Slightly bloated clownfish - treatment or leave alone?

[mcgullen]

Hi R2R, I have two clownfish in quarantine. Ammonia and nitrite are both non-detectable. Both fish arrived 2 days ago and would only take a few pellets a day.

The smaller one of the two has a slightly bloated stomach. It is also less active. Its anus is also more visible than the normal clownfish I have seen.

I suspect this is a mild case of systematic bacterial infection. Could someone please confirm?

If so, would treatment be necessary or should I hold off? My concern is that the quarantine tank is already dosed with Cupramine. The addition of antibiotics many be too stressful.

Btw, I have access to kanamycin, enrofloxacin and metronidazole. I do not have access to Seachem Focus so can’t really bind antibiotics to pellets with ease or precision.

Thank you!

 

[vetteguy53081]

Hi R2R, I have two clownfish in quarantine. Ammonia and nitrite are both non-detectable. Both fish arrived 2 days ago and would only take a few pellets a day.

The smaller one of the two has a slightly bloated stomach. It is also less active. Its anus is also more visible than the normal clownfish I have seen.

I suspect this is a mild case of systematic bacterial infection. Could someone please confirm?

If so, would treatment be necessary or should I hold off? My concern is that the quarantine tank is already dosed with Cupramine. The addition of antibiotics many be too stressful.

Btw, I have access to kanamycin, enrofloxacin and metronidazole. I do not have access to Seachem Focus so can’t really bind antibiotics to pellets with ease or precision.

Thank you!

Looks like a fish that is either full or has excess body fluid and constpiation. Can’t see the anal area in video to rule out rectal prolapse.
When did you start to notice this and is fish eating?
If eating, feeding brine shrimp will help loosen any blockage

 

[mcgullen]

Looks like a fish that is either full or has excess body fluid and constpiation. Can’t see the anal area in video to rule out rectal prolapse.
When did you start to notice this and is fish eating?
If eating, feeding brine shrimp will help loosen any blockage

Noticed it yesterday. The fish would take a few pellets a day. Haven’t tried brine shrimp yet.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Noticed it yesterday. The fish would take a few pellets a day. Haven’t tried brine shrimp yet.

Are you feeding pellets only ?

 

[mcgullen]

Are you feeding pellets only ?

In QT yes. Trying to keep ammonia low.

 

[vetteguy53081]

In QT yes. Trying to keep ammonia low.

The pellets may be causing the issue with constipation and brine shrimp will help. Also feed LRS fish frenzy, small plankton and mysis shrimp.

 

[Jay Hemdal]

In QT yes. Trying to keep ammonia low.

Pellets are actually a pretty dense food and will produce more ammonia by weight than frozen foods will. Try the brine shrimp to see if it is constipation.

Other causes of bloating, like ascites from organ failure, are not treatable.

Jay

 

[mcgullen]

A follow-up: the issue was resolved. I ended up dosing Kanaplex according to packet instructions twice, 48 hours apart, with a 25% water change before the second dose. The slightly bloated stomach improved gradually during treatment and was fully resolved at the end. So the issue could be an acute bacterial infection leading to kidney problems.

Thanks everyone for the help!