HELP! My apistogramma isn’t looking too hot

[Byron]

No not yet. I think I’m gonna do one right now. Wouldn’t a 50% water change stress him out more?

No. Provided the GH, pH and temperature are basically the same, the more water changed the better. Colin already said the same. Fish do not suffer or die from clean water.

 

[wtusa17]

A 75% water change is my first response to any sign of distress or abnormal behaviour in any of my tanks. 9/10 times no further action is needed, except perhaps another change the next day.

Ok. This doesn’t cause stress tho?

 

[wtusa17]

No. Provided the GH, pH and temperature are basically the same, the more water changed the better. Colin already said the same. Fish do not suffer or die from clean water.

Ok thanks. I’m going to do one right now

 

[wtusa17]

Here is what he looks like. His stomach looks bigger than normal

 

[Colin_T]

Monitor the fish and see what his poop looks like. If it's white and stringy there is a problem.

See if he is eating normally. If he's eating well then he is probably just fat.
If he's not eating and does stringy white poop, then he has an internal infection and is dying.

 

[wtusa17]

Monitor the fish and see what his poop looks like. If it's white and stringy there is a problem.

See if he is eating normally. If he's eating well then he is probably just fat.
If he's not eating and does stringy white poop, then he has an internal infection and is dying.

O ok. What do I have to do if he has an infection?

 

[Colin_T]

There's not much you can do if it has an internal bacterial infection. Once the fish does a stringy white poop and stops eating, the internal organs are usually stuffed and the fish normally dies shortly after that.

The fish might have eaten something just before you took the photo. Just monitor it over the next few days and see if it eats.

 

[wtusa17]

There's not much you can do if it has an internal bacterial infection. Once the fish does a stringy white poop and stops eating, the internal organs are usually stuffed and the fish normally dies shortly after that.

The fish might have eaten something just before you took the photo. Just monitor it over the next few days and see if it eats.

Ok. There isn’t any medicine I can give him?