Loaches Online Forum

Hello,

I have two Botia striata's in a 70 litre tank, and one of them has a very huge belly, as if is she's pregnant or maybe she has a disease, I don't know.

She doesn't look different than normally, and het behaviour hasn't changed much either. She allows other fish to come quite close and she's still active, although her huge belly is bothering her locomotion.

I've tried to take a good look from underneath, and it looks like if her belly is a baloon and there are little points at the buttom of her belly.

I've got some pictures:






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no sorry mate, but imo that fish is very poorly, it could be gas or fluid thats pumping it up.
there's a good few people on here that will probably help you more than me.

mick

Sorry, but I guess there no eggs the belly of this Botia, because it is to young and not matured enough.
Gerhard

I agree. It does not look like a gravid fish but a fish with some sort of build up of fluid or gas. Good luck, and keep us posted.

Mike

Most of the forummers at a Dutch forum I'm at, tell me it's better to make an end at it's live. So that's probably what I'm gonna do.

Im not so sure, Im not really one to want to put anything down unless Ive tried all that I can and if it is still active and eating thats still a good sign.... I would be inclined to give it a chance.

Im not to sure though what way you would treat this; does anyone think antibiotics are worth a try

If you do intend to put the fish down, best to use the clove oil method as it is much less stressful on the fish and painless.



Ashleigh

To be honest I don't want to give up so quickly or easily, because she is still very active, her behaviour doesn't show a deadly sick fish. Only her belly is bothering her to swim als easily as she wishes.
I've put her in quarantine, with lots of plants and shelter, I turned out the light - I've been told they prefer shadowed light/dusk (not sure how it's called in English) - and I've put the other Botia with her so the stress of being alone is less. I'm gonna buy a sort of medecin later this afternoon.

And that method for putting her down, I've never heard of it, I usually flush them down the toilet. So how does that work and are there any other methods (just in case for this fish or another in the future)?

The best way I find is to boil cloves in a pan of water for 10-15mins then allow to cool (you can use clove oil but I have only used actual cloves myself). The mixture is then gradually added to a small tank (1-2gal) that the fish is being contained in. You will gradually see gill movement slow and eventually stop. I have heard of people delivering a short hard blow to the head, and also there is a freezer method which most will agree is inhumane, the clove oil method is best by far.

I personally would not have put her tank mates into quarantine with her if they are showing no sign of illness. The idea is to prevent and to isolate what she has. You have the right idea in decreasing light and providing her with plenty of areas for cover

If it is a build up of fluid, Im not to sure what way you would go about treating it, in other fish (ie not loaches) I would use salt to aid osmoregulation but imo salt and loaches do not mix so thats out the door. If the fluid is a result of a bacterial infection I would think your best bet would be getting hold of some antibiotics-Im not to sure what brands/names you have them under were you are (Im only familiar with UK brands).

Do you see her poop at all? if so, normal colour etc? Bit of an odd question but it would be an indication that her internal organs are functioning well.

Not to sure what else to recomend at the moment, hopefully someone with a bit more experience will be able to chip in with some ideas.


As long as shes active and eating I would try and treat her with what you can and hope she pulls through


Edit;
Would it be possible if you could post up tank parameters (ammonia, nitrite, nitrate)


Ashleigh

The fish didn't make it, it was floading at the surface last night.

Sorry you lost your fish. Having recently lost my 3 Clowns to Ich I feel your pain.

Dropsy http://www.thetropicaltank.co.uk/hddropsy.htm is what I was thinking but hell it could be anything.

Sorry you lost her.
Did you open up the abdomen to see what was in there?