Bichir with swollen stomach?

S

saphphx

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Oct 29, 2006
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Barrow-in-Furness
Hi there! I recently moved my bichir to the tank upstairs with my oscar as the tank she was in she couldn't get to the top and was out competed for food. Its been a few days now and I've discovered her stomach to be quite swollen, is there something wrong or is she just over eating to compensate for the lack of food in the past? I mean she never starved but she never had tons of food either, now its just her and the oscar they both get their share and then some. Sorry the pics are foggy, the camera steams up in the fish room! The water is actually quite clean and all the test came back perfect, no nitrates, ammonia and so on.

Ellie1.jpg

The white bits under her are breakfast (prawns)

Ellie2.jpg


There are more pics at http://www.geocities.com/thepaculady/Ellie.htm. She normally has a quite streamline shape, no bulges and so on.

Any ideas?

Thanks!
 
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it probably just stuffed itself with food and it's still digesting it. try not feeding it for a day or two and see if the bulge goes away.
 
is300zx said:
it probably just stuffed itself with food and it's still digesting it. try not feeding it for a day or two and see if the bulge goes away.
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-nods- I thought it may be the case. She does do away with more prawns and fish sticks then is probably good for her. I have cut back on what she gets, but will hold food for a bit and see how it goes :) She's still very active so I doubt its done her to much harm, will have to be more careful though lol.

thanks!
 
I think you have polypterus lapradei. I initially thought it was a senegal because of the body color and didn't look at the head.
 
is300zx said:
I think you have polypterus lapradei. I initially thought it was a senegal because of the body color and didn't look at the head.
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Kinda hard to tell in those shots, but you might be right about the species.

When one of my senegals looks like that, I call it "guppy gut". Usually goes away in about a day.
 
I can get some more pics today if that helps. I always thought she was a senegal as well because its the more comon one, and I can't imagin any fish shops carrying anything else when they can be bothered to carry them (I have never seen one for sale around here) so donno. Will get some more pics today though :)
 
saphphx said:
I can get some more pics today if that helps. I always thought she was a senegal as well because its the more comon one, and I can't imagin any fish shops carrying anything else when they can be bothered to carry them (I have never seen one for sale around here) so donno. Will get some more pics today though :)
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If you take a look at the head structure of your bichir you'll notice that lower jaw protrudes slightly whereas on a senegal the upper jaw is the one protruding. And the head is also flatter compared to a more rounder appearance on a senegal. Also those black dots on the body and tail fin, I've only seen those on a lapradei. Check out http://www.primitivefish.com/bichirs.htm for some pics to compare. Also how's the swollen stomach? Is it going away or is it still swollen?
 
is300zx said:
If you take a look at the head structure of your bichir you'll notice that lower jaw protrudes slightly whereas on a senegal the upper jaw is the one protruding. And the head is also flatter compared to a more rounder appearance on a senegal. Also those black dots on the body and tail fin, I've only seen those on a lapradei. Check out http://www.primitivefish.com/bichirs.htm for some pics to compare. Also how's the swollen stomach? Is it going away or is it still swollen?
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Oh, it went away at some point today, forgot to say sorry :) Was still swollen today, but by the time I went back up with my "fish first aid" book she was looking much better :)

Doesn't really look like any of them to be honest. She's very pale with little or no markings but does have spots on her fins. Could she be some sort of cross or something? I call her she because she has tiny fins, most sites that tell you how to sex them say tiny fins is a chick thing :P

thanks :)
 
saphphx said:
Oh, it went away at some point today, forgot to say sorry :) Was still swollen today, but by the time I went back up with my "fish first aid" book she was looking much better :)

Doesn't really look like any of them to be honest. She's very pale with little or no markings but does have spots on her fins. Could she be some sort of cross or something? I call her she because she has tiny fins, most sites that tell you how to sex them say tiny fins is a chick thing :P

thanks :)
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yours look like a very pale lapradei. i'm pretty sure it's not a senegal though. how big is it? you can usually reliably sex them when they are pass 8-10" mark and it's the anal fin you look at. try posting your pics at aquaticpredators.com or monsterfishkeepers.com, there are lots experts there who can help you id your bichir.
 
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