SICK PARADISE

[SRC]

Unfortunately yes, they can pass away from constipation, from a ruptured organ (they can only take so much pressure you know).

Hopefully the salt bath helps things "move along" and things will get back to normal. If he is pooing at all, that is a good sign, that things are at least trying to move along.

Here are several articles on fish Constipation. I would say that in a day or two if one method doesn't work..I would definately try another. I woudl try the Epsom Salt method listed below...that seems like the best option for a dire situation..and yours sounds very dire indeed.

Constipation

Description:
Constipation is a fairly common problem with fish. It can occur due to lack of variety in diet. The fish's stomach will be swollen due to its inability to defecate. This may cause problems with buoyancy (similar to swim bladder disorder, where the fish is unable to swim properly and floats at the surface). Initially it is not dangerous to the fish but after several days secondary problems can occur: bacterial infection, damage to the swim bladder, or internal fluid leakage.

Treatment:
Fast the fish for about 3 days. The lack of food will give the fish's stomach time to process and purge, allowing its swelling to go down. At the end of the third day, if the fish is still having difficulty, it may require a longer fasting period. A betta can, at extreme, survive for a month without food (this is part of natural survival technique) so do not fear not feeding your betta for a few days. They are very durable fish. At the end of the fasting period, if you really want to ensure the system is flushed out, you can feed a bite-size portion of a cooked and de-shelled green pea to the fish. Or, daphnia can work as a natural laxative. This, too, will help to purge out the system.

Giving the fish a soak in a salt bath can also work as a laxative.

Prevention:
Vary the fish's diet more. Provide enough plant material, or with carnivores feed more live/frozen foods and less processed foods. Skipping feeding one day a week may be beneficial, as can eliminating pelleted food and also adding daphnia to their diet.

Constipation
If your fish is having trouble passing feces, or if they are constantly trailing behind a fish, your fish has constipation. This is often caused by a diet without enough variety, or by feeding too many starchy foods.

This problem is easily solved by feeding your fish a diet with more variety and roughage. Some suggestions are live foods, peas, spinach, and tubifex worms. Enticing your fish to swallow one grain of Epsom salt is also said to be beneficial.

It is also advised that dry fishfood be soaked in water until it is soft before feeding it to your fish. This helps in digestion, and also reduces the likelihood of constipation.

The problem should clear up in a day or two. If it does not, you are advised to contact a vet or pet expert for further instruction.

EPSOM SALTS is used to treat constipation in fish. From the tank, remove half the water to a clean container to which is added epsom salts (magnesium sulphate) at the rate of 1 tablespoon per gallon (this keeps water temperature constant for the initial part of the bath. Swim the fish in this solution for 1/4 to 1/2 hour or until stress shows or faeces are released. Top the water up in the fish's usual container with dechloraminated water and return the fish to it. Change the water in about an hour to remove any faeces and residual salts. Dispose of the epsom salts solution by pouring it around your citrus trees or onto the garden beds, as it is a good for treating magnesium deficiencies in soils.

Constipation

Some fish are more susceptible to constipation than others. Usually fish with more compressed bodies like angelfish and silver dollars. Symptoms are loss of appetite and swelling of the body. The cause is almost always diet.
Usually, with a change of diet, the condition rights itself. But in stubborn cases try dried food that has been soaked in medicinal paraffin oil. Glycerol or castor oil may also be used. If the diet is changed on a regular basis and live foods offered occasionally this condition may never occur.

 

[SHANTYMAID]

well it has being one hell of a morning my fish there is no change he is still bloated and i also noticed that he had a small amount of pinecombing, just around the swollen stomach. He is extremely pale still and have given him the chance to feed but to no avail. He is really poorly and noticing the pinecombing i dont feel it is consitpation anymore, the black motion that i saw in him yesterday has now gone and i cant see any more coming through. So it's either Dropsy or possibly Bloat?, i have read up on both .There is a couple of things that i could give him melifix or pimafix so i have gone out and bought the pimafix to see if that will help. So i have dosed him and he does seem to be swimming a bit better, colouration has altered slightly now he's still very pale but he has been flashing very dark every now and again. so all i can do now is wait and see if the treatment works, i think we will be extremely lucky if the fish makes it...
Again thank you to all of the people that have answered my question and given suggestions.

 

[WILDER]

Drospy once pinecombing shows that the last stage of the desease, i'm afraid that there is nothing you can do for the fish now, I would issolate the fish if you can, sorry, and let it die in peace.

 

[SRC]

You can try a fairly new aproach at treating dropsy..if you want to spend the money.

It's called Collodial Silver. You can get it online or at a loca health store, like GNC (although they only sell low doasgae there if I'm not mistaken.)

This thread directs you to a link where you can buy it online, at the correct dosage you'd want to treat dropsy.

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=73193&hl=

If you think they fish is too far gone, it would be best to Euthanize him. Not just let him continue to suffer, if you think he is suffering.

If you haven't ever Euthanized a fish, here is the directions:
http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=8031

I've had to do it a few times...and trust me you feel better doing it then knowing you let them just suffer til they die. Sorry about your fish.

 

[SHANTYMAID]

My fish died today im abdolutly gutted thank you all for the advice and help
shanna xxxxxxxx

 

[WILDER]

Sorry for your loss.

 

[SRC]

awww that's too bad, sorry to hear that. You can't say you didn't try though, so try to feel some solace in that.

 

[SHANTYMAID]

Thanks for the advice, it just seems a shame but know this is life and nature will have her way again thanks shanna x