Hello, I've got a problem with my old synodontis catfish. He's had a swollen belly for a few weeks now. He looks like as if he has eaten something big (looks like a gulper catfish eating a whole fish that you can see on youtube videos). Other than that he is fine, but definitely he is not healthy. I suspect he's got parasites but I have no clue as to what should I do and how to cure him. He is alone in the aquarium, no plants, a few roots and sand as a substrate.
Swollen synodontis' belly
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CaptainBarnicles
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Do you think you could grab a snap of him so we have a visual?
Is the fish still eating well?
What does the fish's poop look like?
A lot of catfish gain weight in aquariums because they are well fed and don't do much exercise. This means they get fat.
If the fish is eating well and does normal coloured poop, it is probably just fat.
If the fish is not eating and does a stringy white poop, it has an intestinal problem.
What does the fish's poop look like?
A lot of catfish gain weight in aquariums because they are well fed and don't do much exercise. This means they get fat.
If the fish is eating well and does normal coloured poop, it is probably just fat.
If the fish is not eating and does a stringy white poop, it has an intestinal problem.
No definitely not fat because he is being fed well. I mean he is only getting flakes right now. I cant see any weird looking poops too. The fish is active as he always was, swiming and behaving normally, its the belly.
Also, his belly would return to normal after a while if he ate too much, whereas now it seems to be more swollen than before.
Also, his belly would return to normal after a while if he ate too much, whereas now it seems to be more swollen than before.
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Nothing else (except taking it to a vet) can be done except trying anti-biotics or a broad spectrum medication that treats bacteria and fungus.
A vet will probably put the fish on anti-biotics and tell you to hope for the best.
A vet will probably put the fish on anti-biotics and tell you to hope for the best.
There are deworming medications but intestinal worms don't normally cause symptoms like this. If you want to try deworming the fish, read section 3 of the following link.
www.fishforums.net
Internal protozoan parasites cause fish to lose weight over a week or two, so this is not protozoan.
Internal bacterial infections can cause fish to bloat up rapidly. These need anti-biotics.
What to do if your fish has Stringy White Poop.
Fish do a stringy white poop for several reasons. 1) Internal Bacterial Infections causes the fish to stop eating, swell up like a balloon, breath heavily at the surface or near a filter outlet, do stringy white poop, and die within 24-48 hours of showing these symptoms. This cannot normally be...
www.fishforums.net
Internal protozoan parasites cause fish to lose weight over a week or two, so this is not protozoan.
Internal bacterial infections can cause fish to bloat up rapidly. These need anti-biotics.
Ya definitely sounds like an interial bacteria infection. Wondering if they are selling any antibiotics for fish in the pet stores in my area. I highly doubt tho, prob only some basic meds for tropical fish. Anyway, what antibiotics do you suggest? Got any names/brands anything to begin with?
According to their website, eSHa-ndx treats only nematodes (round worms), not cestodes (flat worms). eSHa gdex treats cestodes and flukes.
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