Need Help!

[fuzzyferret]

I've just come home from work and fed the fish.

One of my Corys is suddenly huge and bloated - his stomach is swelled up so much his little fins are hardly touching the sand. He's just sitting there at the moment, with his pals keeping him company, but he doesn't look happy.

This is so sudden - does anyone have any idea what might have caused it or what I can do?

 

[endilliteracy]

Does he have pine-cone scales? What are your water params?

 

[fuzzyferret]

No pine cone scales - looks perfectly normal except for the huge swelling.
Breathing slightly faster than normal, but I suppose that's to be expected...

Water normal - slightly high in nitrates but that isn't just the tank - it's the entire area we live in!
It has just happened so suddenly.....

 

[WILDER]

Try a shelled pea first, can the fish maintain its balance in the water.

 

[fuzzyferret]

He can maintain his balance - rocking slightly from side to side though until at least one set of fins touches the sand.
He can swim (very ungainly though).

I've just checked him this morning and he is still alive - still bloated though.

I'll try the pea though - hope it helps!

 

[Inchworm]

Hi fuzzyferret

Since corys don't have scales, they will not get that pine cone look, even if they do have dropsy. They will just swell up.

The first thing to do whenever a cory is showing signs of anything being wrong is do a good water change and tank cleaning. Since they are most often prone to getting bacterial infections, this could help.

Watch him closely for a few days and isolate him if he does not improve. Perhaps he will show additional symptoms. There is medicine that can be used to treat dropsy if it does turn out to be that, but unfortunately, it is not very effective.

 

[fuzzyferret]

Thanks Inchworm.
I'll do another water change as soon as I get home from work.
He is swimming around (bit like a blimp!) with the others, so I'll keep my fingers crossed and try and sort him out tonight......