Regal Angelfish suddenly has large bulge on side.

[UncleSalty]

Hello! My Regal Angelfish suddenly has a large bulge on his side. There has been 0 new additions to this tank in well over a year, and this has came out of the blue. I 'think' its a constipation. He did eat 1 shrimp yesterday and that was it. He did NOT eat today. Even yesterday, he is not aggressive towards the food like he was 2 days ago.

As of now, he lays on his side but when I pulled him close to the surface in a colander he seemed to be a 'bit' more active. Because I believe its constipation I went ahead and dosed Epsom Salt since I know he won't eat a pea. I was curious if anyone could confirm this was constipation or if I need to be treating for something else!

 

[UncleSalty]

@Humblefish

 

[UncleSalty]

@4FordFamily #reefsquad

 

[UncleSalty]

He is now floating aimlessly at the surface of the aquarium. Still alive and does everything he can to right himself. A lot of effort for a guy I thoguht at 6am was a goner. I think this is either swim bladder disease or constipation. Hopeful for the latter.

 

[cancun]

He is now floating aimlessly at the surface of the aquarium. Still alive and does everything he can to right himself. A lot of effort for a guy I thoguht at 6am was a goner. I think this is either swim bladder disease or constipation. Hopeful for the latter.

Hi! Beautiful specimen! What other fish do you have with him? Any agression issues? Hopefully it us just constipation. I had a beautiful blue headed Wrasse I raised from a very small juvi....he wasn't agressive and would eat out of my hand. One day he ate a large hermit crab in my tank....he had a bulge on his side and couldn't swim. I tried the frozen pea, but he wouldn't eat it. I did Epsom salt too. Nothing worked, unfortunately I lost him. He was my favorite fish. I am keeping my fingers crossed for you and your fish he pulls through. Hopefully others will Chime in too. Keep us posted!

 

[Humblefish]

Can you see a protruding anus i.e. a rectal prolapse on him?

 

[UncleSalty]

Can you see a protruding anus i.e. a rectal prolapse on him?

Sadly. He passed away around 10pm. There was no protruding anus though. He seemed like he couldn’t move his body but only one direction because of the lump. I did everything I knew how to do. Really shocked this happened to him.

 

[ca1ore]

Without performing an 'autopsy', hard to say. I have had something like this happen on two occasions. In both cases, I assumed some kind of alimentary blockage. In one case, an emperor angel, it resolved naturally; in the other, a pyramid Butterfly, the fish died. Could also have been some kind of tumor.