Bloated Tiger Barb

[tokyo]

I have a 20g standard that I was originally keeping cycled with ammonia to use as fry tank for my breeding cichlids, but someone I know was getting rid of four tiger barbs and two gouramis. He threatened to flush them down the toilet if I didn't take them. I'm pretty sure he was kidding but just to be safe I took them and put them in the 20g I was saving for fry. I know its overstocked, but I don't have anymore tank space available.

Anyways, its been probably about two months now and I've noticed that one of the tiger barbs has a very rounded belly and two of the others have smaller yet still large and rounded bellies. The biggest one occasionally hangs out with its head pointed down. Not straight down, but slanted. The fourth tiger barb hasn't grown much at all but doesn't have the giant belly

Both gouramis are doing amazingly and have colored up very nicely. I also have three otto catfish in the tank taking care of the algae, and they are doing just fine.

What is wrong with my tiger barbs? Is it a bacterial infection or am I just over feeding?

I've been feeding them cichlid fry crumble since I have a ton of it kicking around. I feed them once a day. I think I will fast them for a few days to see if that helps.

The water parameters are good. No ammonia, no nitrites, nitrates climb very slowly because I have live plants in the tank as well as algae. Nitrates never get over 30ppm.

 

[VaegaVic]

I have a 20g standard that I was originally keeping cycled with ammonia to use as fry tank for my breeding cichlids, but someone I know was getting rid of four tiger barbs and two gouramis. He threatened to flush them down the toilet if I didn't take them. I'm pretty sure he was kidding but just to be safe I took them and put them in the 20g I was saving for fry. I know its overstocked, but I don't have anymore tank space available.
That's not overstocked, it's rather understocked, unless they are massive gouramis?

Anyways, its been probably about two months now and I've noticed that one of the tiger barbs has a very rounded belly and two of the others have smaller yet still large and rounded bellies. The biggest one occasionally hangs out with its head pointed down. Not straight down, but slanted. The fourth tiger barb hasn't grown much at all but doesn't have the giant belly
Could very well be a female who's just full of eggs. It could also be constipation, you could try fasting (not feeding) for one day a week to see if that makes a difference, if not, try the pea method.

Both gouramis are doing amazingly and have colored up very nicely. I also have three otto catfish in the tank taking care of the algae, and they are doing just fine.

What is wrong with my tiger barbs? Is it a bacterial infection or am I just over feeding?

I've been feeding them cichlid fry crumble since I have a ton of it kicking around. I feed them once a day.
I think I will fast them for a few days to see if that helps.
Ah..well..yes..see above..
The water parameters are good. No ammonia, no nitrites, nitrates climb very slowly because I have live plants in the tank as well as algae. Nitrates never get over 30ppm.