Bloated Oscar - is this bad?

I think the menu you are feeding is varied & very healthy for your Oscar.

A small amount of the food in the mixed container is expired since November 2021 (but opened near that date). Talking a single pellet from that food maybe every couple days. I assume this single pellet wouldn't be toxic, just lacking in nutrition?

 

I think the menu you are feeding is varied & very healthy for your Oscar.

His bloat has gotten worse
Going on a 13 day vacation in 2 weeks, so super worried about leaving him. I saw something stick out of his bum, but I think its just the start of some poop. How can I judge if its a worm or not?

What more can I try? Could it possibly just be his new body shape with age?

He is not evenly bloated. One side worse than other. The less bloated side has a darker spot on the scales.

 

Since the Oscar is eating and otherwise acting normally & is able to eliminate waste, probably not a Bloat situation. Maybe not even a disease or parasitic infestation.
The Oscar might just have a predisposition to be obese.

 

Since the Oscar is eating and otherwise acting normally & is able to eliminate waste, probably not a Bloat situation. Maybe not even a disease or parasitic infestation.
The Oscar might just have a predisposition to be obese.

Its just gotten considerably worse, despite small feedings.
Yesterday he was hungry, but now he is not begging for food as usual. Just kinda floating there in place.

I am getting extremely worried. The bloat is worse on one side than the other.

 

You might try feeding metronidazole mixed with food. I can't think of anything else to do.
If you look online there are commercial brands of premixed medicated foods.

 

You might try feeding metronidazole mixed with food. I can't think of anything else to do.
If you look online there are commercial brands of premixed medicated foods.

Is that super rough on him, or friendly enough to try without 100% certainty?
Huge deal if the other bottom fish manage to eat some of it?

 

I don't believe metronidazole is stressful to fish or to benificial bacteria.
Another med that is generally accepted as being safe for fish & environment is Prazipro. Both meds target intestinal parasites.

 

I don't believe metronidazole is stressful to fish or to benificial bacteria.
Another med that is generally accepted as being safe for fish & environment is Prazipro. Both meds target intestinal parasites.

Both seem to be by prescription only
I will call my vet tomorrow and see if its possible to sort. Sweden is strict...

I have one called 'medimor universal'. Been opened 2 months since treating a betta, but stored cool and dark (fridge). Should be fine. Not sure if its the right thing though, and could be pretty rough on him (requires filter removal, and entire tank dosing). Ever heard of that med?
MEDIMOR - Aquarium Münster

Edit: got a good pic of the thing hanging out of his/her bum. Thoughts?
Also did some watertests;
Ph 7.6-7.8
Nitrate 10-20
Nitrite 0
Ammonia 0
This was after 9 days without WC, so usually lower Nitrate than that.

 

Update 8/2:
He is still sluggish today. Not begging for food as he usually does. The thing hanging out of his bum is still there as of this morning. Could this be a dead worm?

A201 What do you think?

 

Found these meds locally, what do you guys think?
Waterlife Sterazin - Gäl- och hudparasiter - 500 ml
JBL Nedol Plus 250

Google translate works pretty well on these sites
Was recommended this one from my LFS. He however did warn that it can be quite brutal on fish, but the product page says different. Thoughts?
Waterlife Octozin Hole In The Head And Bloat Treatment Review - Tropical Fish Site

 

I don't believe metronidazole is stressful to fish or to benificial bacteria.
Another med that is generally accepted as being safe for fish & environment is Prazipro. Both meds target intestinal parasites.

I found a med containing "(2-Methyl-5-nitro-imidazol-1-yl)ethanol"
Is that the same as Metronidazole?

 

You might try feeding metronidazole mixed with food. I can't think of anything else to do.
If you look online there are commercial brands of premixed medicated foods.

Found what appears to be Metro online! Under a different name, but looks similar/same ingredient (seems to be pure metro). Kind of shocked that it is sold from a large store though, as it is illegal here.

Does premixed foods from it cause any damage to filter bacteria or such? The meds suggest 70-100% waterchanges daily when using to avoid ammonia buildup, and warn that filter bacteria will be damaged. It is however unclear if that also applies to food soaked in metro.

Thanks

 

Seachem produce metroplex, which is metronidazole, they say that it does not affect the filter bacteria and can easily be removed using carbon after treatment. I think in food it should be even less likely but it would be wise to keep an eye an water quality to be on the safe side. Good luck with your Oscar, I hope it recovers.

