Neon tetra 'swelling' after eating. Normal?

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chazzbo77

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Oct 11, 2009
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How's it going everyone? A couple (not all) of my neons get a VERY large belly after eating. I've deduced it to being caused by the amount of food they eat because the next day they don't get the belly until I feed them again. Is it something I should be worried about and work to fix, or should I just ignore it?

Thanks.
 
Neon tetras should not be bloated after feeding. Cut back on the amount you feed on each meal. Although it wont kill them it is not really good for them.
 
Dry food like flakes and pellets swells up as it absorbs moisture in the fishes' stomachs. That's where the old wives tale about fish eating themselves to death comes from.
 
If they are eating from the top could it not also be that they may be swallowing air.
 
Just a quick follow up question of another topic. I've been creating so many new threads lately I don't want to annoy the mods.

I'm going to be getting a young angelfish to put in my 45g tank. Is it OK that I only get one? Getting two would be too much with the projected inhabitants of this tank. Thanks.
 
I don't think the mods would be annoyed at all!

I think one would be fine alone. What's your planned stock again? Are you still going to get rams?

One thing I still worry about is the angel/neon combo. Don't be surprised if the neons end up as snacks (expensive ones) when the angel is older.
 
Yeah that's what I'm worried about. The neons being eaten. But I was recommended to get an angel in this forum so I figured it'd be accurate information (getting him young and since he grows up with them would leave them alone). Planned stocking is what I have now (3 guppies, 6 neons, 8 harlequin rasbora) and six corydoras. There's one spot left, which will either go to an angelfish, or a pair of german blue rams. If it's not too much trouble, I'd like the pro's and con's of getting each, and what you, yourself, as the experienced hobbyists that you are, would get.
 
I personally think getting rams would be a better idea. Only drawback is it is hard to find good stock. I don't trust most LFS's with blue rams because most are imported from Asia and don't last long. If you could find a local breeder, I would for sure get a pair.
 
Well last night I did a bit of research and called a few of my LFS. Every one I called but one said they didn't carry them for the reason cited above (Asian ones dying), except for one store, which is selling them for $15 each which seems like a bit much. Besides, the girl said, "We just got a new shipment in earlier today," which sounds to me like they've been imported, not bred locally.

Is there any chance at all if I got a very small angel he'd leave the tetra's alone when he got older? He'd be the last fish I add, so he'd be the new kid in town, so wouldn't that help? You guys are the experts though.
 
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