Bloat?

[Darbex]

Need help identifying what is going on with a couple of my cichlids. It looks like they are bloated but I looked up bloat and it says that the fish should mainly be on the bottom or floating on the top of the tank which it doesnt do it swims around with everyone. It also says that it should have a loss of appetite which also is not the case. So I am unsure what to do. Any thoughts?

[J-WS6]

Re: Bloat?

In my experience, I've never had malawi cichlids come up with bloat, regardless of diet. I tend to run into the bloat issue more with my petro. However, true signs of bloat would include heavy breathing, lethargicness, white feces and loss of appetite. In your case, if the fish is still eating and just has a fat tummy, I'd assume she just ate too much the night before. I'd keep an eye on her and follow up with a water change with epsom salt.

[rrocket2002]

Re: Bloat?

Hmm...are you missing any little fishies?  Could have gotten ahold of smaller fish or fry.

[Darbex]

Re: Bloat?

I am hoping its eating to much over time maybe I should cut down on my feedings for a couple of days to see what happens. There are two other fish that have the enlarged bellies.

[CichlidFan]

Re: Bloat?

what are you feeding them? could it be food expanding inside them?

CF

[eklikewhoa]

Re: Bloat?

Malawi's are susceptible to bloat just as troph/petros are....but that looks like it's overfed.

[Darbex]

Re: Bloat?

I am using Hikari and I feed them a little at a time until its gone for about 2 or so minutes twice daily

[eklikewhoa]

Re: Bloat?

Minutes? might still be overfeeding....

In all my tanks the food is usually gone in seconds and those are usually heaving feedings....How many fish do you have and about how much do you feed? measurement wise(use a teaspoon or medicine cup).

[J-WS6]

Re: Bloat?

I never said malawi's couldn't get bloat, I was just stating that in my personal experience with malawi's, they never contracted bloat. Just clearing that up

[Darbex]

Re: Bloat?

There is about 25-30 fish and I feed them about half a complete handful

[geoff_tropheus]

Re: Bloat?

Looks a little overstuffed.

The other fish that also have bellies like this, are they eating and swiming around fine?  

Are they just females?

Geoff

[eklikewhoa]

Re: Bloat?

Half a handful sounds a bit excessive!

[eklikewhoa]

Re: Bloat?

Think she could be eggbound Geoff?

[Darbex]

Re: Bloat?

They are all female. One of the females is only about 1" - 1.5" peacock. They other two are about 2" - 2.5" Haps

[CichlidFan]

Re: Bloat?

I feed my fish, in "pinches" if you will. Half a handfull sounds excessive to me as well.

CF