Bloated Rineloricaria fallax

[Sparx]

I have a R. fallax that seems to be bloated. Here's a ventral picture of it.



I've read that this might be because it didn't eat enough plant matter. I've tried to correct this problem by giving it zucchini and keeping it in a tank full of algae, but it seems like it hasn't had any improvements at all.

Any help or suggestion would be much appreciated. Thanks in advance.

[Shane]

Hard to tell from the photo but your fish may just be gravid. Other than the bloating does it appear healthy?
-Shane

[apistomaster]

As long as she eats and is as active as normal she will probably be fine. When bloated fish become noticeably lethargic and loose their appetite that is a bad sign. Do you have a male in with her?

[MatsP]

Moved, as Rineloricaria are Loricariidae.

--
Mats

[Sparx]

I don't think she's mature enough to be gravid. She's only 6 cm long. Is it possible?

She appears to be normal, though.

[Bas Pels]

I have another species of Rhineloricaria which reaches a similar adult size as the R fallax, which starts reproducing at around 6, perhaps 7, cm. these are from Uruguay, subtropical, which migh have an influence