My six line wrasse has a huge stomach need some help with the reason

[Robert Ranciato]

I have had my six line wrasse for 8 years over the last few weeks it has developed a bulging stomach. I can't get a picture of him but I found a picture that looks exactly the same as he or she does. It's the only six line in my tank the only other wrasse is a melauris. So I don't think it could be eggs. He has been eating every night tonight I couldn't see him. Maybe due to late feeding he might be in the rock work already. He looks exactly like the one in this picture. Any ideas on what this could be. Thanks

 

[Fish Fan]

Constipation maybe? What's his diet?

#fishmedic
@vetteguy53081
@Jay Hemdal

 

[Robert Ranciato]

Hi Jay I feed him frozen mysis and brine shrimp every day and ocen nutrition prime flakes or spectrum new life probioicx prebiotic pellets once a day. 2 total feedings per day. He is always hunting for pods also

 

[Uncle99]

8 years is old age for the wrasse.
Some blockage may be occurring.

 

[Fish Fan]

Hi Jay I feed him frozen mysis and brine shrimp every day and ocen nutrition prime flakes or spectrum new life probioicx prebiotic pellets once a day. 2 total feedings per day. He is always hunting for pods also

Oh gosh, I'm not Jay lol!

I was trying to "tag in" some of the real R2R experts to try to help you; they will be along shortly.

I've never had a sixline, so wait for those other users and anyone with "Fish Medic" under their user name to reply. I don't know if they are full carnivores, or if they need at least some greens in their diet too.

 

[Robert Ranciato]

Sorry about that. Thanks I appreciate it

 

[Robert Ranciato]

I feed nori every day but I have never seen him touch it only the melauris wrasse eats it and the Tangs

 

[Fish Fan]

8 years is old age for the wrasse.
Some blockage may be occurring.

Do you know if sixlines need some vegetation in their diet? Could that cause a "blockage"?

 

[Robert Ranciato]

I haven't heard that they do he gets pellets and flakes and nori is always available but I haven't seen him go after it. He has never had a stomach like this is noticed it a few weeks ago. I have been watching him he eats like a pig. Unless he has found a large amount of pods to access all at once I can't figure it out. He is very cryptic always hiding and behind the rocks. I have never seen him be a bully like a lot of people say about six lines. He has also stayed aprx the same size since I got him.

 

[vetteguy53081]

I have had my six line wrasse for 8 years over the last few weeks it has developed a bulging stomach. I can't get a picture of him but I found a picture that looks exactly the same as he or she does. It's the only six line in my tank the only other wrasse is a melauris. So I don't think it could be eggs. He has been eating every night tonight I couldn't see him. Maybe due to late feeding he might be in the rock work already. He looks exactly like the one in this picture. Any ideas on what this could be. Thanks

Hold off feeding 12-24 hours and see if bulge subsides. These fish will overeat and eat food particles that are too large for their stomachs. Once eating, offer brine shrimp which serves as a laxative.

 

[Robert Ranciato]

Hold off feeding 12-24 hours and see if bulge subsides. These fish will overeat and eat food particles that are too large for their stomachs. Once eating, offer brine shrimp which serves as a laxative.

I will give it a try. Thanks

 

[Jay Hemdal]

I will give it a try. Thanks

The three primary causes for this are:

constipation, egg binding and ascites (fluid build-up from liver or kidney damage).

Sometimes, I can tell from how the fish looks (not just a representative picture) but often, these issues look too similar.

Really, there is no treatment for ascites and egg binding and constipation have to work themselves out or not.

To be honest, I suspect organ damage, since the fish is 8 years old.

 

[Robert Ranciato]

OK thank you

 

[exnisstech]

I had the same thing happen to mine. Had it for a few years when it happened. It looked like it was going to explode but it never stopped eating. It ended up dying tho I never figured out the cause. I figured if it was blockage it would have stopped eating but it ate until the end.

 

[kevgib67]

Sixlines have a relatively short lifespan, 4-6 years. Mine was estimated at 4 years when it passed away. Yours has had a really long lifespan for a sixline.

 

[Robert Ranciato]

I had the same thing happen to mine. Had it for a few years when it happened. It looked like it was going to explode but it never stopped eating. It ended up dying tho I never figured out the cause. I figured if it was blockage it would have stopped eating but it ate until the end.

Did you post about it on reef2reef? Because I couldn't get a picture of mine but I found a picture and post about the same issue. The picture was an exact match to what mine currently looked like so I used it for my post. I haven't seen him in a 2 days so I think he might be dead. Now I'm not sure if I need to try and find him. I have pukini rock so he could literally be in the middle of a large piece. I'm hoping it won't hurt my water quality. It's ashame he was a really peaceful fish he or she will be missed.

 

[exnisstech]

Did you post about it on reef2reef? Because I couldn't get a picture of mine but I found a picture and post about the same issue. The picture was an exact match to what mine currently looked like so I used it for my post. I haven't seen him in a 2 days so I think he might be dead. Now I'm not sure if I need to try and find him. I have pukini rock so he could literally be in the middle of a large piece. I'm hoping it won't hurt my water quality. It's ashame he was a really peaceful fish he or she will be missed.

I did post with an image but not the one you have above.
I wouldn't bother looking for the fish, let the cleanup crew do their job. I've never had a death cause an issue in a tank. I suppose in a very small tank it would be possible. I love sixlines and keep one in each tank that is suited for them, I currently have two.
This is one. They do not like to be photographed.

 

[tsharpe291]

I had the same thing happen to mine. Had it for a few years when it happened. It looked like it was going to explode but it never stopped eating. It ended up dying tho I never figured out the cause. I figured if it was blockage it would have stopped eating but it ate until the end.

pretty much copy and paste, exactly what happened to mine

 

[kevgib67]

pretty much copy and paste, exactly what happened to mine

O-H!