 

Seachem produce metroplex, which is metronidazole, they say that it does not affect the filter bacteria and can easily be removed using carbon after treatment. I think in food it should be even less likely but it would be wise to keep an eye an water quality to be on the safe side. Good luck with your Oscar, I hope it recovers.

After 4 days of starving, his bloat has gone down A LITTLE! He is also behaving completely normally now, moving gravel and fake plant around; begging for food, etc.

Should I still aim for metro treatment, or skip that now? He still has bloat, but behaviour has improved and bloating slightly decreased.

 

After 4 days of starving, his bloat has gone down A LITTLE! He is also behaving completely normally now, moving gravel and fake plant around; begging for food, etc.

Should I still aim for metro treatment, or skip that now? He still has bloat, but behaviour has improved and bloating slightly decreased.

A difficult call but if he is getting better I would probably hold off the treatment for now.

 

A difficult call but if he is getting better I would probably hold off the treatment for now.

Gave him 50mg of metro today dosed in gelatine food. I believe he ate maybe 50% of it, so 25mg. Will it help if I can get a dose of that size in him daily for a few days now?

Unfortunately the pleco's got some in them also, but likely just a mg or two each, so shouldn't be bad.

Also noticed my Oscar has a very hard time swallowing food. He has always had that, but COULD be worse now. He tries several times with each pellet, but most just ends up being expelled through mouth and gills after a lot of chewing.

 

His bloat has decreased even more, and 'good looking' feces has been passed that more than likely belong to him (including a BIG one).

His anus is however a little bit swollen. Maybe just from passing a large stool?
I am leaving for 13 days on friday morning, so not really keen on medicating or so now (especially since he seems to be doing better, other than the swollen anus).

 

Bad update. On my way home today, and the sitter has informed me that his bloat has SEVERELY increased, despite 30-50% feedings.

What more can I do?

 

Oh dear that does not look good. A shame as he seemed to be getting better. Perhaps it is time to consult a vet, if you know one who knows about fishes?

 

Oh dear that does not look good. A shame as he seemed to be getting better. Perhaps it is time to consult a vet, if you know one who knows about fishes?

Very reluctant at bringing him to a Vet, feels like the stress would kill him. As I said, 10 minute walk and 30 minute drive each way. It will be brutal.

I have another 2 hours here before I have to get to the airport. Any meds I should pick up before leaving the USA? Sweden has few available.

 

Ah yes I remember you said abut the vet. The trouble is we don't know what s causing it. If it is bacterial something like Seachem kanaplex might be worth trying perhaps? Or if it is a protozoan eg Hexamita it would be metroplex - maybe get both while you are there?

Is he still eating?

 

Ah yes I remember you said abut the vet. The trouble is we don't know what s causing it. If it is bacterial something like Seachem kanaplex might be worth trying perhaps? Or if it is a protozoan eg Hexamita it would be metroplex - maybe get both while you are there?

Is he still eating?

I have metronidazole already, that is the same as metroptex I believe?

I will look at Kanaplex, thanks!

 

Yes its the same thing . Looking again at the photos I still would not discount the possibility that he is a she and might be egg bound. I googled it does sometimes happen and can cause bloating apparently. Normally the eggs would be reabsorbed though. There seems to be part of the breeding tube showing, and it looks more like a female...

 

they likely won't allow you to bring meds back with you into the country and likely will take them at the airport unless it's prescribed to you, but you could try the ones you've been recommended, really any of them that requires a prescription in your country that it's not required to have one for it here.

Are you 100% sure this fish is a male? it's been 2 months of progressively getting worse. oscars generally do not have any issue with overeating, even large meals, and then pooping large.
I'm thinking it's an eggbound female that won't reabsorb the eggs and cant lay them either, it's become settled pretty far back and low on the fish for it to be "bloat".
gonna be either that or it's an organ failure type issue. I think it's run too long for it to be parasite or bacteria.

I didn't see this thread earlier, but I wouldn't have suspected it until the current pictures the erlier pictures don't show it like ti does now.
I didn't see the water parameters, but pH could be anywhere between 6-8, that would be OK, GH should be anywhere from 5-20 dGH.
other than that, a big water change (30-50%) and bump the temp up to 82F (27-28C) and hopefully she goes through the motions to lay eggs and digs a hole or circles a flat rock.

