Dropsy? Constipation? Running Out Of Ideas!

[fishRfriends]

In less than a week we had a common pleco who weve had for almost three years, two bala sharks, and a giant moonlight guarmi die on us and we couldnt figure out why. Today, and this was sudden, two of the loaches and our pictus ctfish have extremely swollen stomachs. I have seen constipated fish before and this catfish looks like that times a hundred, he looks ready to explode. The loaches are not as bad. I searched google for things on dropsy and everything seemed to fit except the scales sticking out--then it dawned on me...these fish are scaless right? Im not sure whats wrong but Im afraid if we dont treat soon theres not going to be anything else we can do.

They are in a 75 gallon, well established tank, water paremeters are great, all other fish are fine except these ones. They arent lethargic, they are still as active as ever and eating well.

Anything I can do? Does this sound like dropsy? Sorry if I didnt give enough info, its late and Im worried

 

[tttnjfttt]

Hmmm, not sure what dropsy would look like on scaleless fish. Have you been feeding them extra food lately, or foods that are high in protine and low in fiber? There is also the pea trick. Peas are very high in fiber, and help get things moving again if it is constipation.

For the fish that have died, did you see any physical changes before they died? are any of the fish flashing (scratching) on objects in the tank?

 

[fishRfriends]

Our fish are on a feed every other day basis, with no change in type or amount of food. The ones that died, they seemed very lethargic beforehand and the huge guarmi seemed to have a swimbladder issue as he floated upside down for about 15 minutes before passing away. The sharks problem seem to have been the opposite of what is happening to these guys, they seemed to have withered away. They were really sunken in and skinny. That makes me think that maybe their deaths were unrelated?

Also we heard about the pea trick so we shelled them some peas and they ate some of those so hopefully that will help a little. Thanks for your input so much!

Oh yeah, just wnted to add that I said the pleco died about a week ago, but I just remembered it was actually a while before that, a few weeks. The others though were within a short period of one another.

 

[tttnjfttt]

From what you have said, i doubt it is constipation. I would be very hesitant to say these deaths are unrelated. Your water stats are fine, and have had a series of deaths. That seems to be a little bit too much of a coincidence.

The fish that wasted away, did any get a bent spine or any other signs of a bacterial infection? Bacterial infections can present themselves in many ways.

I would guess it is a bacterial infection, so i would recomend starting an antibiotic ASAP. I would recomend using a combination of Maracyn and Maracyn 2, to hopefully cover all possible bacteria. If that is not possible, then Kanacyn (aka k-mycin, kanamycin) is also good.

 

[fishRfriends]

Yeah, the sharks seemed to be a little bent. They couldnt really hold themselves up right. They would swim up to the top, then slowly nosedive into the sand, with a sorta tiny crrok in their backs. Also, the sharks eyes were really white and cloudy, if thats bacterial related? i will pick up the two maracyn's today, as soon as i get out of school Thanks so much for your help!

 

[WILDER]

If they are really blown up its a bacterial infection, as i had a plec and it look like he swallowed something as he was that blown up, does the tail curl up abit.

 

[tttnjfttt]

I agree, it is definately a bacterial infection, and possibly TB. TB is a bacterial infection, and one of the defining symptoms of this is a bent spine. Other symptoms can mimic other bacterial infections, including bloating, dropsy, as well as wasting away. If you are in the US, i would recomend treating everyone with maracyn and maracyn 2. This disease is very very difficult to treat, an as you have seen, can be contagious.

Here is a link with more info for you. http/www.4qd.org/Aqua/disease/tb.html

 

[fishRfriends]

Nope, none of their tales are bent.

Ok, so yesterday after feeding them the peas eveyone looked good, the swelling went down almost all the way and everything. Now today, one of the three that were bloted, the catfish, is bloated again and so are some others!!! My lps only has maracyn two i think. Is maracyn one clearly labeled as so or is it the one that treats like fin rot and stuff, because all my store carries is that and maracyn two. If there is an actual maracyn one ill have to do some digging around i guess.

i sure hope its not tb!! and that site said people can get it?? Ahh, I just had my hands in there all day doing a water change. Oh boy, thanks for all your help. I hope these guys can pull through!

ETA: one of the symtoms on the site for tb was cloudy eyes...the first of our losses was a fish who was treated for clout but we coulldnt get the cloudy eyes to go away! Oh no!

 

[WILDER]

Sounds like a diet thing if the bloating went down, feed veg as fish need it like us in there diet, to many dried foods lead to contipation and swim bladder problems.
The maracyn will be fine.

Maracyn
Manufacturer: Mardel
A broad-spectrum antibiotic for gram-positive bacterial infections. For infections of columnaris (body fungus), fin and tail rot, popeye, gill disease, and secondary infections.
Active ingredient: Erythromycin.


Maracyn–Two
Manufacturer: Mardel
A broad-spectrum antibiotic for internal or external gram negative bacterial infections which can even be absorbed through the skin. Effective treatment of fin and tail rot, popeye, gill disease, dropsy (swollen body, protruding scales), septicemia (bleeding or red streaks on the body), secondary and internal infections. Effective even when fish won't eat.
Active ingredient: Mincycline hydrochlor.

 

[fishRfriends]

Oh,,I just thought of another thing.Now, I know nothing about bacterial infections so this may sound like a really dumb question. When a fish with one dies, does the bacteria kinda eat it from the inside out? I know that sounds pretty gross but for one thing,, when our huge pleco died, he was practically a hollow shell when we found him, and he wasnt long dead at all. Now another fish just died on us, and his hole upper hlf was rotted away. You could tell it wasnt really eaten, but looked like it was well, rotting away. Does this make any sense or am I just mistaken? Thanks so much you guys.

 

[WILDER]

You mean the plec had a sunken in belly, internal parasites can cause that, plus fish get internal bacteria infections also from external parasites as some parasites on there suckers they have a nasty bacteria on them that goes into the blood stream of the fish.

Did that make sense, know what i want to say, but find it hard putting it into words.

 

[fishRfriends]

Hmm nope, it was more like his stomach was eaten from the inside out, like there was something in his stomach that ate its way out. (like something from an alien movie lol). I dunno, maybe I was just seeing things if that makes no sense lol. I will get the mracyn then and hope for the best. That will cover parasites too?

 

[WILDER]

No maracyn won't cure parasites, sorry.

 

[fishRfriends]

Ok, so Im still completely lost. One day, my fish all like they are going to pop they are so swollen. Now today, one of the fish in question has shrunk! He is so skinny, you can see his little bones. He just lays all bent and flopped over on one of the leaf petals in the tank, and hardly breathes. I dont know if there is anything that can be done for him now. Also, I didnt add this but I just remembered, this fish is dyed (please dont get upset, I was a new fish owner, saw a purple loach, and just had to have him. I didnt even know what dyed fish were). Could that be the cause of his syptoms? That he is dyed? Any more ideas would be great. Thanks for your help already.

 

[WILDER]

Remove him from the tank, as if he has a bent spine and wasted away look, sorry to say i sounds like fish tb.

http/www.4qd.org/Aqua/disease/tb.html