Constipated guppy?

[yaddayaddayadda]

I have a guppy that looks bloated. While I'm no expert, I dont' think it's dropsy...primarily because he's got a little turd hanging thats' been there for a couple of days.

I tried the peas, he wouldn't eat them...also tried part of an algae tab - hoping the roughage would help.

I see some people online advocating epsom salts. Anyone heard of / recommend this?

I don't really have a running emergency tank to isolate him...just a 1.5 gallon hex with no filter and no heater...would he be ok in that for a few days if I squeezed the contents of my filter sponge in it (to help keep the ammonia down)?

 

[kevinb120]

You can just keep from feeding him for a few more days to see what's doin, even if you have to simply net him to the surface when you feed the others. 4-5 days without food won't hurt 'em. Just make sure that's poop hangin', not some sort of worm/parasite. May want to give them all a break for food for a few days, or make sure at least to feed very lightly to leave nothing for the other guy in the gravel when you let him go. One small bit of food can keep the process prolonged, so don't get creative with his diet if he won't mess with the peas, it will still stack up. You have to be diligent to make sure he eats NOTHING. Algae wafers aren't necessarily the fish version of high fiber cereal It can actually swell up inside him if its a little tiny bit he can eat immediately while it's still dehydrated.

 

[bradlgt21]

I heard soaking stuff in garlic makes it more tasty to the fish. Try taking a pea, taking the shell off and then rubbing it with garlic or soaking it in water with garlic. It is supposed to make him want to eat it. Pea's are the best way to treat constipation.

Like the guys before said, you sure it's poo and not a worm. Calamanus worms hang out of the anus of the fish so if it's a parasite it might be that.