MaxM Posted January 31, 2021 Share Posted January 31, 2021 Hi All - I'm concerned about my fish. I'm pretty new in the hobby and am not sure what healthy fish are supposed to look like when they mature. Many of my fish seem to look blotted to me, especially my female swordtails and my gourami. I took my swordtails out for two weeks to medicate them in a QT, but there was very little difference in appearance afterwards. The only symptom is that they look pregnant, but they have looked that way for months. They are not lethargic, nor show pine cone scales, and their feces seem normal color and normal size. They have normal appetite as well. One person I spoke to about this felt that they probably have dead babies inside and will eventually die as a result. The problem is that I bought a Opaline Gourami about two months ago and she now seems possibly bloated as well, albeit, less than the others. My next thought then was that maybe I'm overfeeding them and they are suffering from blotted stomachs. However, part of my treatment of the swordtails had that in mind and I starved them 3 days and then feed them peas for a while. Furthermore, all three fish seem to poop normally. Regardless, I cut back on feeding them to only twice a day instead of three times. The question I have is whether there is a real problem or are they perfectly normal and I'm making something out of nothing? Here are some pics. Sorry if they are not clear enough. P.S. - I also don't know if my danios look normal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colu Posted January 31, 2021 Share Posted January 31, 2021 What are your water parameters and temp your female sword in second pic looks like starting to get pinecone shape Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaxM Posted January 31, 2021 Author Share Posted January 31, 2021 @ColuUsually around 78 degrees Fahrenheit. Rarely have problems with Nitrites. Ammonia sometimes starts to build, but I never let it get to a dangerous level. I have a tester in the tank (see pic above) that changes colors when Ammonia starts to build. As soon as it changes color from yellow I change the water. I do a 25-50% water change ever week (depending what my water parameters are at the time). I'm pretty much on top of the water parameters, so I don't believe that is a factor. Perhaps that is the beginning of "pinecone". The problem is that all the pictures on line are serious cases, so it's are to tell what early signs look like. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colu Posted February 1, 2021 Share Posted February 1, 2021 I would Quarantine and treat with aquarium salt 1 table spoon for 2 gallons for 1week it will help in the meantime it might not be dropsy but if the bloating get worse treat with maracyn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaxM Posted February 1, 2021 Author Share Posted February 1, 2021 @Colu The problem I'm facing is that I have a common pleco in that tank. If I add salt to the tank it may hurt the pleco. My QT is now operating as a tank for my wife. If I go out and buy a QT tank, I can only afford a small one. I'm worried that adding three large fish to a small tank that hasn't been cycled may spike and kill the fish. Any advice? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HardeepTheLondoner Posted February 1, 2021 Share Posted February 1, 2021 Buy a bottle of Prime and do water changes in a small quarantine tank. That will be a temporary home for them so it shouldn’t be too bad, provided you can test and change water accordingly. How big is the tank? Common Plecos get huge and poop a lot too😜 4 hours ago, MaxM said: @Colu The problem I'm facing is that I have a common pleco in that tank. If I add salt to the tank it may hurt the pleco. My QT is now operating as a tank for my wife. If I go out and buy a QT tank, I can only afford a small one. I'm worried that adding three large fish to a small tank that hasn't been cycled may spike and kill the fish. Any advice? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colu Posted February 1, 2021 Share Posted February 1, 2021 Aquarium salt 1 table spoon for 3 gallons will ok to use with common plec 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaxM Posted February 1, 2021 Author Share Posted February 1, 2021 @HardeepTheLondoner My present tank is about 25 gallons. I realize that a common pleco needs much bigger. However, my understanding is that after the first year they tend to grow at a slower rate. I'm hoping to buy a larger tank in a couple of months. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaxM Posted February 1, 2021 Author Share Posted February 1, 2021 16 minutes ago, Colu said: Aquarium salt 1 table spoon for 3 gallons will ok to use with common plec From where do you know this? I only saw sites that state not to use salt with Plecos. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colu Posted February 1, 2021 Share Posted February 1, 2021 (edited) I have treated bristles nose pleco and sailfin pleco with aquarium salt not had any problems I would no use more than 1 table spoon for 3 gallons with plecs Edited February 1, 2021 by Colu Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colu Posted February 2, 2021 Share Posted February 2, 2021 If your worried about the Plec and salt start at 1 table spoon for 5 gallons and increase the amount over a couple of days and monitor Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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