Harlequin Rasbora Swollen With Protruding Scales

[crmpicco]

Over the past 3-4 days I have noticed my Harlequin Rasbora has had a swollen belly all round and his/her scales are protruding. I've noticed it called "pineconeing" on other forums and pages.

I've introduced some other fish to the tank recently (Mollies, Otocinclus, Corydoras) and I'm wondering if its suffering from white spot. I have some white spot treatment and aquarium salt available at the moment, should it be required.

If the belly was just swollen I'd be confident of having some Harlequin fry to look forward to, but the pineconeing scales make me think there's something badly wrong with it.

I've had all three harlequins in my tank since last July, so I'd hate to lose it.

Water levels are all fine, and all other fish in my 70ltr tank are doing well.

 

[Lunar Jetman]

White spot is, as its name suggests, when a fish gets white spots not as you are describing. What you are describing sounds like dropsy which is quite a difficult thing to cure unfortunately and from what I remember about it is usually fatal.

It is generally considered a symptom rather than a disease itself so could be caused by a number of different things, including bacterial, parasitic infections or even liver problems,

You can try putting up a photo but i think it may be too late for your fish I'm afraid.best to quarantine it in case there is a tisk of it spreading which sometimes happens.

 

[crmpicco]

I'm sad to report that within days of the reply I lost the wee Harlequin I had since this time last year
 
I came back home from a night away and he was upside down at the top of the tank, even more bloated than he was when I left.
 
It's sad as I had 3 Harlequins and I now only have two, so I think i'll need to get a replacement to even out my stock.

 

[This Old Spouse]

So sorry for the loss.

 
Looks like you should also up your peppered cory to 6.

 

[phoenixgsd]

harlequins are great schooling fish you should up the numbers of both these and the cory