Pregnant Female Swordtail Spitting Out Food?

[BOBJOESIM]

Hi, my female red velvet swordtail is around 2 weeks pregnant and she has started to spit out food a few seconds after she put it in her mouth. This just started happening recently and I have also observed a small clear, bubble-like space in her head. She has had it since Sunday and I really don't know what it is, maybe a tumor, gas bubble disease, cancer, etc. I will soon posts photos of her. I need help diagnosing what kind of disease or condition she has and how I can treat her. Thanks for the help. 

 

[bluesword23516]

Sometimes fish just spit out food. Maybe they don't want to eat or the food is too large. Make sure you crush the flakes small enough to fit in her mouth.  But it could also be a symptom of the bubble she had. I am not quite sure. If you can put her in her own tank that would be best. 

 

[BOBJOESIM]

Here is a pictures of her, what really concerns me is the bubble-like space in the top of her head. I need help diagnosing what this thing is. The other occupants of this 10 gallon tank are a rhino pleco, a male swordtail and a few snails.

 

[bluesword23516]

Is it to the right of the eye kind of on the backbone? 

 

[BOBJOESIM]

Yes, it is also like 2 millimeters long. It also slightly raises her scales in that area.

 

[bluesword23516]

It can just be a cyst or maybe even a tumor, is she still not eating? 

 

[BOBJOESIM]

Yes, she has been spitting out food for 6 days now, she still puts it in her mouth, but spits it out right after, both if the flake is large or small. Here is another picture.

 

[BOBJOESIM]

I have also noticed this strange behavior that she did not have before, which is pecking the plants in my aquarium. She does it very actively and I was wondering if maybe she switched to an algae/plant based diet? Because she does seem to be "chewing" after she pecks the plants. Also, the bubble does not seem to be growing so I don't think that it is a tumor. I mostly have been feeding her before flaky food and the occasional slice of zucchini, so I was wondering if maybe I should supplement her diet with algae wafers?

 

[bluesword23516]

You can always try the algae wafers, I have noticed some of my fish prefer the plants in my tank more than the food at the top. Has she lost a noticeable amount of weight? 

 

[BOBJOESIM]

I cant really tell because atm she is pregnant, but do you think that the bubble thing is a disease? I really don't know how to treat it. Thanks for all your help btw.

 

[bluesword23516]

The bubble may be an air pocket which could potentially be dangerous. Maybe try some googling...  

 

[BOBJOESIM]

I have tried googling with no luck... anything that I see on google does not look like what she has. It's been 9 days and she is still spitting out the food and I am getting really worried. Here is another picture of her.

 

[bluesword23516]

Try making another post , I am not sure what I can do to help. Hopefully another member has had experience with this. 

 

[BOBJOESIM]

What do you mean another post? Do you mean start a new thread?

 

[bluesword23516]

Yeah, start a new thread. I call it a post, but same thing