Bloated Oscar - is this bad?

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.

Does epsom help a good bit? Should I wait a bit now before doing the bath?
It will surely stress him/her out A LOT. He has never been netted before.
I bought a pool skimmer, feel like that would be better than a traditional net.

Feels less likely that it is bacterial/parasites?

 

if its swelling or a backup as the reason, the epsom salt can go a long way to reducing the swelling and relaxing the muscles in order to get movement.

it can help if thats the problem. it reduces swelling and can relax the fish and get them to let loose real good. kind of want to try it, see if it's intestinal to rule that out.

As far as stress, whatever is going on right now can't be comfortable and likely pretty stressful, like having an upset tummy for days on end.

I like using the largest nets I can, most fish see it coming and just surrender to it as in escapable and less stressful than chasing them around the tank with a little net.

by using the tank water for the bath, all parameters are exactly the same, then adding the epsom salt, it increases the GH with magnesium ONLY while the rest remains the same. the one parameter change shouldn't cause stress or shock it's when a couple are changed it can be a problem. Anyways the magnesium from the epsom salt is anti-inflamatory, reduces swelling and has a relaxing effect.
when returned the only variation takes it right back where it was, back to the same GH it was used to. temp and pH and all that are all the same.

Kind of hoping you get a big poop and some gas escape after a couple minutes and the swelling goes down. if that happens, its intestinal and probably a bacterial infection in the intestine. if that doesn't happen or just a small poop, then It's really got to be the reproductive organ thats the problem
the epsom salt also could get it (if female) to drop the eggs shes holding when she relaxes.

it's a relatively large fish, I know handling them can seem stressful or "wrong" to a fishkeeper, but if it helps at all, I've caught dozens and dozens of oscars over the years with a fishing pole down her in florida, they are more common than largemouth bass, then dragged them across the water on the line, handled them and unhooked them and put them back and never had one that didn't just swim right off afterwards, they aren't delicate and will get over netting and the temporary bath and return to the tank pretty quickly after it's over.

I don't want to say it, but should be said, the possibility exists it's a tumor, I don't think so since it's gone down in size at times, but I do think that possibility exists. But just trying to rule some things out or confirm some things without taking too much time waiting around for things to happen completely naturally, or trying meds that may not work. without knowing what the issue exactly is.

The epsom salt thing is the least stressful or intrusive or damaging, and fastest method of telling if it's intestinal or rule it out. the slate I mean could work, but I'd expect if its a female to at least be digging around in the substrate looking for a spot, and you didn't mention that happening.

 

Difficult to see in the video, there is a brief shot where I think you can see the breeding tube and it looks more female, however it’s not that clear and I can’t be sure. Let’s hope for some improvement soon.

 

if its swelling or a backup as the reason, the epsom salt can go a long way to reducing the swelling and relaxing the muscles in order to get movement.

it can help if thats the problem. it reduces swelling and can relax the fish and get them to let loose real good. kind of want to try it, see if it's intestinal to rule that out.

As far as stress, whatever is going on right now can't be comfortable and likely pretty stressful, like having an upset tummy for days on end.

I like using the largest nets I can, most fish see it coming and just surrender to it as in escapable and less stressful than chasing them around the tank with a little net.

by using the tank water for the bath, all parameters are exactly the same, then adding the epsom salt, it increases the GH with magnesium ONLY while the rest remains the same. the one parameter change shouldn't cause stress or shock it's when a couple are changed it can be a problem. Anyways the magnesium from the epsom salt is anti-inflamatory, reduces swelling and has a relaxing effect.
when returned the only variation takes it right back where it was, back to the same GH it was used to. temp and pH and all that are all the same.

Kind of hoping you get a big poop and some gas escape after a couple minutes and the swelling goes down. if that happens, its intestinal and probably a bacterial infection in the intestine. if that doesn't happen or just a small poop, then It's really got to be the reproductive organ thats the problem
the epsom salt also could get it (if female) to drop the eggs shes holding when she relaxes.

it's a relatively large fish, I know handling them can seem stressful or "wrong" to a fishkeeper, but if it helps at all, I've caught dozens and dozens of oscars over the years with a fishing pole down her in florida, they are more common than largemouth bass, then dragged them across the water on the line, handled them and unhooked them and put them back and never had one that didn't just swim right off afterwards, they aren't delicate and will get over netting and the temporary bath and return to the tank pretty quickly after it's over.

I don't want to say it, but should be said, the possibility exists it's a tumor, I don't think so since it's gone down in size at times, but I do think that possibility exists. But just trying to rule some things out or confirm some things without taking too much time waiting around for things to happen completely naturally, or trying meds that may not work. without knowing what the issue exactly is.

The epsom salt thing is the least stressful or intrusive or damaging, and fastest method of telling if it's intestinal or rule it out. the slate I mean could work, but I'd expect if its a female to at least be digging around in the substrate looking for a spot, and you didn't mention that happening.

(S)he digs in the gravel constantly! Been doing that for several years though, so didn't bother mentioning it.

Do I add the salt after the is placed in the container?
Think the pool skimmer will work? Didn't really care about aquarium safe; since it isn't going to be in the aquarium for long. Will however ofcourse rinse it off really well first!