If the water has been off in some way for a long time, a female fish can just not lay eggs and reabsorb them, but as they get older, that process can stop happening and they just back up and sit there and rot rather than being reabsorbed or laid.

Not sure whats going on here, but the "bloat" is pretty far back, this image may help to understand what I mean about where it is.( I posted a link it's not my picture to post on here and it would cause a problem I think if I did)

https://www./images/graphics/fishanatomy3.jpg
From the picture, the "bloated" area looks like it could only be the gonad area or intestine but I saw the fish was pooping if it were constipation, I'd expect the entire stomach to be Bloat, not just the rear portion.....?

there's "venting" to determine the sex of the fish for sure. you'd net the fish and bring uit up to the surface, and while keeping it in the water turn it over.
In females, one hole will be bigger than the other. The bigger hole is the egg tube. the smaller one is the anus. In males, the two holes are both the same size.

 

they likely won't allow you to bring meds back with you into the country and likely will take them at the airport unless it's prescribed to you, but you could try the ones you've been recommended, really any of them that requires a prescription in your country that it's not required to have one for it here.

Are you 100% sure this fish is a male? it's been 2 months of progressively getting worse. oscars generally do not have any issue with overeating, even large meals, and then pooping large.
I'm thinking it's an eggbound female that won't reabsorb the eggs and cant lay them either, it's become settled pretty far back and low on the fish for it to be "bloat".
gonna be either that or it's an organ failure type issue. I think it's run too long for it to be parasite or bacteria.

I didn't see this thread earlier, but I wouldn't have suspected it until the current pictures the erlier pictures don't show it like ti does now.
I didn't see the water parameters, but pH could be anywhere between 6-8, that would be OK, GH should be anywhere from 5-20 dGH.
other than that, a big water change (30-50%) and bump the temp up to 82F (27-28C) and hopefully she goes through the motions to lay eggs and digs a hole or circles a flat rock.

If the water has been off in some way for a long time, a female fish can just not lay eggs and reabsorb them, but as they get older, that process can stop happening and they just back up and sit there and rot rather than being reabsorbed or laid.

Not sure whats going on here, but the "bloat" is pretty far back, this image may help to understand what I mean about where it is.( I posted a link it's not my picture to post on here and it would cause a problem I think if I did)

https://www./images/graphics/fishanatomy3.jpg
From the picture, the "bloated" area looks like it could only be the gonad area or intestine but I saw the fish was pooping if it were constipation, I'd expect the entire stomach to be Bloat, not just the rear portion.....?

there's "venting" to determine the sex of the fish for sure. you'd net the fish and bring uit up to the surface, and while keeping it in the water turn it over.
In females, one hole will be bigger than the other. The bigger hole is the egg tube. the smaller one is the anus. In males, the two holes are both the same size.

It could certainly be female, I have no idea of gender.
Avoiding stressing him/her out as much as possible.

What can I do to help with potential egg bound?The bloating went down before leaving, and the sitter said he/she bloated up this badly in 24h.

Parameters should be fine. Last time I checked before leaving, tested right before a waterchange (so worst possible parameters), the pH was below 8, ammonia/nitrite at 0, nitrate at 10-20. The hardness test was expired and likely incorrect (passed 30-40 without any sign of change, and my very high quality tap water showed the same. The test was 2 year expired).

 

It could certainly be female, I have no idea of gender.
Avoiding stressing him/her out as much as possible.

What can I do to help with potential egg bound?The bloating went down before leaving, and the sitter said he/she bloated up this badly in 24h.

Parameters should be fine. Last time I checked before leaving, tested right before a waterchange (so worst possible parameters), the pH was below 8, ammonia/nitrite at 0, nitrate at 10-20. The hardness test was expired and likely incorrect (passed 30-40 without any sign of change, and my very high quality tap water showed the same. The test was 2 year expired).

Well I think it could help to stop feeding completely for a starter, you're away currently anyways, a fish can do a 2 week fasting with no problem, and even longer than that in many cases out to a month or more, for most types of fish. if it's intestinal, it will run it's course and the fast should help to get the fish to push it all out and not "swell up" again in the interim with new food and a bacteria explosion in the intestine, it may starve out the replicating bacteria, it may clear a constipation blockage by not putting food behind it for a while.
if they get hungry enough they will eat algae or plant matter. which also can help with constipation and probiotics from the vegetative matter to combat negative bacteria in the gut if that's what it is.

