Gem Tang Bloated Stomach. NEED HELP

BigKid4788 · Sep 16, 2016

I have a gem tang that is severly bloated. I bought this about a week ago and a few days after I received it I noticed it was bloated. The fist few days he was picking on the rocks and everything looked good. I need some advice pretty quick because it doesn't look good. He as been in QT or 2 days with API general cure. I have tried boiled peas but he doesn't even look at it. I have tried soaking good in mysis but no luck either.

Please HELP.

helen ann · Sep 16, 2016

Sorry about your tang

#reefsquad

BigKid4788 · Sep 16, 2016

Anyone?

Humblefish · Sep 16, 2016

Can you post a photo of the bloated fish?

BigKid4788 · Sep 16, 2016

I'm not very tech savvy. Tried to upload file and it wouldn't upload to YouTube. Tried to download file from laptop and it wouldn't.
Fish looks like a cross between a gem and a puffer. Bloat from anus to behind pectoral fins

BigKid4788 · Sep 16, 2016

Humble. I can text you a video of you pm me your #

Humblefish · Sep 16, 2016

How long have you had this fish? I read online they are collected at a depth of between 30 to 200 feet. If the fish was collected in deep water and not properly decompressed before being brought to the surface, it could have a gas bubble in it's swim bladder.

BigKid4788 · Sep 16, 2016

Had it for less than a week. Collector had for a couple weeks before sending it to me

Humblefish · Sep 16, 2016

Swim bladder disorder from an improperly collected specimen can take weeks/months to show up. Read this: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/venting-a-swim-bladder-black-cap-basslet.219954/

Also check out the links below:

http://www.reefdup.com/2014/01/05/swim-bladder-inflammation-in-fish/

https://reefbuilders.com/2011/12/01...s-simple-procedure-correct-downswimming-fish/

BigKid4788 · Sep 17, 2016

I believe I was able to get the link.

Humblefish · Sep 17, 2016

@BigKid4788 Have you seen this fish poop lately?

I'm pretty sure this is not a case of simple constipation but I'd like to be sure. The alternative explanations would be something along the lines of a gas bubble in the swim bladder or internal tumor growth.

Calling @Bmwm235i for his take on this.

Humblefish · Sep 17, 2016

@BigKid4788 Just to check one thing; you haven't fed this tang red nori by any chance, have you?

BigKid4788 · Sep 17, 2016

He hasn't pooped since I noticed him being bloated.
The only nori he may have eaten was green.
When I got him I placed him in the refugium that has cheato and a couple otheR green algae. There was some red algae on the glass he was picking at.

BigKid4788 · Sep 17, 2016

Would a internal Timor grow that fast? When I got him he was fine and then a couple days later he was bloated

Humblefish · Sep 17, 2016

BigKid4788 said:
He hasn't pooped since I noticed him being bloated.

^^This suggests constipation, but I've never seen a fish that bloated before.

It's hard to say if something (like a growth) is blocking/preventing him from defecating. He needs an Xray.

Since he won't eat the peas, this is what I would do next:

Dose Epsom salt @ 1 tablespoon per 5 gallons. This will serve as a laxative.
Dose kanamycin (i.e. Kanaplex) as diarrhea is a listed side effect for that medication. Food soaking it would be even better.

Calling #reefsquad for other opinions.

RMS18 · Sep 17, 2016

That's a big swollen area, however the fish seems to be swimming fine. With a area that swollen if it was a swim bladder issue the fish should be having a hard time staying level. It should be floating to the top with that much air. All the fish I have vented a swim bladder on would have a hard time staying under water and would wedge themselfs under a rock or in pvc. Before venting a swim bladder i would try the Epson salt trick. Venting a swim bladder puts a lot of stress on a fish and opens the fish up to secondary infections. So before we go that route I would try all other options. Water quality is huge here. I would make sure to keep that water crystal clear and have no traces of any ammonia or detritus. Improving the water quality sometimes will improve the swollen swim bladder from my experainces, it can also bring on a swollen swim bladder as I have also experienced on my own fish. Try the Epson salt trick first if that doesn't work we can look into venting the swim bladder and we can talk further.

Humblefish · Sep 17, 2016

^^Good advice. I also would stop feeding meaty foods for now and only feed green nori. Who knows, if he gets hungry enough he might even eat the peas.

What foods do you normally feed him? That might be at the root of the problem.

Humblefish · Sep 17, 2016

Also, only use “USP” grade Epsom salt. It needs to be plain... no smelly stuff like lavender should be mixed in. You can buy Epsom salt at any Walmart or drug store.

BigKid4788 · Sep 17, 2016

Humblefish said:
^^Good advice. I also would stop feeding meaty foods for now and only feed green nori. Who knows, if he gets hungry enough he might even eat the peas.

What foods do you normally feed him? That might be at the root of the problem.

I just had gotten him. I put some mysis and green nori

Highgrade · Sep 17, 2016

Humblefish said:
^^This suggests constipation, but I've never seen a fish that bloated before. It's hard to say if something (like a growth) is blocking/preventing him from defecating. He needs an Xray.

Since he won't eat the peas, this is what I would do next:

Dose Epsom salt @ 1 tablespoon per 5 gallons. This will serve as a laxative.

Dose kanamycin (i.e. Kanaplex) as diarrhea is a listed side effect for that medication. Food soaking it would be even better.

Calling #reefsquad for other opinions.

+1 on the Kanaplex and I would combine with Vitamin C added to tank and to food. I've personally witnessed fish with diarrhea using this combo in a QT set up. Pretty odd but it may do the trick.