Pregnant or sick?

[elfuego]

I am a new tropical fish owner. Previously, I just had Bettas. I still have my bettas but have become interested in a community tank. Right now in a 10 gallon community tank, I have a very passive female betta, 2 Kuhli loaches , 2 dwarf loaches(no one told me I was supposed to have at least 5. I will get more tomorrow.) , and a flying fox. Everyone seems to be quite happy. However, I noticed one of my dwarf loaches has a very round and prominant stomach. It is normally active and eating like a pig as usual. All other fish are healthy no one is displaying off behavior. From what I can tell from my research on this site a pregnanacy would be close to an immaculate conception. Sooooooo what is up???? Oh yeah, my water ph and other stuff is all good.
P.S. i originally bought my dwarf loaches to go in my 5 gallon with one of my male bettas they proceeded to bite him by the tail and drag him through the water. the betta is very passive so i had the move the dwarfs to the other tank. is this typical behavior???
on topic of shoaling. I have noticed that the 2 dwarfs shoal around with the flying fox. They are quite stunning together.

[helen nightingale]

Hi Elfuego

welcome to loaches Online

do you have a photo of your loach you could post for us?

it is quite feasible that your loach may be containing eggs - they are egg layers not livebearers. its the persuading them to lay and fertilise them and get babies thats the near-impossible bit

maybe your dwarf loaches were agressive towards the betta as they were in too small a group, so were not behaving naturally? hopefully when you get more they might calm down. [/i]

[NancyD]

My dominant sid USED to be very chubby, I thought it could be a female with eggs (not pregnant). Now "she" lives in a bigger tank & no longer gets first "dibs" on the food & shes lost quite a bit of tummy although not skinny by any stretch. There are a couple reports of breeding but it would be extremely rare.

Definately get more if you can. Years ago I had 2 (only ones I ever saw) & loved them. Now I have 10 & It's an amazing difference in their interactions.

[elfuego]

Hi Nancy,
Thanks for the reply. I have spent a large amount of time the past couple of days observing behavior. Mainly because this particular fish no longer looked big. I figured she either dropped the eggs or had a major BM. If she had dropped the eggs my female betta would have surely eaten them right away.(Since my snail infestation from a batch of java moss, my female betta has turned into a bottom feeder exclusively, just like her loach brothers and sisters. She won't touch her floating betta food anymore.) Anyway, I usually feed in the morning and then go to work, then again in the evening. Today I had a day off so I have been watching everyone eat and sure enough she is HUGE again! Sooooo... apparently she is eating too much at one time. I will get my butt to the fish store and buy his remaining dwarfs, as this can't be a healthy habit and probably dosn't happen with a larger more natural group.
I now know that they are egg layers but in my small little mind a large belly filled with eggs or frys would be pregnant. It's more of a earned term for carrying it around however scientifically incorrect.
P.S. Just my opinion but.. I think everyone should own at least one Betta they have wonderful personalities. Not always suited for community tank living but wonderful and amazing just the same.(just like my loaches)

[grizzlyone]

I think gravid is the technical term...carrying eggs, fertilized or not.


Kevin

[elfuego]

Hi Kevin,
gravid-" carrying developing young or eggs." adj. pregnant.
Sorry, I had to look it up. It's not like I don't have anything better to do either.
Anyway, my fish are neither gravid nor full with unfertilized eggs they are just gorging themselves with food!
I have purchased the last 3 dwarfs from my usual fish store, making my total now 5. Hopefully this will change some of the gluttonous behavior. Up here in the U.P. of Michigan they only get 2 shipments of dwarfs a year so I will have to wait for the next one to get more. I will also, cut down on feedings. duh!
i truly meant no offense with the word
Thanks for your input Kevin, as I come here only seeking knowledge.

[NancyD]

elfuego, you might try feeding some veggies. My sids like cucumber, cooked peas (just the "guts") & sometimes slightly cooked zucchini. Low calorie treats a couple time a week.

You also may want to think about a bigger tank, a few more kuhlis would be good too I have some in a 20g long & they zip around very fast sometimes, even more room would probably be good.

ps I have a couple nieces in the U.P., can't think of their tiny town. One goes to school in Marquette but I grew up around Lansing.