Big stomach in a yellow watchman goby

[zaphod42]

We've had this goby for over a year, and in the last 10 days or so it's not eaten much, but it's belly is very big. Could it be some kind of internal parasite? Should we medicate? I have on hand fenben, kanaplex, and metroplex, but it's not eating much at all so I am unsure if I can get a theraputic dose of anything into it. (We also have some other medications on hand, that I don't think are needed like RallyPro, copper, and nitrofurazone) We have ordered prazipro and focus, but they will not arrive until Wednesday. Thanks for any assistance.
40 gallon breeder tank, ammonia 0, nitrates 5, phosphates .08, salinity 1.026

 

[Jekyl]

Clear white light photos and maybe a video via youtube if necessary will help out.

 

[Jekyl]

Also what are you feeding?

 

[zaphod42]

It stays mainly in the rockwork, so videos have been very poor in the few moments it's visible.
We feed LRS fish frenzy, mysis, brine, bloodworms, and New Life Spectrum pellets.

 

[zaphod42]

 

[zaphod42]

Sorry for the bad lighting

 

[vetteguy53081]

We've had this goby for over a year, and in the last 10 days or so it's not eaten much, but it's belly is very big. Could it be some kind of internal parasite? Should we medicate? I have on hand fenben, kanaplex, and metroplex, but it's not eating much at all so I am unsure if I can get a theraputic dose of anything into it. (We also have some other medications on hand, that I don't think are needed like RallyPro, copper, and nitrofurazone) We have ordered prazipro and focus, but they will not arrive until Wednesday. Thanks for any assistance.
40 gallon breeder tank, ammonia 0, nitrates 5, phosphates .08, salinity 1.026

Do not medicate until cause determined. Video here is best as I want to see breathing rate and determine if bloating, constipation or infection.
Is fish breathing normal or labored?

 

[zaphod42]

Do not medicate until cause determined. Video here is best as I want to see breathing rate and determine if bloating, constipation or infection.
Is fish breathing normal or labored?

I would say the breathing is labored.

 

[zaphod42]

Can you tell anything from the video?

 

[zaphod42]

Do not medicate until cause determined. Video here is best as I want to see breathing rate and determine if bloating, constipation or infection.
Is fish breathing normal or labored?

Video in post #5 (sorry for bad lighting)

 

[Idech]

Most people can’t see videos unless they are from Youtube.

 

[zaphod42]

 

[vetteguy53081]

Your fish is labor breathing but is also showing interest in food. Looks to be constipation which does not require medicating anything but stop all regular foods and try brine shrimp which often allows digestion of foods especially if feeding pellets and other dry foods exclusively. Other would be not to feed for 24 hours and see if fish's stomach reduces in size.

 

[zaphod42]

The fish has only been coming out for food once every 3 days or so since this began about 10 days ago. But I will try brine shrimp only, as I have no idea how much food it finds floating into its caves. I will update on Tuesday or the next time it comes out after tomorrow.
Thank you!

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Very unlikely to be an internal parasite after a year’s time.

The belly size combined with rapid breathing indicates this is a systemic issue.

The two most likely would be egg binding or ascites (fluid build up from kidney failure). Neither of those are treatable though, sorry.

We've had this goby for over a year, and in the last 10 days or so it's not eaten much, but its belly is very big. Could it be some kind of internal parasite? Should we medicate? I have on hand fenben, kanaplex, and metroplex, but it's not eating much at all so I am unsure if I can get a theraputic dose of anything into it. (We also have some other medications on hand, that I don't think are needed like RallyPro, copper, and nitrofurazone) We have ordered prazipro and focus, but they will not arrive until Wednesday. Thanks for any assistance.
40 gallon breeder tank, ammonia 0, nitrates 5, phosphates .08, salinity 1.026

 

[zaphod42]

Very unlikely to be an internal parasite after a year’s time.

The belly size combined with rapid breathing indicates this is a systemic issue.

The two most likely would be egg binding or ascites (fluid build up from kidney failure). Neither of those are treatable though, sorry.

Thanks for this helpful information. Are there known causes for either of these issues? Something like too much pellets (her food of choice)? Just wondering for future gobies.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Thanks for this helpful information. Are there known causes for either of these issues? Something like too much pellets (her food of choice)? Just wondering for future gobies.

Egg binding is a disfunction seen in some captive fishes - in the absence of a male, females hold their eggs. Then, the eggs harden and cannot be expelled. If that becomes infected, the fish begins breathing fast due to the infection.

Ascites is caused by liver or kidney malfunction - sometimes caused by bacteria, otherwise the cause may benunkmown.

Possibly food related, but in my experience, bloating due to over eating doesn’t also cause rapid breathing.