If it's a female, it needs a big flat rock about the size of the oscar laid flat on the bottom for a spawning site.
That, and bumping up the temp a couple degrees and doing a medium kind of water change, like 20-30% a couple days in a row, and don't be too concerned with the temperature, a couple degree drop in temp with the water change, like from 27C to 25C will simulate rains, they are rainy season spawners so water changes that simulate rain storms kind of daily or every couple days can induce the spawning behavior and might give her the signal to push on through with laying eggs and get them out. If conditions are just all wrong, they would hold them and reabsorb them, and while rare, I've known it to happen where they don't get reabsorbed and the next batch comes in on top of the previous. and it backs up on them, they get that bloat to the back of the gut area instead of overall gut bloat, and looking like they are trying to poop a golf ball. but its that region filled up with eggs.

I'd recommend since the fish is with the sitter, that the fish gets fasted while you are away, no food at all. and see if the conditions improve with the time off from eating, if the fish gets hungry it will eat algae or plant matter. it won't starve. Deal with it when you return if it needs meds, or if you take a look and find out it's a female we can try the few things I mentioned to try to induce spawning behavior and get her to put down eggs.
I don't recommend a fish sitter that isn't well experienced try to change things or even feed the fish while you are gone. fish can easily do a couple weeks without being fed, they will get by.

 

Well I think it could help to stop feeding completely for a starter, you're away currently anyways, a fish can do a 2 week fasting with no problem, and even longer than that in many cases out to a month or more, for most types of fish. if it's intestinal, it will run it's course and the fast should help to get the fish to push it all out and not "swell up" again in the interim with new food and a bacteria explosion in the intestine, it may starve out the replicating bacteria, it may clear a constipation blockage by not putting food behind it for a while.
if they get hungry enough they will eat algae or plant matter. which also can help with constipation and probiotics from the vegetative matter to combat negative bacteria in the gut if that's what it is.

If it's a female, it needs a big flat rock about the size of the oscar laid flat on the bottom for a spawning site.
That, and bumping up the temp a couple degrees and doing a medium kind of water change, like 20-30% a couple days in a row, and don't be too concerned with the temperature, a couple degree drop in temp with the water change, like from 27C to 25C will simulate rains, they are rainy season spawners so water changes that simulate rain storms kind of daily or every couple days can induce the spawning behavior and might give her the signal to push on through with laying eggs and get them out. If conditions are just all wrong, they would hold them and reabsorb them, and while rare, I've known it to happen where they don't get reabsorbed and the next batch comes in on top of the previous. and it backs up on them, they get that bloat to the back of the gut area instead of overall gut bloat, and looking like they are trying to poop a golf ball. but its that region filled up with eggs.

I'd recommend since the fish is with the sitter, that the fish gets fasted while you are away, no food at all. and see if the conditions improve with the time off from eating, if the fish gets hungry it will eat algae or plant matter. it won't starve. Deal with it when you return if it needs meds, or if you take a look and find out it's a female we can try the few things I mentioned to try to induce spawning behavior and get her to put down eggs.
I don't recommend a fish sitter that isn't well experienced try to change things or even feed the fish while you are gone. fish can easily do a couple weeks without being fed, they will get by.

I am at the airport waiting for a flight back. Will be home again in 20 hours

Will a sheet of slatestone suffice?

 

I am at the airport waiting for a flight back. Will be home again in 20 hours

Will a sheet of slatestone suffice?

Yes. Slate is pretty much what you'd want. Nice flat surface with room It goes in there flat on the bottom and the fish will pretty much gravitate towards it, circle and fan it, swim back and forth over it in preparation and hopefully if female, lay eggs if that's the issue which is the main problem. If it's female and the backup of eggs is causing the bloating and pressing organs and intestines it could be most of the issue.

Wish I knew for sure if it's a male or female. If it's a male it's not gonna help obviously

 

Yes. Slate is pretty much what you'd want. Nice flat surface with room It goes in there flat on the bottom and the fish will pretty much gravitate towards it, circle and fan it, swim back and forth over it in preparation and hopefully if female, lay eggs if that's the issue which is the main problem. If it's female and the backup of eggs is causing the bloating and pressing organs and intestines it could be most of the issue.

