FishnFry

A friend of mine had a male angelfish that looked bloated. She said he acts/eats/breed normally but his belly is just too big. He's been treated for weeks now (I don't know what meds) and still looks the same. I wonder if somebody had the same problem with this and maybe help ID what is wrong with it. Pls see attachment.

Thanks.

Isabella

I am not too good with diseases, but I think it could be either Dropsy or some internal tumor perhaps? Did you read the "Disease Chart" on the top of this board? It describes various diseases and how to treat them.

Boy, this poor Angel really does look sick This doesn't look normal to me at all. The stomach/belly area is definitely too large. You say the Angel has been treated. But what did your friend treat it for? You have to be sure what you're treating for, as the wrong medication can make the fish even sicker.

It looks like my gold veiltail Angel, only mine is also pearly. Nevertheless, your friend has a really beautiful Angel. I truly hope it recovers.

Also, do you know your friend's parameters: ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate? What is the temperature of his tank water? How large is the tank? What and how many fish does he/she have in it?

COBettaCouple

can you also find out what your friend has been feeding that angelfish? and did this angel get the bloated look quickly or has it slowly gotten to this point?

Allie

Hi there this is my fish...we've been treating him for dropsy. His belly has been getting bigger slowly...we've been treating him with an anti parasite and anti bacterial meds, aquarium salt (not Epsom salt yet) but still no changes. Personally I believe it's a tumor inside of him.
He has been in a 120g with 6 other angels. We take care of the tank and the parameters are normal...we have him in a 20g sick tank until we can figure out what's going on...he's a great fish I'd hate to lose him.

Isabella

How often and what amounts of food do you feed him? What kinds of food? Any other fish, besides the other 5 Angels, in the 120 gallon tank? If so, what kinds and how many?

If you've been treating him non-stop for more than 2 - 3 weeks, I think the poor thing needs a break from medications and a good clearing up of water. He needs very clean water, especially now.

Normal ... meaning 0 Ammonia and 0 Nitrite? What about Nitrate? Also, are the parameters that good in the 120 gallon tank too? How often and how large water changes do you perform in both the 120 and the 20 gallon tanks?

Butterfly

It's either constipated or egg bound. Its spawning genitalia is presenting. Looks to be a female.
In either case I would do a huge water change, raise temps to between 82-84F and fast it for about 2-3 days.
In either case the above should help.
Doesn't look like Dropsy to me, if it was then her scales would be standing out straight from the body like a pine cone by now. Just my two cents worth Keep us posted on how she does.
Carol

R1S3X

I Have a green tiger barb that looks like that to and ive treated him and nothing happen it looks ok and swims and eats ok

R1S3X

I have a tiger barb that looks just like that to but nothing happen when i treated him

he swims and eat great

Allie

We do weekly water changes on both tanks..but since the fish has been in the 20g we do daily water changes with meds. Normal ... meaning 0 Ammonia and 0 Nitrite...yes. I have only been treating him for 6 days with meds. The other fish I have are listing my signature.

Butterfly

What temp is the water? Are you still feeding her? Fish can go several days to a week without eating without harm. I know it's gross but what does her feces look like.
Carol

Isabella

You're right Carol. I didn't think of that. Now I remember what one of my Neons looked like when it had Dropsy: exactly like a pine cone. Like I said, I'm not too good with diseases. It's most likely constipation or that the fish is full of eggs. Although my female Angel that breeds regularly never has her belly as big as the one on the picture above. I've never seen a pregnant Angel with such a big belly. This is why I assumed it must be some disease. But other than the swelling, the Angel's body looks very well. The fact that it eats normally is a good sign too. Also, the breeding tube in my female Angel is much bigger and round compared to the one appearing in the above picture. But I guess some Angels have it larger while others have it smaller? I'd probably think the tube of the Angel on the above picture is that of a male because it appears to me more pointed rather than round. But these are just my guesses based on the observation of my own Angels. Whatever the case here, I certainly hope it's just constipation or pregnancy, and not some disease.

