Re: [GSAS-Member] Bloated Ancistrous

[Steev Ward <steevward@yahoo.com>]

Shango-
    Sorry to hear about that Ancictrus. I've seen them get bloated before and I 
can't
really say why it happens. They usually don't survive that. I think it is a 
good sign
that it has hung in there for several days.
    I think the Epsom Salts would be a good idea - that's usually what people 
do with
bloated fish. You can probably go as high as one Teaspoon per gallon (I know 
that
sounds like a lot). You should keep him separate. I would put him in a 5 gallon 
bucket
of new dechlorinated water with an airstone in it. It's warm enough these days 
you
shouldn't have to worry about a heater, and cooler temperatures might even be 
good for
him.
    I would try feeding him some zuccini, on the chance that there is some 
nutritional
problem or something else in the intestine that could be cleared up by a big 
veggy
diet. Don't allow the water to get polluted. 
    I would say go ahead and use Metronidazole if you have it (as Laurel 
suggested) but
I have never found in intestinal flagellates in an Ancistrus (yet).
    If you have any fish antibiotics on hand it might help him, if the bloating 
is
caused by a bacterial infection.

Good Luck
Steev

--- Shango Los <shango@shangolos.com> wrote:

> Hello Friends,
> 
> I have a non-albino ancistrous who is looking very bloated and may be
> breathing slowly but not really heavily.  He is also not in his usual hiding
> place.  He has moved to hang out in the heavier flow attached to my Vortex
> CO2 reactor and then on the substrate in the corner below where the flow
> returns to my circulation pump.
> 
> He has been looking bloated for about 4 days.  I do 50% water changes every
> Sunday.
> 
> Any feedback regarding potential causes and prescriptions would be helpful.
> I see no spots or discoloration on him.  Whatever is going on is internal.
> 
> Thanks for any feedback or advice.  My web research has turned up a lot of
> mush.
> 
> Shango
> 
> 
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