Why is my oranda goldfish's vent protruding? Is it constipated?

Simply monitor him. He may have been constipated and you caught him as he finally defecated. You can fast him 1 day a week and offer cooked and shelled green peas to aid in defecation. Maintain pristine water quality and stable water chemistry.

Orandas are very prone to swim bladder issues as with their short bodies the swim bladder can easily become occluded. Often they gulp food down and ingest a lot of air. Usually if you starve the fish for a day or 2 the constipation and air passes, in future it can be useful to feed heavier food such as peas.

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.

Check the water temperature. Low temps can affect appetite and digestion in fish. Angels do best between 78 F and 80 F. You can soak food in garlic juice to stimulate his appetite. Next, check the water chemistry. This can be done using a home test kit or by submitting a water sample for testing. Most pet stores will do this for free or for a small fee. Confirm 0 ppm ammonia and nitrites with nitrates at 40ppm or less in a tank with live plants or 20 ppm or less in an unplanted tank. Partial water changes can be done, if indicated, to stabilize chemistry and/or maintain water quality. use only aged or conditioned water that is temperature matched to prevent stress or shock. Although they do best in slightly acidic and soft water, they are quite adaptable. Fast him for 2-3 days then feed bits of cooked and shelled green peas. if he is constipated then this should him him get regular again. A broad spectrum parasite medication, such as PraziPro, should be considered. You can find it in the aquarium section of the local Petco. Follow label directions carefully.

Check water chemistry, quality and temperature. Use a home test kit or submit a water sample for testing to confirm an absence (0ppm) of ammonia and nitrites with a nitrate level of 20ppm or less. High ammonia levels may cause "burns" which may present as black spots on the scales. Most pet stores will test water for free or for a small fee. Perform a partial water change, no more than 30 percent of the total volume, to stabilize chemistry and maintain or improve water quality. Use only aged or conditioned water that is temperature matched to prevent further stress or shock. Check the water temperature as well. Bettas are tropical fish and do best between 78F and 80F. Low temps can affect digestion in fish causing constipation. Maintain water at 80F and fast for 3 days. Resume feed tiny bits of cooked and shelled green peas. Feed peas until defecation and swimming are normal. Feed a quality pelleted diet and fast him one day a week to promote regularity.

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.

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.