Pleco With Big Belly

[keastclan]

I have come home tonight to my bristle nose pleco having a large swollen belly. He's only a baby, about 1 1/2 inches long. 
 
I tested my water, all levels are normal, and the other pleco is fine.
I'm worried that it's my fault for not putting peas in to encourage the pooing. There is bogwood in the tank too.
After observing him for a while I took him out and put him in a bowl for a while with crushed peas. I think it may well be that he is constipated, but any other ideas? What can I do to get him to eat the peas?
He is back in the main tank now as I don't have a hospital tank. 
 
My fingers are crossed for him tonight

 

[Blondielovesfish]

Starve him for a few days and see if it goes down. If it doesn't then after the few days try him with some peas again.

 

[az9]

hmm. mine has the same thing. it's a big clear belly right.

 

[TwoTankAmin]

You can try treating with Epsom salt for constipation. It raises TDS/hardness. Unfortunately, there is no reason to subject other fish to this, so it really is best to do it in a separate tank.

 

[keastclan]

Yes Fish Crazy, he looks like he's got a little marble.
He was still with us this morning, so fingers crossed.
If I starve him for a couple of days is it just easier not to feed the fish at all as they are all in the same tank?
I'm not sure about doing the Epsom salts thing. Could I take him out and do it in the bowl?
Where do I get some from. I'm in Gloucestershire

 

[Blondielovesfish]

Yeah, it wouldn't hurt the other fish to not feed them either.
 
It's best not to do anything in a bowl, mainly because most bowls can't have any type of filter on them, which means the ammonia rises rather fast. This could create more problems if he gets ammonia poisoning.
It would be better if you could buy one of those 20ish litre tanks and use it as your hospital tank, if you get a heater and filter then you would be able to use it again should any more problems arise. A hospital tank can also be used to quarantine fish before adding them to your aquarium.