Hi, in the past couple of days my rosy barb has gotten so fat it looks like a mini-balloon. What do you think might be the problem???? Water parameters are as always, and she is eating normally, but swims to one-side a bit, and usually just stays in one spot after feeding now. Is there anything i should worry about? I remember there was a disease with those symptoms but i don't know if that might be it.
Help!! Rosy Barb like a balloon!!!
- Thread starter Dr_Woo
- Start date
Seaman
Shrimp gumbo, shrimp salad etc...
If her scales are sticking out and she looks like a pinecone, she has an internal bacterial infection called 'dropsy'. This is serious, and often fatal even with antibacterial treatment.
If not, she could be constipated. Adding 1tsp/10g epsom salts to the tank won't hurt your other fish (I have no idea if it has a negative effect on invertibrates or plants though, so if you have either please do some research) and could help her pass the blockage. I would fast your fish for a few days; this won't hurt any of them, and could save the barb's life.
You said she's still eating, you could try feeding her a thawed out frozen pea (remove the shell, just feed the inside), which acts like a laxative for fish. Don't feed anything else for the next 48-72 hours though, if it's a blockage feeding her will make it worse.
If you have the option, it wouldn't hurt to put her in a hospital tank to be treated and recover away from her tankmates.
Good luck, keep us updated.
If not, she could be constipated. Adding 1tsp/10g epsom salts to the tank won't hurt your other fish (I have no idea if it has a negative effect on invertibrates or plants though, so if you have either please do some research) and could help her pass the blockage. I would fast your fish for a few days; this won't hurt any of them, and could save the barb's life.
You said she's still eating, you could try feeding her a thawed out frozen pea (remove the shell, just feed the inside), which acts like a laxative for fish. Don't feed anything else for the next 48-72 hours though, if it's a blockage feeding her will make it worse.
If you have the option, it wouldn't hurt to put her in a hospital tank to be treated and recover away from her tankmates.
Good luck, keep us updated.
Thanks for the replies and it looks like she is all right, just still fat. I will stop feeding her for about 2 days to see what happens. It is too bad the green sunfish i put in there didn't share the same fate. I caught him while fishing on sunday (he was around 5 in. so i thought it would be fine to put him in there for a couple of months). He seemed pretty happy today, but he jumped out and i immediately put him back and covered the tank almost completely. A couple of hours later i came back home and found him dried up on the floor. Poor guy, i can't believe he was still able to jump out after the tank was pretty much completely covered. I tell you what, he seemed like a very smart fish from studying him for one day. Much more aware and responsive than my current fish.
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Actually chefkeith i have two female rosy barbs. and one male. Both females are fatter than the male (proving your egg theory), but one female is much larger than the other.