silver hatched

[jhd]

Hi guys,
I have 4 silver hatchets in my 55 community tank and one of them developed a yellowish/orange swelling in lower abdominal area. Other then that, fish appears normal, eats like a pig and even developed a habit of swimming to the bottom to hunt for some food near the bottom once floating flakes are eaten.

Could this be a female full of eggs or I have a dropsy problem. What is a color of hatchet eggs? I have never have problems with them for 2 years of these fish in the tank.

 

[tstenback]

If its dropsy the fish will have its scales sticking out and will look like a pine cone when viewed from the top. HTH

 

[jhd]

The bottom part turned yellow/orange color.
I did not see any scales lifting but I will check tonight.
Would that color change be a indicator of a dropsy?

 

[tstenback]

I have not noticed a color change with dropsy, not to say it doesnt happen, but the main indicator will be the scales protuding and bloating.