Help! Female Ciclid In Bad Shape

[stendec]

Hi, I have a female Nicaragua Cichlid about 4 years old she has had 2 litters of fry so far and many survied.
I came home today and she is severely bloated, the stomach almost 3 times the size as usual, shes also staying near the bottom of the tank bobbing up and down vertical with her head pointed down twords the bottom of the tank. sometimes she levels out swims a few seconds then goes vertical again, shes also turned a little more lighter in colour.
Anyone know whats wrong, or what i can do?

Thanks so much.

 

[Irf]

I'm not an expert, but it could be a swim bladder disorder. Do a search for "swim bladder disease" or something similar.....

Irf.

 

[stendec]

From what I've read after doing a swim bladder infection search is that i think the problem may be Dropsy or Malawi Bloat.
But since my Cichlid is South American I'm thinking its dropsy.
I have put the affected fish into a quarantine tank that has been set up for a while now. (actually my Brothers tank waiting for him to buy new fish)
I also added about a tablespoon of Aquarium Salt in the water,
Tomorrow is Canada Day here, and all fish stores will be closed, but when they re-open I plan on getting an antibiotic fish food.
Does anyone know what kind of Antibiotics I need?
Anything else I should be doing?

Any help is appreciated

 

[quaver]

dropsy is like when the scales look like a pinecone and sticking out. are the scales protruding? If it is dropsy, Interpet #9 may help, but most cases are fatal

You've added salt to the whole tank with other tankmates in? have you got a small hospital tank where you can just treat the one fish?

 

[WILDER]

If the scales are sticking out it's dropsy once the scales stick out organ failure and the fish never seem to make it.
Epson salt baths help draw the fluids out.
Fish can heavy breath when there really bloated.