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Ponds & Aquatic Plants

Help sick fish

15 years ago

We have a 5 to 7 year old fish in our 3800 gallon pond. She might be a comet or a shubunkin. In the fall of of 2008 her appearance (we think she is female because of the following) drastically changed. Her under belly became hughly distended both below and on both sides. We noticed this before winter but she made it through despite great difficulty swimming before the cold winter temperatures set in. Now that the weather has changed and it is warm we notice that she is still very distended and is unable to school with the other fish. She stays, for the most part, on he bottom eating algae. We have about 40 fish of all different types. When she attempts to swim she cannot keep her body in alignment and the weight of her belly does not let her swim straight but rather on one side or another. However, yesterday she made her way up to the top momentarily for some food. She doesn't seem to be in great discomfort and her fins look relatively healthy. We can't tell if she is suffering. A local aquarium owner suggested that she might have retained eggs and is unable to expel them. Has anyone observed or had experience with this? Any help would be great.

Thanks

David

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Comments (4)

horton
15 years ago
David, it could be that it is just a fat fish.
That is highly possible and the fish could go on living for quite a long life.
Worse case is a tumor or it is possibly Swim Bladder disease.
With swim bladder you could try isolating the fish and feeding it some frozen peas. Boil the peas first, then remove the skins, before crushing them and feeding a small amount to your fish. At the same time,bringing up the water temperature in the isolation tank/container, up slowly, [over a few hours] to about 70/75Â°F, sometimes this will give the fish a boost.
The peas will clean out the fishes digestive tract if impacted.
There is no cure for Swim Bladder and the affected fish, unfortunately, will usually die after a time.

Check the site below for swollen body symptoms.
"Horton"

Here is a link that might be useful: Swim Bladder disease
jdedsk
Original Author
15 years ago
Horton - thanks for your response. Actually we have a koi who had swim bladder and we had great success curing her about 2 years ago after she was near death. We isolated her in a sick tank for the winter and gave her antibiotics, treated the water with salt and used the peas. She recovered and is now as healthy as ever. However, I don't think this is the problem with this fish, since she is mostly staying at the bottom of the pond which she would be unable to do with swim bladder. Thanks for your thoughts and suggestions. If anyone else has any other ideas, please respond!!!!
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jdedsk
Original Author
15 years ago
Hi Horton - actually I've been reading more about swim bladder disease and I think you are on target. I will isolate this fish and see if I can have any luck with treatment. At least I will feel as though I have tried to address the problem. Thanks again for your input.
horton
15 years ago
J, thank you. I too have treated fish that have had swollen abdomens,using the warm water and mushy peas, not knowing if it was in fact Swim Bladder or a plugged digestive tract.

It seems common after winter, I found.
I tend to think some fishes digestive tracts get impacted with the algae they suck in over winter and they need something in there to clean out the tract.

It could also be that their slow metabolism brings on plugging problems in the spring, when we re-start feeding.
That is part of feeding them sparingly, with grain based foods in the spring, When the temperature is right, [50/55Â°F] until their systems are up and running properly.
Good luck with your fish.
"Horton"

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