Can fish get constipated?

[Jen]

I have 2 fry that have huge bellies... it looks painful. See the pictures in this link. My first though was they has tumors, but after watching them for a while today, I noticed that all the other fish in the tank are pooing (and have huge poo tails), but these two guys never seem to poop.

Is it possible that they are constipated? And is there anything I can do to make them poo? lol

Thanks

 

[Aquascaper]

Fish can get 'bunged up'

To help fish poop you can give them peas

HTH

 

[Jen]

I do feed them peas... maybe every 4 or 5 days. I just fed them yesterday with peas. I was thinking they had a tumor or something. i am just trying to figure out what is wrong with them.

 

[Aquascaper]

I dunno then.........could they have eaten a bit a gravel by mistake?
I hope it's not anything too serious and they get better.

Good luck.

 

[Jen]

As if bu magic, I went down to the fish room, and the one guy who was looking the worst was pooing, and I think he was constipated because the poo was huge. the poor guy. They are both less bloated now. It's almost like they were waiting for me to think they were constipated before they would do anything about it. lol

 

[Aquascaper]

Glad to hear they're alright

 

[CFC]

The feeding of flakes and pellets too often is the main cause of constipation in fish, especially fast feeding fish which eat the flakes/pellets before they have softened in water. Feeding of live or frozen foods regularly helps prevent constipation.

 

[CathyG]

Also, feeding too much of a high protein diet to some fish (such as bloodworm) without the balance of vegetables can cause constipation. I have taken to hand feeding the bloodworm (to those who will take it like my betta and Rams) to keep it away from the pigs (danio, gourami, platies). That or I feed flake, then whilst the majority are eating that, I get the bloodworm to the bottom of my tank for the clown loach.

 

[Final Dynazty]

Well atleast there pooing lol