Distended Gut on Blueline Trigger
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Jay Hemdal
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I've noticed the gut of my Blueline has been distended for the last month or so. I've attached some pictures. It is still eating but seems slightly off.
Some sort of internal parasite?
Internal parasites like tapeworms generally cause emaciation. Bloating can be caused by:
1) Over eating (my personal issue!)
2) Egg binding (not in this case as it does not look full sized)
3) Ascites (fluid build up from liver failure)
4) Intestinal blockage
Is the trigger still eating well? Any other symptoms?
What if you withhold food for a few days and see if it slims down?
Jay
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0MNSH1ZLLC
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Thanks Jay. I feed once a day and he's always in the mix. It is one of the smallest fish, low in the hierarchy and I don't think it eats every day so that is what caused concern. It gets bounced around by the mp40 and just seems lethargic. Also, this fish grew like a weed the first few months and I haven't noticed much growth in months but none of the others seem to have any issues.
MnFish1
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Also - is it seeming like its swimming with a back up attitude - i.e could be a swim bladder issue. I would consider antibiotics or a change in food - what are you feeding? The lethargy suggests a treatment may help
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0MNSH1ZLLC
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I have some prazi but not currently dosing. I also have copper power if needed.
I’ve had this fish for at least 6 months.
I’ve had a fish with swim bladder before definitely doesn’t seem like that but I’ll take a video later today.
Jay Hemdal
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I’ve had issues with both blue line triggers and cathidermis triggers keeping them healthy longterm - they do great for me at first, then get thin and die.
You could try general cure in a treatment tank…that works against tapeworms and internal protozoans.
Jay
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0MNSH1ZLLC
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Treated the tank with Prazi yesterday, made the tank cloudy and skimmer go nuts.
Here is a video:
They all seem to be somewhat lethargic today especially the BL. Is that normal?
Jay Hemdal
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Sorry, I meant you should use General Cure, which is praziquantel and metronidazole together.
Some lethargy is normal, but you need to ensure the tank is well aerated.
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0MNSH1ZLLC
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Thanks, I'll order some.
ORP is 380, I run Ozone weekly. Should I run it for 30-60?
Nburg's Reef
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Lol I have seen my bluethroat's over eat, then hide in their cave and barf out a bunch of unchewed mysis.
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0MNSH1ZLLC
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It's just sort of "triggered up" in the same spot for 2 days now not eating...kinda worried.
Was thinking about going 1.0 on copper? Thoughts?
Jay Hemdal
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Well, I agree that the fish acting more lethargic is not a good sign. I just don't see anything that speaks of an external protozoan infection, and that is what copper treats. If you do go that route, I would avoid 1 ppm - if you are using ionic copper, that is too high and if you are using amine based copper, that is way too low. For coppersafe and copper power, the level is 2.25 ppm, plus or minus 0.25 ppm. For Cupramine, the dose is 0.50 to 0.60 ppm
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0MNSH1ZLLC
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Yes I’m using copper power I’m going to hold off as it ate today but still bloated and moving around seldomly…every other fish is good.
You mentioned having problems with Bluelines before what was the issue? Thanks!
Jay Hemdal
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I’ve had issues with blue lines and some other triggers doing well for weeks/months and then just dying. Bloating wasn’t a symptom with my fish, but there is certainly something that was affecting just these triggers. Balistode triggers don’t seem to have this issue.
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0MNSH1ZLLC
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I really only have problems with triggers and it seems to be the same thing unfortunately. Lost my blue throat and first golden heart right before I got this guy to similar symptoms just like you said they were fine for months then just triggered up for a few days/weeks then croaked.
Jay Hemdal
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The trigger does NOT look like the ones I've lost in the past (they all got thin towards the end) - this could be constipation perhaps. It might also have an obstruction from swallowing something not digestible, like a snail shell or bit of gravel. I don't have any advice for you other than to "wait and see". I know that sounds lame, but there really isn't any "cure" for a blockage or constipation, other than time to see if it works itself out. If you run a Google search, you'll see a lot about using Epsom salts (magnesium chloride) but sea salt already contains a lot of that salt, so it is really only a treatment for freshwater fish. In some cases, feeding a "purgative" can help - some food that has a lot of roughage in it. Frozen brine shrimp is a good option.
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0MNSH1ZLLC
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Glad to hear it, I picked up some cheap store bought shrimp that was high in sodium…I wonder if that’s what did it. I’ll pick up some brine tomorrow.
Also fed salmon for the first time too. Hopefully it continues to bounce back.
Also fed salmon for the first time too. Hopefully it continues to bounce back.
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0MNSH1ZLLC
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dang Blueline just up and died.
2 theories:
I've had most of my problems with triggers, this is the 3rd trigger I've had pass in this tank in similar fashion. Could it be a parasite that is endemic to triggers?
Could the parasites have been keeping the trigger alive and the prazi killed them off killing them both?
@Jay Hemdal
