What caused my fish to die with a bloated stomach and upside down?

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.

Parasites, constipation, stress or bacterial infection are all possibilities. Maintain adequate water quality. Continue with the salt treatment, it can decrease stress, aid healing and may treat minor infection. Consider a product such as PraziPro or General Cure by API to treat for parasites. Constipation can be managed with a 3 day fast followed by feeding bits of cooked, shelled green peas until defecation is normal and regular.

Thanks for reaching out about Coco and including pictures. Swellings on one side of the body are often an indication of an internal mass. That could be a intestinal blockage, displaced swim bladder or an enlarged organ. Check water quality and correct any concerns. A veterinarian should be contacted for possible treatments, but also contacting the person/business you purchased her from would also be a good idea. This isn't much you can do for these problems at home. Good luck.

Thanks for reaching out about Bubbles and including a photo. Abdominal distention (often termed "dropsy") can be due to accumulated fluid, eggs, enlarged organs or displaced swim bladder. A veterinary visit is recommended to assess and provide a diagnostic/treatment plan. Store purchased medications are a waste of monies and will not fix anything. A diagnosis needs to be made to effectively treat. Good luck.

Thanks for reaching out about Jeff and including photos. A swollen abdomen can be the accumulation of fluid, possibly due to diseases of the gills, heart, liver, lungs or something internal producing fluid. Sinking to the bottom, probably due to the fluid on the abdomen preventing the swim bladder from filling, therefore affecting buoyancy. First, test and correct water quality, as even small problems can lead to gill damage and the influx of water into the body, therefore the fluid. Adding non-iodized salt can decrease the water gradient into the body, relieving some symptoms but is not a cure. Salt from the pet store should have a dose. A veterinary visit is needed to assess if you want a more definitive answer. Good answer.

By your description, it could have been dropsy. Without an image or exam though, this cannot be determined definitively. Dropsy is a symptom of underlying illness, rather than a specific disease. Maintaining a clean tank, stable water chemistry and proper environmental parameters will go a long way in prevent illness. Separate any sick fish will keep disease from potentially spreading in the tank.

Thanks for reaching out about Wolfy. Floating upside down is a serious concern, possibly involving the swim bladder or intestinal tract. Typically additives to the water are not absorbed systemically but the salt might help decrease osmotic imbalances in the body. A radiograph could help determine if fluid is filling the swim bladder, and then systemic antibiotics could be administered, probably vi injections. Good luck.