Wish I knew for sure if it's a male or female. If it's a male it's not gonna help obviously

I will try it! Could that swelling go upp/down somewhat rapidly if that was the problem?

 

Possible perhaps that with not much food for a while some of the eggs may have been reabsorbed, but then another lot built up? Normally they will spawn quite frequently if the eggs are lost (not fertilised). It could also be some kind of tumor, but I think that in that case it would be more strange for it to reduce and then grow again, unless it could be related to hormonal changes, it’s very difficult to know.

 

Possible perhaps that with not much food for a while some of the eggs may have been reabsorbed, but then another lot built up? Normally they will spawn quite frequently if the eggs are lost (not fertilised). It could also be some kind of tumor, but I think that in that case it would be more strange for it to reduce and then grow again, unless it could be related to hormonal changes, it’s very difficult to know.

Thanks!
I will try the slatestone and multiple waterchanges every 1-2 days.

 

Also you could increase the temperature, that could help to induce spawning as well.

 

Also you could increase the temperature, that could help to induce spawning as well.

Worried that it would do a lot of harm if its bacterial though. But maybe a slight increase?

Currently at 25.5C

 

I see your point, but I don’t think it would hurt to raise it to 27-28 and watch him/her carefully.

I somehow doubt that it is bacterial as it has been going on for some time and I think the fish would be more ill. Can’t be sure though…

 

I see your point, but I don’t think it would hurt to raise it to 27-28 and watch him/her carefully.

I somehow doubt that it is bacterial as it has been going on for some time and I think the fish would be more ill. Can’t be sure though…

He looks just awful
Came home now.

Vent sticking out 3mm, severe bloat pushing on the very bottom of his belly. His anus area looks like a crater.

I will raise to 27C now, and do a 50%WC, and add slate stone. Anything more I should do? (Other than no food at all, obviously)
Edit: new pictures

 

Can you take another photo? Epsom salts might help but I would be inclined to try the WC, slate and temperature increase first.

 

Can you take another photo? Epsom salts might help but I would be inclined to try the WC, slate and temperature increase first.

How would I go about dosing the epsoms? Possible to do it in main tank, or will it harm the pleco/yoyo loaches/L333?

Yes, what angle should I do?

 

How would I go about dosing the epsoms? Possible to do it in main tank, or will it harm the pleco/yoyo loaches/L333?

Yes, what angle should I do?

I haven't ever used epsom sats myself but I think it is usually done as a short bath, or a series of baths, not in the tank.

I was thinking of a photo to show the vent area, we may then be able to determine if it is actually a female.

 

I haven't ever used epsom sats myself but I think it is usually done as a short bath, or a series of baths, not in the tank.

I was thinking of a photo to show the vent area, we may then be able to determine if it is actually a female.

Uploading a video to youtube. It should soon be visible with high resolution.
When available, it will be on this link:

I haven't ever used epsom sats myself but I think it is usually done as a short bath, or a series of baths, not in the tank.

I was thinking of a photo to show the vent area, we may then be able to determine if it is actually a female.

Any downside to that, or should I do some baths already tomorrow night if increased temp+wc+slate hasnt fixed it?

 

1 tablespoon of Epsom salt for every 1 gallon of water you take out of the tank, don't do it in the tank because it's magnesium and it will be a hassle to water change out and you want the fishes tank to be the same but without the epsom salt to return the fish to.

about a 15 minute bath is all that it takes, if it won't tolerate that long and appears stressed or poops,take it out and put it back in the regular tank, if it can take longer leave the fish for up to half an hour or until it starts getting stressed, or poops.

the epsom salts reduces swelling and can relax tight muscles and works as a laxative if it's constipation or like swelling causing a backup.

on the video, there's two holes, there's one in the front closer to the head, that's the anus, the one just behind that is the vent and closer to the analfin and tail.

venting isn't all it's cracked up to be though, there can be swelling or issues at times that make it difficult to determine sex still 100%.

I'm not sure from the video if the vent is pressuring on the anus, or the anus is swollen and backed up. the sex organ inside the fish would be right above there, and one or the other could be the problem, but it's not like a stomach issue, this can only be the intestine blocked, or the gonad area compacted with eggs, or possible but unlikely the rear portion of the swim bladder, but if there isn't buoyancy issues, sinking or floating or rolling over, swim bladder could be ruled out at this time.

epsom salt bath would be worth a shot, see if you can get anything to happen.