Bloated Yellow Tang

[nico1997]

Hi everyone,

My yellow tang has been looking bloated for the past day and it’s getting a bit worrying. At first I thought it overate mysis (which I have to admit I might have overfed the day before) but now it definitely looks like it’s more than that. Could it be constipated or air trapped? I haven’t seen it poop since I first noticed the swelling.

Quick context: I feed twice a day, once mysis, the second nori. I am currently having a cyano outbreak and it might have ingested some while grazing at the rocks. I first noticed swelling 48 hours ago and it hasn’t improved.

I need help with the diagnosis and treatment please!

Thanks

 

[ya_boii]

Cyano ingestion wouldn't cause this. I'd guess it's some severe impaction. If this were freshwater, I'd recommend an Epsom salt bath, but marine fish are already in a ton of magnesium. I would try some more fiberous foods (assuming he's still eating) to hopefully push out whatever is blocking him up. Some frozen bloodworms might do the trick.

 

[RobertK]

@Jay Hemdal

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Hi everyone,

My yellow tang has been looking bloated for the past day and it’s getting a bit worrying. At first I thought it overate mysis (which I have to admit I might have overfed the day before) but now it definitely looks like it’s more than that. Could it be constipated or air trapped? I haven’t seen it poop since I first noticed the swelling.

Quick context: I feed twice a day, once mysis, the second nori. I am currently having a cyano outbreak and it might have ingested some while grazing at the rocks. I first noticed swelling 48 hours ago and it hasn’t improved.

I need help with the diagnosis and treatment please!

Thanks

It looks constipated to me. If it was trapped air, or gas given off by decomposing bacteria, the fish would bob along as it swims. As mentioned, epsom salts won't help with marine fish.

Is it still eating?

There are other causes of abdominal swelling. I discuss them here:

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/causes-of-abdominal-swelling-in-fishes.1098720/

 

[nico1997]

Hi Jay,
How would you treat a constipated fish?
It hasn’t eaten in 3 days and is not interested in food anymore.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Hi Jay,
How would you treat a constipated fish?
It hasn’t eaten in 3 days and is not interested in food anymore.

Ah - that’s a big issue, I didn’t realize it had gone that long without food.

Oral Epsom salts at 3% by weight could help, but obviously not in this case because it isn’t eating.

I know you’ll read about putting Epsom salts in the water, but that’s really only for freshwater fish - seawater already has a ton of magnesium sulfate in it.

Sorry, but waiting to see if it works out on its own may be the only course here.