 

(S)he digs in the gravel constantly! Been doing that for several years though, so didn't bother mentioning it.

Normal for both sexes, but could be more intense when wanting to breed.

Sorry, don't know anything about the pool skimmer. I imagine the salts should be in the water when you put the fish in.

 

(S)he digs in the gravel constantly! Been doing that for several years though, so didn't bother mentioning it.

Do I add the salt after the is placed in the container?
Think the pool skimmer will work? Didn't really care about aquarium safe; since it isn't going to be in the aquarium for long. Will however ofcourse rinse it off really well first!

Sorry I didn't explain completely,

You'd drain some gallons of water from the tank to a separate container, enough for the fish to be in there and covered and as in the water as can be, then dissolve the Epsom salt in that container of tank water, 1 tablespoon of epsom salt per gallon. It's better to under measure than to over measure really (by tablespoon, I mean sort of flat, not a mountain or "heaping" ) . You can stir or just let it sit a bit and top off your aquarium for when you will return the fish back to it and then stir the treatment container to make sure the epsom salt is dissolved.
the pool net shouldn't be a problem unless it's been used. if new it should be fine.
15 should be long enough, if the fish gets stressed and gets really weird after 5 mins it can be taken out and returned to the tank it came from. But it really should be fine, and the fish relaxes shortly after being put there and settles in.

Just saying if you feel it's going really wrong you can always pull the fish from the container and right back into the tank and abort the mission, even with your hands if it's like a bucket, Oscars are tanks.
If the fish poops, or releases eggs it can go back, and if nothing is happening, and all is good for the first 15 mins, it can stay there for up to 30 minutes and keep trying to get something to happen as it relaxes a bit more and swelling goes down. it's no use to go longer than the 30 minutes, better to try again tomorrow if nothing happens by then and put the fish back in it's normal tank.

Both sexes do some digging cleaning around and stuff, but the females kind of tend to dig to china, looking for a flat rock or surface. males usually just make a shallow crater trying to attract a female by making a head start for her in a way. hoping she'll drop in and check it out.

 

Sorry I didn't explain completely,

You'd drain some gallons of water from the tank to a separate container, enough for the fish to be in there and covered and as in the water as can be, then dissolve the Epsom salt in that container of tank water, 1 tablespoon of epsom salt per gallon. It's better to under measure than to over measure really (by tablespoon, I mean sort of flat, not a mountain or "heaping" ) . You can stir or just let it sit a bit and top off your aquarium for when you will return the fish back to it and then stir the treatment container to make sure the epsom salt is dissolved.
the pool net shouldn't be a problem unless it's been used. if new it should be fine.
15 should be long enough, if the fish gets stressed and gets really weird after 5 mins it can be taken out and returned to the tank it came from. But it really should be fine, and the fish relaxes shortly after being put there and settles in.

Just saying if you feel it's going really wrong you can always pull the fish from the container and right back into the tank and abort the mission, even with your hands if it's like a bucket, Oscars are tanks.
If the fish poops, or releases eggs it can go back, and if nothing is happening, and all is good for the first 15 mins, it can stay there for up to 30 minutes and keep trying to get something to happen as it relaxes a bit more and swelling goes down. it's no use to go longer than the 30 minutes, better to try again tomorrow if nothing happens by then and put the fish back in it's normal tank.

Both sexes do some digging cleaning around and stuff, but the females kind of tend to dig to china, looking for a flat rock or surface. males usually just make a shallow crater trying to attract a female by making a head start for her in a way. hoping she'll drop in and check it out.

She digs deep. Keeps a 1 sqft area as bare glass. That is where I placed the slatestone now.

What would the measurement per gallon be in ml do you think? Or is it not so important to be perfectly accurate?

 

A tablespoon in 3.7 litres. I found one site that said 5g per litre if that helps…

 

Sad morning, my beautiful Oscar Bob passed with the lights out and no injuries. His bloat was down and bubbles of slime on the surface had formed. I suspect organ failure, which would explain the bloat coming back as soon as he was fed.

Peaceful passing with no injuries visible.

Thank you everybody for the wonderful help, it made the whole process easier for me.

 

Really sorry to hear Elias and sorry for your loss.

 

So sorry, I was hoping for better news, but you did everything possible.

 

I just wish I would have taken the previously given suggestion too fast him completely for these two weeks while away (and not just do 30-50% feedings), but I do believe that he would have passed anyways as soon as feeding commenced again. Oh well, I tried and did what I thought would be best for him

 

I just wish I would have taken the previously given suggestion too fast him completely for these two weeks while away (and not just do 30-50% feedings), but I do believe that he would have passed anyways as soon as feeding commenced again. Oh well, I tried and did what I thought would be best for him

Stuff happens, we all have lost some fish, it's a learning experience, take an opportunity to read more on them, their needs and what might be excessive or detrimental, health conditions they are prone to, breeding, ect. and come in on the next one when you're ready to carry on with more knowledge under your belt.

We all find ourselves in really difficult positions with out pets and at a loss for what we should or shouldn't do, there might have been no correct answer in this situation and just the way it was supposed to go.