My Blue Damsel Looks Bloated

Maraschiello · 12/09/2009, 12:34 AM

As the subject line states, I notice when feeding my fish right now that my blue damsel is literally twice as wide as normal and its stomach from the side is noticable bulging out. No spots and seems to be swimming around okay. Any ideas? Its in a tank with a foxface, maybe it touched its spines? Any suggestions are appreciated.

_Paul

photokid · 12/09/2009, 01:04 AM

paul how long have you had the fish?

-Pixie- · 12/09/2009, 01:10 AM

Any abnormal behaviour?
erratic swimming?
slow?
clear eyes?
colouration changes?
Or maybe overfeeding is a possibility?

Im no pro, not even close but if you can eliminate these problems from the list it will make diagnosis easier

Maraschiello · 12/09/2009, 09:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by -Pixie-

Any abnormal behaviour?
erratic swimming?
slow?
clear eyes?
colouration changes?
Or maybe overfeeding is a possibility?

Im no pro, not even close but if you can eliminate these problems from the list it will make diagnosis easier

I've had the fish for about 7 months,

Eyes appear fine,

Swimming seems to be more aggressive than usual

Its bloated stomach seems to make his blue color look stretched and evenly a little lighter colored.

Over eating could be an issue, I feed 3 times a day sometimes. Working retail gives me odd hours, especially at xmas time.

sedor · 12/09/2009, 10:36 AM

Usually a loss of appetite is the first sign of illness. If he is still eating, even more voraciously I would think he is just a fat, healthy fish. Now, if his stomach is bloated beyond normal proportions, my first instinct would be internal parasites. I say that only because in other animals that is sometimes the case.

naubound · 12/09/2009, 12:17 PM

I have had a few damsels and they never got like this. I have seen an over fed damsel that looked like it had a tumor on its underside but it was a very healthy. I wouldn't worry about it I would just listen to what other people are telling you and watch for the classic signs of sickness.

Maraschiello · 12/15/2009, 11:08 PM

I added photos of the fish, its been like this for a week now, any imput appreciated

VacavilleFC3S · 12/15/2009, 11:20 PM

wow i'd assume internal parasites of some sort

Maraschiello · 12/15/2009, 11:45 PM

Contagious? Uncurable? What Should I do?? Thanks

carlos luis · 12/16/2009, 08:00 AM

Is the fish fully grown? Could it be "pregnant" with roe?

Maraschiello · 12/16/2009, 08:04 AM

I've seen bigger blue damsels. I do have clownfish in my tank which is a "damsel" but it is the only kind in the tank. Unless "pregnant with roe" is a term I'm unfamiliar with :/

Maraschiello · 12/16/2009, 11:52 AM

I'm going to show the pics to my LFS, the guy there is pretty knowledgable.

fatdaddy · 12/16/2009, 01:52 PM

roe=eggs would be my first guess. s/he does look bloated.

If it's eating, then I'd just monitor it for changes.

Maraschiello · 12/16/2009, 02:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fatdaddy

roe=eggs would be my first guess. s/he does look bloated.

If it's eating, then I'd just monitor it for changes.

Fat Daddy,

Thanks, it seems to act more aggressive the past few days. I know thats what a damsel does, but it is not normal for this fish to be act that way for me. Do internal parasites spread? Should I consider this fish for QT?

fatdaddy · 12/16/2009, 02:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maraschiello

it seems to act more aggressive the past few days.

Do you have a 2nd damsel? I don't think they would spawn if not for a pair.

However, if so, the aggressiveness would be explained. My tomatoe clowns go ape right before they spawn. They don't break my skin, but it hurts enough that I need to put on gloves.

Re: parasites and QT - I don't have any experience with this. I've been lucky so far.

12/09/2009, 12:34 AM	#1
Maraschiello Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Buffalo Posts: 153	My Blue Damsel Looks Bloated As the subject line states, I notice when feeding my fish right now that my blue damsel is literally twice as wide as normal and its stomach from the side is noticable bulging out. No spots and seems to be swimming around okay. Any ideas? Its in a tank with a foxface, maybe it touched its spines? Any suggestions are appreciated. _Paul

12/09/2009, 10:36 AM	#5
sedor Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 4,689	Usually a loss of appetite is the first sign of illness. If he is still eating, even more voraciously I would think he is just a fat, healthy fish. Now, if his stomach is bloated beyond normal proportions, my first instinct would be internal parasites. I say that only because in other animals that is sometimes the case. __________________ Ryan

12/16/2009, 01:52 PM	#13
fatdaddy Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Northeast Florida Posts: 1,191	roe=eggs would be my first guess. s/he does look bloated. If it's eating, then I'd just monitor it for changes. __________________ "We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit." -- Aristotle

12/09/2009, 01:04 AM	#2
photokid Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Fayetteville NC Posts: 67	paul how long have you had the fish?

12/09/2009, 01:10 AM	#3
-Pixie- Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Australia, sunny coast Posts: 192	Any abnormal behaviour? erratic swimming? slow? clear eyes? colouration changes? Or maybe overfeeding is a possibility? Im no pro, not even close but if you can eliminate these problems from the list it will make diagnosis easier

12/09/2009, 12:17 PM	#6
naubound Registered Member Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 187	I have had a few damsels and they never got like this. I have seen an over fed damsel that looked like it had a tumor on its underside but it was a very healthy. I wouldn't worry about it I would just listen to what other people are telling you and watch for the classic signs of sickness.

12/15/2009, 11:20 PM	#8
VacavilleFC3S Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Vacaville California Posts: 2,613	wow i'd assume internal parasites of some sort

12/15/2009, 11:45 PM	#9
Maraschiello Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Buffalo Posts: 153	Contagious? Uncurable? What Should I do?? Thanks

12/16/2009, 08:00 AM	#10
carlos luis Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Brooklyn Posts: 29	Is the fish fully grown? Could it be "pregnant" with roe?

12/16/2009, 08:04 AM	#11
Maraschiello Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Buffalo Posts: 153	I've seen bigger blue damsels. I do have clownfish in my tank which is a "damsel" but it is the only kind in the tank. Unless "pregnant with roe" is a term I'm unfamiliar with :/

12/16/2009, 11:52 AM	#12
Maraschiello Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Buffalo Posts: 153	I'm going to show the pics to my LFS, the guy there is pretty knowledgable.