Dropsy?

[alandra_lee]

I have had my 55 gallon aquarium for about 4 years now. I've never had a problem with disease. I have a very healthy tank, too healthy in fact since my Buffalohead Cichlids are suddenly breeding at an amazing rate.

Suddenly, for no apparent reason, my Julidochromis bloated to an enormous size. Water tests found nothing wrong with the water quality. I did an enormous water change anyway, with no effect. I also added some antibiotics to the water. The Julidochromis remained enlarged for a week or two, at which point its belly appears to have ruptured. Crazy thing, though... the fish was still alive and did not look all that stressed. However, it did die the day after I noticed the ruptured belly.

My question... would dropsy cause an otherwise healthy fish in an otherwise healthy tank to rupture?

Note: I'd had the fish for about 3 years.

 

[Gibbo]

One for CM I think... if the scales were protruding then it would sound like Dropsy, but the fish usually act off colour. Dropsy is allied to fish TB and is most likely to be seen in poorly kept tanks although it can strike fish in old age due to the immune system being weakened. It hits fish hard and recovery is very unlikely. The swelling could've been a blockage of some sort, either intestinal (constipation?) or reproductive (egg bound?).

What do you feed your fish?
What are your water perameters?
Did any of your other fish pick at the corpse?

 

[alandra_lee]

The scales were not protruding, which made me think it was not dropsy.

I feed my fish Omega-one veggie flakes, with occasional HBH Soft and Moist Krill and frozen (or live) brine shrimp. They seem to be thriving, and no fish seems to be having digestive difficulties.

I am inclined to think you are right about it maybe being an older fish with weakened immune system. The fish was very healthy looking, though. Bright colors, fins in fantastic shape. Even with the bloating, it swam around no problem.

My water parameters are very good. Ammonia tests negative, pH neutral. I haven't tested the water hardness in awhile, but it's the same city water that I've been using for years. A little hard, but not much so. It is a well established and healthy tank. Trust me, I know my stuff! I'm a big fish geek, but I find this particular case perplexing. I also find it perplexing that I can't find my book on fish diseases, but then again I moved recently.

Answer to last question... The fish do not appear to have picked at the corpse. I'm not sure why. The fish did look recently dead, though.

 

[Gibbo]

I'm not an African Lake specialist but I looked into Bloat and my book says that it hits quick and causes great distress and the fish can die within a few days. That dosn't sound like your symptoms either. Ahh... here we go. Spawn binding - eggbound - If eggs not reabsorbed or shed they can decay inside her leading to bacterial infection of the reproductive tract, usually resulting in death. Worth you looking into that one I think.

I'm pretty sure Cichlidmaster or someone can give more insight into your queries. I hope this has at least helped you a little...

 

[alandra_lee]

The only weird thing about egg-binding would be the fact that the fish had no mate to breed with. It was the only Julidochromis in the tank. The only other fish are a Brichardi, 2 Frontosa, and a herd of Buffaloheads.

Ack! It's so weird and disturbing. I've never had a problem with disease in the 4 or 5 years that I've had the tank.

 

[Gibbo]

According to what I read, she wouldn't have needed one. My female Blue Acara still becomes very receptive even without a mate... she flirts with a Severum instead! Her breeding tube becomes very prominant and she gets quite plump, even going through the motions on a plantpot.

 

[cichlidmaster]

alandra,
First welcome to the board...

Second, I believe Gibbo is correct...eggbound!!!

A female does not need a mate tyo rippen eggs. I have females of the species Aulonocara and no males in the tank. They are forever holding eggs.

I have also lost a frontosa due to being eggbound. The strange thing about that case is her tube did not drop until the day she died at which point I saw a small cluster of eggs hanging from the tube. I did manage to expell about 20 eggs total. This is what told me she had been eggbound.

It is possible to assist the fish in expelling the eggs, but it is a little tricky.

Good call, Gibbo!!

 

[alandra_lee]

Yikes! What do you have to do to get the fish to expel the eggs?

And would being eggbound actualy cause the fish's belly to rupture?

Thanks for the info! I've actually tried posting my question on several forums, but you guys have been the most helpful by far.