Fat Orchid Dottyback

[reef wrangler]

I have an orchid dottyback, Sparky, that is really fat. Sparky eats really well, has been fat for many months and shows no signs of being sick. I have no other dottybacks so there's no chance that Sparky is getting ready to spawn. Anyone else have a fat dottyback? Could this be a parasite?

 

[Big G]

That doesn't look normal. Bump/swollen areas like that can be a lot of things: internal parasites, tumors, or constipation. How does the fish's poop look? Is it white and stringy?

 

[Mariette]

Only time I’ve ever seen a fish that “fat” is just before babies are born. If it’s not possible it’s pregnant, I’d be concerned about other possible issues such as internal parasites. Big G asks a very key question about the poop. Hopefully, with all it’s eating, you’ll get a good look at its poop soon

 

[bluprntguy]

Looks nothing like my orchid dottyback.

How long have you had him?

I’d start feeding general cure bound to the food with focus. There must be something going on.

 

[reef wrangler]

I can't say I've seen him poop, at least not any time recently. I don't get much time to just sit and watch the tank. I've had him for at least a year and he's been fat for at least 6 months. I'll treat him and see if that makes a difference. Other than being fat, he seems perfectly healthy and none of my other fish look that way. Thanks for the advice!

 

[reef wrangler]

I can't say I've seen him poop, at least not any time recently. I don't get much time to just sit and watch the tank. I've had him for at least a year and he's been fat for at least 6 months. I'll treat him and see if that makes a difference. Other than being fat, he seems perfectly healthy and none of my other fish look that way. Thanks for the advice!

 

[OrionN]

That dotty back looks normal and healthy to me. She can be full of eggs. When I keep Dottyback, I keep Orchid Dottyback in harem and they do get extremely chunky and doing great.
Your Orchid dottyback is healthy. Don't worry about it. Don't need to catch him and treat him with anti parasite meds.
@Mariette , @reef wrangler: For some picture of fat fish see this thread
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/are-fat-equal-health-in-fish.620031/

 

[Mariette]

I don't think it’s just fat but I wouldn’t treat it unless I knew what exactly was the issue.

 

[reef wrangler]

That dotty back looks normal and healthy to me. She can be full of eggs. When I keep Dottyback, I keep Orchid Dottyback in harem and they do get extremely chunky and doing great.
Your Orchid dottyback is healthy. Don't worry about it. Don't need to catch him and treat him with anti parasite meds.
@Mariette , @reef wrangler: For some picture of fat fish see this thread
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/are-fat-equal-health-in-fish.620031/

How long do they stay fat with eggs?