Bloated Pleco

[Fluval-1200]

Noticed over a month ago that my sailfin pleco has a oddly swollen belly, at first I just thought it has eaten more than it should, but its still there and its started to heavy breath.
Its poop was long with gaps of poop then white, I treated with a bacterial infection and the whiteness has gone but now it has clear breaks instead.
Ive noticed also that its eating sand, is it trying to flush out its system?
 
Im stumped on what todo, I can really get a diagnosis of what it is. Its just a fat pleco, no holes no damage...just fat and now heavy breathing.
 
My current idea of treatment is going to be starve for 3 days then onto a small amount of cucumber to see if I can shift this bloat.
If still no good I will strip the tank to a bare bottom to stop it eating sand, (I don't have a quarantine tank suitable for this fishes size)
 
Any help will be much appreciated.
 
 
 
 

 

[TwoTankAmin]

Generally, what you describe is the result of internal parasites. Have you treated for this? I know in the states the right meds would be easy to get, I am not so sure what to use in the UK.

 

[Fluval-1200]

The treatment I used was internal parasite but cant think what its called, it cleared up the whiteness but not the bloat.

 

[star4]

Try him with de-shelled pea's this should help clear any blockage. Daft question do you have any wood in the tank? pleco's need wood to rasp on.

 

[Fluval-1200]

Yeah hes got some drift wood, hes on day 2 of starving (doesn't sound very nice) but his belly is looking a lot smaller. Also noticed there ment to be feed low protein high fibre foods, my wafers are 28% protein 3.5% fibre - so not the best.

 

[Fluval-1200]

Well the starving and then straight onto cucumber has solved this bloated belly.