.

(Unrelated: the shark will eventually turn around and shred the guppies, one day.)

What do you feed the pleco specifically, and what do you feed the rest of the fish? How often?

waffers, courgette (have only just started feeding this but regularly have cucumber), other fish get flake food and blood worm

Do the plecos ever get hold of the bloodworm? That can cause bloating, especially if one manages to eat a whole cube.

Oh, and when did you get the plecos? And when did you last add new fish to the aquarium?