[Willy W0nka]

About 2 weeks ago I went to feed my fish some frozen shrimp pellets. Typicaly when I do this, the Livingstonii gets to them before any of the other fish have a chance, so I figured this time I would drop about 4 or 5 at the same time so that he couldn't get them all at once and maybe the others would grab one or two. Well, this didn't happen. He ended up eating them all. While eating them the chewed up pieces were coming out from his gills and he would also spit them up and then eat them again.

The following week I fed them brine shrimp. At this point I noticed that his eating habits were next to none. He was going after a couple but he wasn't nearly as excited as the other fish. Now, almost a week later, he isn't eating at all. He swims around like he always has and even gets a little excited when it's feeding time but when I drop the flakes in, he doesn't pay any attention. A flake or two catches his attention before hitting the bottom and he will go to eat it but then spits it right now.

There has also been some white stringy poo. He doesn't appear to be enlarged in his stomach though and his coloration hasn't changed either. All of the other fish in the tank appear to be fine and are eating well and being as active as they have always been.

45 Gallon Tank
-
1 Livingstonii
1 Yellow Lab
1 Brichardi
1 Neolamprologus tretocephalus
1 Pictus Catfish
-
20% Water Changes once a week

 

[cichlidaholic]

It sounds like he may have bloat. Other fish could also be infected and just not showing symptoms yet.

For those that are still eating, I would give them some medicated antiparasitic food.

You can follow one of the two bloat treatments below my signature for the one who isn't eating.

 

[Willy W0nka]

Unfortunitely, I don't have a seperate "hospital" tank to isolate and treat him. Do you think it would be ok to put him in a bowl for a few days and treat him that way?

Also, what specific types of medication do you recommend? I was at the pet store yesterday and saw a wide range of different things, so I held off to get a couple of recommendations before purchasing anything.

 

[cichlidaholic]

No, I wouldn't put him in a bowl. I'd just treat the main tank.

The two links regarding treatment are below in my signature. Metronidazole or Clout would be the choices.

 

[Willy W0nka]

Great. Thanks a lot for the quick response!