Possible Dropsy Or What Else?

[Dan-CR4]

One of my keyhole cichlids has become very bloated and is hiding away more than normal and she comes to the top of the tank and just sits above the filter.

my water params are

ammonia : 0
nitrite : 0
Nitrate : 40
ph : 7.6

I do a 50% water change evey week, none of the other fish seem affected including another 2 keyholes. Nothing new has been added to the tank in over 6 weeks and then that was only plants and a bit of mopani wood. everything else has stayed the same.

I am at this moment getting the medical tank ready. any ideas. ask any extra questions if u need more info.

 

[colleen0309]

Have you tried feeding some shelled peas?

 

[the_lock_man]

If it's dropsy, it's really quite unmistakeable, as the scales protrude, making the fish look like a pinecone. Have a look at this. I had a platy with dropsy, and it just slumped at the bottom of the tank, it didn't go near the top, not even at feeding time.

If your fish doesn't look like this, it's probably just bloated, in which case, Colleen's suggestion is a good'un.