swollen female s. petricola

[barbara]

my s. petricolas (dwarf size) have been breeding regularly for over a year now...going on two years i guess and recently one of the two females has looked very gravid and yet there has not been the usual flurry of activity that goes on when they are mating. she continues to get larger and i fear either she is having a problem releasing her eggs or perhaps has a bacterial infection. she is eating and acting normal but for this swollen belly. my guess is that it has been four weeks or so since the last mating event.

anyone have experience with this or have any ideas of what is going on with her? or if there is anything i can do to move things along if, in fact, these are eggs and she is egg bound, or whatever the correct expression for that is.

thanks.
barbara

[toddnbecka]

The only thing you can do is wait and see what happens. If the fish is egg-bound, trying to strip her will only result in injury to the fish. I doubt that it's a bacterial infection; I've never heard of that causing a fish to look swollen.

[Barbie]

Bacterial infections can certainly cause the fish to look swollen. Usually due to internal organ failure and osmotic problems resulting from the initial infection. Many people call the condition dropsy....

Have you changed anything in your set up in that time that would put the fish off spawning? I've had a few petricola females that I felt sure the skin might split on at any moment, so I can understand your worries. Mine have always been fine, but it's hard to know if yours is just getting very full of eggs or actually sick. If her behavior is staying good, that's at least a good sign. I know that betta breeders sometimes recommend adding epsom salts to your water for egg bound bettas. If your fish are being kept in tap water, it's possible that your conditions have changed in the last month from the ideal that has kept them spawning.

Sorry I'm not more help .

Barbie

[karl]

Hi Barbara

Mine certainly did look plump on occasions when I had them before (the new ones are still small).

As well as just plumpness from eggs, constipation and bacterial infections, there are some parasites / nematode worms can cause a distended stomach. These can get in the tank with fish / plants or be carried in fresh water live foods.

Are there any other signs e.g, stringy white faeces or protrusions at the anus, scratching etc... and any other fish showing any signs ? unexplained deaths ?

Incidentally, I'd really like to know more about the conditions for spawning / spawning ritual and if you've had any success raising the fry.

Cheers

Karl.

[chatnoire3]

Barbara -
Just wondering how this turned out. I also have a swollen-looking female and I am interested to see if yours is ok.
- Susan