My fish are bloated and dying. Is it parasites or another illness?

Sorry for the problems. Intestinal parasitism can affect small fish. Please check water quality to ensure ammonia, pH, nitrates and nitrites are appropriate. Taking a fish to a veterinarian for identification of the parasite can lead to a treatment plan for the adults. Sometimes invertebrates (snails) are intermediate host for the parasites, and removing them can reduce the problem. Good luck.

This is a classic sign of swim bladder disorder. Check water quality and chemistry. use a home test kit or submit a water sample for testing. The local Petco may do this for free or for a small fee. Aim for 0 ppm ammonia and nitrites with nitrates at 20 ppm or less. pH should hover around 7 and water temp should range between 65 F and 72F. Perform a partial water change is necessary to stabilize chemistry and improve water quality. Use only conditioned water that is temperature matched to prevent stress or shock. Pristine water quality is the foundation for recovery and healing. Next, fast her for 3 days. Resume feeding bits of cooked, shelled green peas until she is swimming and defecating normally. You can fast her one day a week in the future and offer green peas to maintain regularity. If symptoms persist, consider a broad spectrum dewormer and a broad spectrum antibiotic. You can find both in the aquarium section at Petco. Follow label directions carefully and remove the carbon filter insert during treatment in indicated.

The bloating could be infection. It may also be parasitic infection, constipation or swim bladder disease. You cannot discount them being gravid (pregnant). Glo fish are egg layers, so they could be females readying to spawn (release eggs). First check water chemistry and quality. Clean water is critical to having healthy fish or to having fish recover from illness or injury. Use a home test kit or submit a water sample for testing. Most pet stores will do this for free or for a small fee. An established tank will have 0 ppm ammonia and nitrites with a nitrate level of 20 ppm or less. If your tank shows any level of ammonia or nitrites, perform a partial water change (no more than 30% total volume at a time) using conditioned water. Makebsurebit is temperature matched as well to prevent stress or shock. Glofish do best between 72 F and 80 F. Once water quality is squared away, fast the fish for 2-3 days, then feed tiny bits of cooked and shelled green peas. This will help with constipation and bloating. Feed peas until they are swimming normally and the bloating is resolved. If the peas don't help, try broad spectrum antibiotic, such as erythromycin or ampicillin. You can find either in the aquarium section of the local Petco. Follow label directions carefully and remove the carbon filter insert during treatment if indicated. An "all in one" product, such as Lifeguard (by Tetra) can also be used. This will treat multiple types of infection with one medication.

I am sorry to hear about it. Altered buoyancy is usually due to a swim bladder infection/inflammation. Possible abdominal tumors can often cause these problems as well. Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.

He may be constipated or may have a severe infection. You can separate him out or place him in a breeding net and offer bits of cooked and shelled green peas. This should help relieve the constipation. If it is infection, a salt treatment or antibiotics may help. Place him in a separate tank and dissolve 2 1/2 teaspoons of Epsom salt (NOT table salt) per ten gallons. This can help draw out excess fluid in the body. If there is no improvement, add a broad spectrum antibiotic such as kanamycin or Maracyn 2 to the tank. You can purchase either in your local fish store or in the aquarium section of most pet stores. Follow label directions carefully. Once he is recovered, you can return him to the main tank. Monitor water quality. Many infections can be caused by poor water quality, overfeeding or overstocking the tank. Use a home test kit to check ammonia, nitrates and nitrites. The first two should always be 0 ppm (parts per million), nitrates can read 40 ppm or less. Dropsy is a condition caused by infection that results in fluid retention. If your guppy's scales are sticking out (like a pinecone), he is likely in end stage Dropsy and humane euthanasia should be considered.

If you believe it is swim bladder disease, fast them for 3 days. Resume feeding bits of cooked and shelled green peas until swimming and defecation are normal. The peas can relieve constipation which can cause swim bladder issues. You can also consider a broad spectrum antibiotic and/or a broad spectrum dewormer for the tank to cover infection and parasites. Look in the aquarium section of the local Petco for products. Follow label directions carefully and remove the carbon filter insert during treatment if indicated.

Bump the temperature up to 80 F. The warmer water may aid in digestion. Continue feeding bits of cooked, shelled green peas until he is defecating normally and regularly. If internal parasites are a concern, PraziPro or General Cure (by API) may resolve the issue. PraziPro is safe for the snails. If you decide to use General Cure, it would be safest to remove the snails during treatment.