Urgent: bloat on one troph (my first time with bloat)

[jhj0112]

I just noticed that one of my trophs are not eating and appears to have bloat!

I immediately started 3% epsom salt solution soaking to food and fed them. they all ate food except the one who appears to have bloat..

what should I do? should I skip 3% epsom salt and use metro?? Like I mentioned, all others are eating aggressively except one and they are around 2"- 2.5"

any comment is appreciated.

[jhj0112]

Here is the picture ( not good one). He/she is breathing bit heavy/ not eating/ bit of bulging.. swimming bit slower than others but not resting on the sand

[eeztropheus]

Isolate the one to a hospital tank and treat with Epsom and metro do not feed. Watch others closely if more stop eating begin treatment.

[jhj0112]

Originally Posted by eeztropheus

Isolate the one to a hospital tank and treat with Epsom and metro do not feed. Watch others closely if more stop eating begin treatment.

unfortunately, i don't have a hospital tank. I have watched the colony for an hour and the rest are eating food and sands like crazy..

[dannyt]

Yea from the pic the little guy does look a bit blocked up. Add 1 tbsp of Epsom per 10 gallons of tank water and increase water temp to 80-82 to increase metabolism. Search the site for the regular metro regime and do it in its entirety. All the best mate

[jhj0112]

Originally Posted by dannyt

Yea from the pic the little guy does look a bit blocked up. Add 1 tbsp of Epsom per 10 gallons of tank water and increase water temp to 80-82 to increase metabolism. Search the site for the regular metro regime and do it in its entirety. All the best mate

Thanks dannyt! Should I stop feeding entire colony???

[dannyt]

I would feed metro soaked food to the ones eating. If possible reduce your overall water volume during the treatment so you use less metro. You will be doing water changes every 24 hrs as per the regime. Alternatively you could treat the 1 sick fish in a 5 gallon bucket with an air stone. A single fish in 5 gallons with 1/2 tbsp Epsom, metro dose and daily water changes will be fine too. Feed the main tank metro soaked food 10 days to be sure they're good and keep the temp 80-82.
Anyone else on Troph's have suggestions?

[Mastiffman]

This is my Bloat treatment method from the past that is always dead on for curing them. Unless it's dropsy.

- Raise tank temps to 82-83 Degrees
- Lights off during full course of 7 day treatment
- Cover tank if possible
- Increase surface agitation or aeration as higher water temps yields less dissolved O2.
- Dissolve each dose of metro powder in a heated glass of tank water, mix well and then pour in. - Days 1-7 50% water change in morning or afternoon with full dose of metro every 8 hours
- 1.5- 2 tablespoons of Epsom salt/ 10g and also replacing the appropriate amount with each water change.

You should stop losing fish (if it gets to that point) by day 4 and from that point you can soak their food for a few minutes in the dissolved metro prior to dumping it in.

[jhj0112]

Thanks Andrew and Dannyt! so should I skip 3% epsom salt solution plus adding epsom salt to the tank and treat the entire tank with metro??

I will be honest.. I'm hesistant to try metro as it may kill beneficial bacteria in the filter.. I have it in my hand as we speak but have not put it in the tank yet..

the rest is still eating. the one in picture is pretty much same condition as 24 hours ago( no white poops yet)

I added 9 Table spoons of epsom salts in the tank. I'm just watching one very closely..
I'm hoping it is just constipation...

[dannyt]

Metro won't harm your BB so don't hold back on that account mate!