featherfin has swollen somach

hi all
my featherfin cat has a swollen stomach i first thoughy dropsy but he looks really healthy perhaps more active than usual. she eats normally. i then considerd constipation it seems pretty likely. he ignores any food beside bloodworms so thats what he eats. he moves to much so i cant get pics.
can someone please HELP

ps she looks like she swallowed a bouncy ball

 

Can you give us more information on:

Tank size
Tank water perameters (pH, Nitrates, nitrites, Ammonia)
How often you feed. (What do you feed)
Type of filter (litre per hour + what inside the filter)
How do you clean the tank, and how often.

You could feed him a boiled pea. Just de-skin it. This is often used for constipation in Betta's, and may help with your cat.

 

Do you have this catfish with your Tanganyikans?

 

its a 55l ph is 7.5 i feed him bloodworms 2ce a day i have a UG filter and i clean the once every 1-2 weeks i dont think he will eat peas hes carnivourus yes he is with my tangnyikans

 

Correction. They are omnivorous. They will accept a pea put the Tangs will get to them first.

TM

 

This then boils down to poor advice given by the LPS.

55l is FAR too small for this fish.
Undergravel filters are useless... and belong in the museum... so I am willing to bet that the water quality is terrible.

Feeding the fish only bloodworms is like feeding your child only chocolate, and hope that they get all the nutrients they need to grow out of it. Bloodworms have surprizingly low nutrients, and should only be given as a treat to supplement the diet. You should get some proper catfood pellats that are formulated for the dietry requirements of this fish.

 

They grow to 20+cm and should not be kept in a tank less than 100L :amazed:

It has been advised that this be changed to at least a big sponge filter with a powerful pump. Apparently her water is "Crystal Clear".

:noworry: even when conditioning breeding fish!

He meant catfish food not real cat food. You don't want to kill your fish thinking Zoom suggested feline food. Make sure these fish pellets sink and are for carnivorous catfish.


TM

 

well the water is crystal clear isnt that the filters job? ill move the fish to a bigger tank when he out grows this one. i tried other food but he takes a few bites and then leaves it to rot.

 

please guys HELP

 

Could be all the bloodworms that have not digested due to overfeeding. A pic might help.

 

he seems back to normal thanks for the info ill experiment with some diffrent food

finally found one he likes! very expensive though

 

What is it, may I ask. I feed mine terta-tabimin tabs and they really like them. He even comes out to eat them with all the other fish.