Help Desperately Need Help

[Fish guy III]

I have a flowerhorn cichlid who has been strong for 3 years or so and all of a sudden, his stomach started bloating/swelling to the size of a golf ball. Now he floats at the top of the tank and can't even swim down. He was eating the same food I always gave him and he shows no external marks from bacteria or parasites. Does anyone know what disease this is and how to save him? Thanks a lot for your thoughts.

 

[crazyforcordoras]

Im no expert, but it sounds like somethings wrong with his Swim Bladder.

 

[Blitz]

Swim Bladder indeed. Swim bladder issue can be due to sub-optimal water parameters so check for ammonia, nitrite and nitrate first, do a 20-30% pwc. Then feed only boiled de-shelled pea - as swim bladder can also be a result of constipation (swim bladder being squashed). If this does not work you can try salt treatment starting at 0.1% (5g=1tsp per 5 litres) but salt will affect plants and also if other fish are not ill they do not to be treated so maybe salt dips better. Swim bladder is rarely fatal so your fish should be able to recover once water quality improves. But some fish MAY die. Only a few do.

 

[Fish guy III]

Thank you. That makes sense about the bladder. Thanks for letting me know. I'll try the salt water dips and peas. I really appreciate it.