Is This Dropsy Or Constipation?

[TF Keeper UK]

Hi all,

I've a 12gallon (UK) tank with 6 guppies, 3 platies, 3 pandas and 2 julii.

Water temp 24 degress, pH 7.4, Ammonia & nitrites 0ppm and nitrates 10ppm.

The sole male guppy has a swollen belly.

Poor little mite

Apart from that he's eating ok and chasing the females!

I haven't seen him poo for a week or so.

All fish are fed veggie flakes, catfish pellets and cucumber.

Any ideas/help would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

Del

 

[love_fish]

Are his scales sticking out? If they're not, that means its not dropsy, unless hes not at that stage yet. IMO, it may just be constipation, but do you have a pic? The one you have doesn't work. Try feeding them like brine shrimp and peas.

 

[WILDER]

Can the fish maintain it's balance in the water, is the fish resting at the top of the tank or bottom, is it laboured breathing, has the coloured altered like going paler or darker in colour, try some shelled peas.

 

[TF Keeper UK]

No scales sticking out.

Pot Bellied Guppy

 

[love_fish]

omg hes huge. Definetely try some shelled peas. They do well with digestion.

 

[TF Keeper UK]

His colour is the same before he got bloated. His breathing is not laboured, his balance is good and i've been feeding him daphnia and shelled peas.

He did get smaller before xmas, but has bloated back up again!

 

[WILDER]

The fish is huge, and guppies are prone to bacterial problems, do you over feed, can you issolate the fish.

 

[Fishkeeper2004]

Just to make absolutely sure, hes definately male right? I have seen female guppys with colour variations like this, and the picture isn't very clear on his gopodium. (sp)

 

[WILDER]

Check the anus does it look red and inflamed, or does if appear larger.

 

[love_fish]

Like Wilder said, they're very prone to bacterial infections, so that may be what this is.

 

[WILDER]

http/www.petfish.net/articles/Bettas/constipation.php
Also they are very prone to internal parasites and they can swell up with them.

 

[TF Keeper UK]

He's def a male, the only one we kept back. His anus does look a bit bigger than normal but not inflamed. I don't think its an infection as he's been like it for a couple of weeks now.

 

[WILDER]

How long have you been feeding the peas and daphnia, and is he listless.

 

[TF Keeper UK]

I've been alternating between the peas and daphnia for the past 10 days. He is far from listless as he chases the females!

 

[WILDER]

I think i would be tempted to add half a dose of bacterial med like anti internal bacteria by interpet, to the tank just to be on the safe side, when i had male guppies they would blow up like that and die always turned out to be a bacterial infection, good luck.