Neon tetra bloated

[JayD976]

One of the neons in my 20gal is bloated bad looks like he's *donkey* is gonna pop. I tried fasting for few days didn't seem to help. I also started to feed peas to see if that works. When I get a chance I'll try to get Epsom salt and do baths of that.

I typically give hem a varied diet of flake food, algae wafers, frozen spirulina cubes and occasionally blood worms. Any thoughts?

In the tank is a small school of 6 neons, a clown Pleco and 100+ cherry red shrimp

[OinKY]

Pic ?
Any fish can get bloated and usually you can hit it with a laxative (like feeding the peas and treating with Epsom salts) to alleviate it.
IMO,start at 2 tbsp for the 20g and continue trying the peas (deshelled and smashed) for the problem.If it's constipation (seriously doubt a blockage from swallowing something undigestable) that should move it.

Other than that,how is the Neon acting ? How's it's color ? How's the temperature on the tank ?
Sometimes a mild temperature bump will speed metabolism enough to move or breakdown constipation.

[JayD976]

Yeah I have a little 1-2 gal tank I'm gonna do treatments in. In the mean time I have been feeding deshelled mashed peas.

His color and behavior is normal.

Will tr to get a clear picture and temp details when I get home. But generally the tank is on the 77-78 range

[OinKY]

Long as the Neon continues to school with the others it's no really severe problem. Schooling fish segregate themselves (or get segregated) instinctively in life/death situations.

With constipation,quarantine isn't necessary with Epsom salt used in general treatment. It's safe for other occupants and filtration. Epsom salts bathes are a temporary treatment that requires only a small vessel for a very limited "dipping",so no separate tank is needed there either. Bathes may not be needed,so don't see the point of added stress in chasing and netting.
Unless you have really temperature sensitive fish (some of the more southern or mountain Corys for example) as tank mates,IMO a gradual increase to 80-82F for a bit might help.

[JayD976]

How do you think the cherry shrimp will be with the salt?

[OinKY]

Epsom salt is not sodium salt,so doesn't affect salinity. It's magnesium and will affect TH (Total Hardness) only.

[JayD976]

I did notice today he was pooping when i went to check his condition this morning

Pics:

[callen]

Good he is pooping Jay. Have you added the Epsom salts yet? It will help a great deal to speed up the process.

[JayD976]

Yes I added it a 1 tbsp per 10gal as suggested

[JayD976]

He didn't make it, but sadly probably better off as that looked very uncomfortable.

[callen]

Sorry to hear.

[donsfish]

Sorry to hear, hope the rest are still doin good.

[JayD976]

The others are absolutely fine. I think I may add them to the 90gal community tank.

[OinKY]

Sorry to hear.
I'd keep an eye on the others anyway and see if something similar happens with any of them.

[donsfish]

Yea, think I'd wait a bit as well after just losing that one.....a little extra assurance never hurts.