URGENT Help needed please! What is this?! (Photos)

So sorry, FA, that you're having this problem. That really looks very bad, and I agree that it looks like an intestinal prolapse. Here's a link to a thread (only 3 pages long) that has some tips, and a couple of other links to similar cases are within this thread.

http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=219399&highlight=prolapsed+intestine


Pinkertd, one of the mods here on AC, had some good suggestions and further links in her post in this thread, and in one of the links she included in her post there were some suggestions from another very experienced fishkeeper, Kyryah, too, regarding prolapse.

Here's another link to a thread dealing with intestinal prolapse in which Grannylvsfish cured a Molly with a prolapse, but it didn't look as seriously prolapsed as your Angel's case.

http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=181777&highlight=molly+prolapse

I'm really afraid that as bad as your Angels prolapse appears to be - euthanasia is going to be your best course.

Also, the other fish will pick at the prolapsed intestine and do serious damage and it will be very traumatic for the Angel, unless you can get him out the tank with the other fish.

I'm so sorry for this sad situation. My condolences.
 
Thanks so much for all of that Mel!

You know what is strange now, though? Whatever that pink thing sticking out of the angels anus has disappeared! I can't find the little pink thing anywhere in the tank, so I'm not sure whether the filter quickly sucked it up or it went back into the angel... or its under the plants in the tank? The angel is still very letheragic. It just stays at the bottom of the tank, behind plants and driftwood. I'm not sure if it is recovering or dying.

It's fins aren't clamped and it looks reasonably healthy, considering what it has been through. It looks almost like its sleeping. Just hovering above the gravel, slowly breathing and moving its fins. I hope all is well.

I guess we will see in the morning how things have gotten along...?
 
wow, FA, this is a fascinating if horrifying incident here. There are cases recorded--although in mammals, usually farm livestock, not fish--of prolapses seemingly resolving on their own. The animal "sucks it up", you should pardon the expression, and goes on as if nothing had happened. I hope that's what has happened here.

Unfortunately it seems to involve an intestinal weakness, or lack of one or more of the attachments that usually holds such body parts in their proper places. This means it is likely to recur. It would probably be unwise to allow this fish to breed.

As long as it's upright, and there is no bleeding or other visible trauma, I would say it has a chance at survival. If it starts tipping over or refusing to eat I would say it is time to euthanize. If it stays upright and will take food try finely mushed up cooked peas with skin removed, this may provide bulk that helps the intestine to settle back in place. If the prolapse recurs I would euthanize at once.

thanks for sharing the story and the pictures, this may help other fishkeepers in the future recognize this condition and help them deal with it. best wishes to you and the fish. :)
 
Thanks for that, XanAvaloni. I also hope that the angel will survive.
It is actually starting to act 'as if it never happened' like you said. But as it is likely to recur, I do not know what will happen. I couldn't euthanize, I'm too soft. So hopefully it will heal itself and it wasn't too bad of an incident.

I had never planned to breed with this angel, so that wouldn't be a problem.

Thanks for the kind words also. I will try feeding now and then turn off the lights.
 
Poor thing. My Ram also had a prolapse that would sort of come and go, but I think his was from trying to pass Camallanus worms.

ramsick1.jpg


ramsick5.jpg
 
If it happens again you might try adding epsom salt to the tank. It acts as a laxitive and should help to relieve the internal pressure. 1-2 teaspoons per 10 gallons. I've seen this happen with very old fish that were on their way out and didn't last long once the prolapse started although their days were numbered anyway.
 
This fish isn't very old though, so I don't think it was an age thing. If I do add epsom salt if this were to happen again it would have to be in the QT tank. I don't think that epsom salt would work well in a heavily planted tank.

Update: This morning the angel is acting as if nothing ever happened, it ate last night. So hopefully all is well. :) The lump is still gone.
 
I had a rainbowfish with prolapsed bowel for greater than a month. One day it was gone. Months ago! Has never bared her insides again. There is hope.
 
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