PlanetCatfish.com

I have had this baby (1in long)ancistrus for about two weeks now and I am concerned that its belly is abnormaly distended. Is this normal? If not what do I need to do( I have a hospital tank already set up)
All my other fish are behaving normaly
Water perameters are
Ammonia=0
Nitrites=0
Nitrates=5ppm
Ph=7
temp=24 celcius
filters are under gravel run by aquaclear 201 powerhead and fluval 2 internal
Tank size is 30x15x12inches
Tank mates are 6 emperor tetras and one other ancistrus(anout 1.5 in long)
plants are anubis and jave fern/moss
I feed one half a pleco tab at lights out

Hope someone can help

Richard

Do you have a picture? Your Ancistrus is probably just developing the gut of a well-fed pleco, if it's pooping a lot and the scales lay flat and its color is healthy, that's probably just it. But if the scales are sticking out, it may have dropsy...a pic will confirm this.

Hi, biomechmonster. I will try to get a decent photo tonight. I've tried to before but the fish seems to know when it's photo is being taken and refuses to adopt the correct pose(sic)
Gave me a fight tonight though, thought I would have to perform the last rights! but just turned out to be resting.
No scales seem to be sticking out(thank god!) so let us hope that it is just a very well fed(read fat ) example of an ancistrus. None of my other plecos seen to be as "fat" we will see.

Thanks, Richard