Bloating in fish leading to death!

[alton]

Since 2002 I have had several favorite fish the first being an Imperator Angelfish that I grew from a juvenile to an adult, king of the tank, fat as all get out but in a matter of weeks did not eat, removed most of the fish in the tank and yet he still perished.
I had him in my tank for 6+ years.

Second Copperband Butterfly 2003 till 2016 ate aptasia and everything else you placed in front of him. He was not scared of anything or anyone. Developed a bloated stomach and even though I tried to feed medicated foods he still perished being with me for 13 years, I feel it should have been more.

Third and another tough one because after developing a bloated stomach I transferred him and his twin to another tank giving both a Prazi Pro bath which seemed to help, but in a few weeks bloating was back and I lost him this weekend after almost three years of being in my tank.

Is there something that is causing this and is there some magic food or additive that can remedy this? Or as a hobby we are still learning that bad things happen and we are helpless?

 

[Crabs McJones]

Since 2002 I have had several favorite fish the first being an Imperator Angelfish that I grew from a juvenile to an adult, king of the tank, fat as all get out but in a matter of weeks did not eat, removed most of the fish in the tank and yet he still perished.
I had him in my tank for 6+ years.

Second Copperband Butterfly 2003 till 2016 ate aptasia and everything else you placed in front of him. He was not scared of anything or anyone. Developed a bloated stomach and even though I tried to feed medicated foods he still perished being with me for 13 years, I feel it should have been more.

Third and another tough one because after developing a bloated stomach I transferred him and his twin to another tank giving both a Prazi Pro bath which seemed to help, but in a few weeks bloating was back and I lost him this weekend after almost three years of being in my tank.

Is there something that is causing this and is there some magic food or additive that can remedy this? Or as a hobby we are still learning that bad things happen and we are helpless?

#reefsquad @Humblefish Possibly an internal parasite?

 

[alton]

That is the million dollar question. We want our fish to have the best food, and I know it sounds stupid but to keep fish long time we need to figure in great medical care also.

 

[miyags]

Did you add any new fish without QTing first?

 

[Humblefish]

#reefsquad @Humblefish Possibly an internal parasite?

An internal parasite of some kind is my thought as well, but strange that it would cause bloating as usually the opposite occurs.

@alton Have you see any stringy white poop come out of any of your fish? Do their feces look "normal"?

 

[4FordFamily]

What are you feeding? Is it flakes and pellets or frozen, primarily? Nori?

 

[miyags]

dropsy?

 

[alton]

Did you add any new fish without QTing first?

No in all three case no other issues where observed.

An internal parasite of some kind is my thought as well, but strange that it would cause bloating as usually the opposite occurs.

@alton Have you see any stringy white poop come out of any of your fish? Do their feces look "normal"?

The Golden was the only fish that may have had some stringy poop, but when they where given a Prazi Pro bath both Goldens seemed to clean themselves out. After that there was no more strange poop.

What are you feeding? Is it flakes and pellets or frozen, primarily? Nori?

Frozen PE Mysis, Spiralina Brine, Mini Mysis for the CB and Imp. Most of my fish today get Reef frenzy or Herbivore Frenzy mixed with Spirulina Brine
Spirulina Brine and Mini Mysis for the Golden.

Our food that we feed today is so much better than what I fed 10 years ago, what I am hoping/looking for is a magical mix of vitamins/cures/deworming that we feed to our fish once a year almost like a vaccine to our domestic animals when we visit the vet?

 

[alton]

I should add the Cb and Imp where together in a 200, The Cb then made it to my 300DD upgrade. The Golden was in my 65 gallon office tank that I enjoyed five days a week from 5:30 am to 4:30 pm. They where great tank mates to my blue spotted jawfish. The second Golden has been moved to my Qt tank at my home where he/she will be observed for a month before being added to my 180 at home.

 

[4FordFamily]

No in all three case no other issues where observed.


The Golden was the only fish that may have had some stringy poop, but when they where given a Prazi Pro bath both Goldens seemed to clean themselves out. After that there was no more strange poop.



Frozen PE Mysis, Spiralina Brine, Mini Mysis for the CB and Imp. Most of my fish today get Reef frenzy or Herbivore Frenzy mixed with Spirulina Brine
Spirulina Brine and Mini Mysis for the Golden.

Our food that we feed today is so much better than what I fed 10 years ago, what I am hoping/looking for is a magical mix of vitamins/cures/deworming that we feed to our fish once a year almost like a vaccine to our domestic animals when we visit the vet?

Well, for one, soaking frozen foods (I strain the water out after microwaving them) in selcon, zoecon, vita chem, etc helps — I also add metroplex and focus and feed for 10-14 days while in quarantine. Focus keeps metroplex bound to the food so the antibiotics are consumed. This will clean out internal parasites, whereas prazi doesn’t do a lot for internal parasites if anything.

I’d recommend nori for the fish, I firmly believe it keeps things moving through their guts. Many fish eat much meatier foods in home aquaria than they’d typically eat in the wild and I think that causes some issues. I feed 50% red and 50% green nori.

 

[Humblefish]

Another possibility is it could be an internal bacterial infection spreading from fish to fish, although that would be rare.

Might be worth a shot to start soaking your fish food with Kanaplex + Seachem Focus to bind the medication to the food.

 

[GoldeneyeRet]

I lost a firefish about a year ago to what seems like the same thing.

Had the fish for years then one day he bloated up. Removed to it and treated with everything. Bloating went down but he died a while later.

Just a red firefish, but so sad to see. Wish I knew what it was and how to treat it.

 

[alton]

Sounds like I will be upping the amount of algae sheets I feed my tanks and once a year give them medicated foods as a preventive. Thanks to everyone for their advice.