Oops, sorry, I didn't see your signature The 120 gallon tank is not overstocked (I'm assuming you don't have as many Plecos as to make it overstocked) so that's very good. Looks like you have very good water changing habits in both the 20 and the 120 gallon tank How often and what amounts of food do you usually feed your Angelfish?

As Carol has said, maybe it's just constipation or that the Angel is full of eggs. Do you know with certainty if it's a male or female? How old is this Angel? Has it ever laid or fertilized eggs? Does it have a mate?

Butterfly

most angels when they get ready to spawn aren't swollen as this one is but if it is egg bound it could be rather large. I assumed( I know never assume ) the breeding tube was out only a little because it was being pushed out not because it was ready to spawn. Water changes(I see your doing those) and warmer water will help her release her eggs if indeed she is egg bound.
Are you still feeding her? If shes constipated packing more food in won't help. A fast of a few days will be beneficial and maybe she would eat some pea for you.
Carol

Allie

It's a MALE angelfish so that isn't the problem.
I feed them 3 times a day. They get a varied diet: pellets, flakes, blood worm too but I ran out of that weeks ago. The poo is normal...as was said he is acting normal except for the bloat.

He is shrinking.

Isabella

I thought is was a male. And I am very glad the bloating - or whatever it is - is going away With respect to feeding, if you feed 3 times a day, feed very small amounts. Fish ALWAYS look hungry and they ALWAYS beg for food. But this can easily cause us to overfeed. Overfeeding my lead to constipation, as Carol has mentioned. A small pinch of food, 3 times a day, is more than enough.

Allie

I was gone the past few hours came home & my angel's swelling is way down!! I hope he can make thru...should I continue to treat him...it's been a week today?
Yes I am going to lessen the feedings...I was giving them too much I believe.

Butterfly

Glad you know it's gender LOL all that pressure was making it look like a female glad it's doing better, it's always hard when Our babies are sick.
carol

COBettaCouple

I'd treat him if you have any doubts about if you should continue treatment. Maybe fast him followed by feeding him peas for a day or 2.

Allie

Okay he is still big and doesn't look good to me...here are some updated pixs.
Should his gills be that bright pink? I really think it's a tumor...It's like you can see something in big inside his belly area.
He is so faded looking. I am worried and doubt he'll make it back in the 120g to breed again
Treating for 1 week and a few days...a week without food...until today. I dunno what else to do for him...I don't want to over medicate him.

COBettaCouple

yea.. unfortunately he's not looking any better and a tumor does seem to be at the root of things. one other possibility is -- could he have swallowed a piece of gravel?

Allie

I dunno, it's silica sand we have in our tanks. He has dropsy b/c of the tumor I believe...I am going to try one more treatment...next week & if it doesn't help.

COBettaCouple

i wish i could think of some other possibility, but it really does sound like the chance of it being a tumor are pretty good.

Butterfly

Are the scales starting to stick out like a pinecone?

Allie

Not yet...but he doesn't look right at all.

It's making me mad...he is a part of breeding pair with my silver angelfish. I have like 2 known males out of 12 fish...& one possible male.

Isabella

Wow, he really does look disturbing on the pictures I really HOPE it's only some terrible case of constipation, and not a tumor or Dropsy. I wish you best of luck with it. At any rate, keep your water as clean as possible and don't overfeed.

Just a question: Do you use any activated carbon /charcoal/zeolite in your 120 gallon tank and in the hospital tank where you're keeping the sick Angel? If so, what are you using and how often do you change it? During the treatment period, remove whataver the chemical medium you have in your filter, as it will render your medication ineffective. After you've finished medication, insert a new chemical medium in your filter to remove the remnants of the medication from the water. But anyway, this is not why I am asking if you have any activated carbon /charcoal/zeolite in your tanks.

Allie

My poor fish died over night. RIP Sunny

COBettaCouple

poor Sunny.. he put up a real fight and you did too. we're sorry for your loss.

Isabella

I'm so sorry Though I wonder if it really was some tumor or just bloating. Anyway, at least he's not suffering anymore.