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My lovely Bristlenose has an intestinal blockage, his stomach is bloated and he hasn't eaten for atleast 3/4 days. He hasn't pooed either in that time.

I've looked at epsom salt treatments, but these have to be applied to the food, and since he's not eating.......?

Some tank specs:
60L tank running for around 6 months, lives with 2 cories and 7 white cloud mountain minnows.
Gets along just fine.
Normally eats algae, capsicum, brocolli, carrot, and algae wafers.
I've read that these blockages are usually caused by too much protein which they gorge themselves on. (I'm assuming he must have eaten either the brine shrimp pellets, some blood worm, or some freshly hatched brine shrimp I had left over after feeding my fry, he could have also eaten an unhatched cyst, or shell)
Ammonia 0, Nitrite 0, Nitrate 10ppm
GH 80ppm KH 40ppm
Ph 7.5
Temp: 23*C
Tank is stocked with plants, rocks with holes, and hollow driftwood.
No changes made recently to tank
25% weekly water change

No other fish is showing any sign of distress.

Currently treating with Melafix (day 1), as I "just had to do SOMETHING", I relise that this is most likely not the sollution.
Increased aeration in tank.

I've examined him and when prodded his tummy seems quite hard.

Is there anything I can do that doesnt require him to eat something?
(as he is just not interested in food, just sitting behind the filter - not his usual spot)

Please help me save Otto, he really is a part of the family.

hi!

You should try to get the temp up to at least 28°C. dunno how the minnows will take this though...

P.S.: Where is Oz?

thanks for the quick reply

28*C, should i just set it to that, it's 5am here and i have to go to bed, or should i raise it a bit now and then the rest in the morning (well most likely mid-afternoon when i get up)?

I can move the minnows to a fry tank (all the fry are too big to eat now anyway)

Will the Corydoras Paleatus be ok at 28*C? I know they prefer things on the cooler side.

Thanks

Ps: where is Oz?
well down the yellow brick road ofcourse!
Here we sometimes refer to Australia as Oz, but maybe not many people outside of here have heard that one.

Hi!

Actually i think a raise to 30°C might be best. The paleatus will be allright. ive held some at 30°C during summer with no problems. 1-2°C per hour would be allright i think.

thank you thank you thank you

i went to bed, but just couldnt sleep knowing that Otto is suffering.

have moved everyone in to the fry tank (2ft) just to be on the safe side (as i dont want any more patients) where the temp is 23*C, will do water change on this one tomorrow (they get a daily water change anyway) , to make sure there are no Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate problems.
Have increased water temp by 2*C and left detailed instructions for Girlfriend to keep raising it gradually when she gets up (she went to bed a good 5 hours ago)

keep your fingers crossed for me

thank you

Hi!

Good luck!

What have you been feeding?

temp is on its way up... i think i'll aim for 28*C

well he's not eating anything, so i have only left little bits of food out for him, but they are untouched.

normally he gets brocolli, capsicum (bell peppers), pumpkin, peas, cucumber, carrot, and also the brown algae covering the log

how can i stop him from eating some of the food intended for the other fish, which might be high in protein? (brine shrimp pellets et all)

With this temp thing, what is it trying to achieve, will this speed up his metabolism and help him pass whatever is blocking?

how long should this high temperature be kept up for?

What am I looking for as signs that it might be working?

Thanks

Good Morning! (9:29 am here right now)

how can i stop him from eating some of the food intended for the other fish, which might be high in protein? (brine shrimp pellets et all)

You cant but its not so bad to feed Ancistrus frozen insects/cristaceans if you offer enough veggie imo

With this temp thing, what is it trying to achieve, will this speed up his metabolism and help him pass whatever is blocking?

Yes

how long should this high temperature be kept up for?

Id wait till it achieves what its supposed to do and the keep it up for a week or 2 and very slowly lower it

What am I looking for as signs that it might be working?

Poop

Good luck!

hi.

it 2am here

well the temp is now stable at around 28-29*C, no sign of him getting any better.

I found an article on goldfish claiming that a teaspoon of Epsom Salt per gallon of water should help with intestinal blockage, will go out and buy some tomorrow.

I really hope he will recover.

Is there anything I can do to prevent this in the future ? (apart from catching the early signs)

Thanks for all your help.

Is there anything I can do to prevent this in the future ? (apart from catching the early signs)

Perhaps feeding your fish little bits at a time, but more often. This way the fish dont miss anything, and the pleco doesnt get anything you dont want it to.

Still, it is mammal fat usually that causes intestinal dramas IME. Keep off the beef heart etc if you havent. Bloodworms should be fine in moderation. Lots of vege's and spirulina.

Wood is important in the pleco's diet, and the lignen in wood keeps the intestines in good shape.

Crom!