hello larry , i was wondering if you knew what sunken belly disease is or how or if it can be cured ?
i have had a couple of fish die from it recently and also one of my fav fish has it now

I don't know that it is actually a disease. Sunken bellies are generally caused by a parasite of some sort. Something is starving the fish of the nutrients that it is getting from the food it is eating. Some meds like Jungles parasite cure will help clear them up, but they are too strong for certain fish like cats and plecos. Metro is another med that might help. A lot depends on how far gone the fish is.

Keeper

ok well do you think i should just remove the affected fish imiedeately in case this thing spreads to my other fish ?

Probably would be a good idea. Would also make treatment a little easier and less expensive.

Keeper

I agree with dragon keeper that it is in all likelyhood an internal parasite. A deworming agent (praziquantel) might help. I have had some fish that didn't respond to this treatment though. Sometimes if left untreated for too long there is physical damage to the internal organs which is irreversible. In this case the fish just withers away over a period of a few months.
Cheers.
James.

ok thanks , but does this mean my tank should be treated in case my other fish have been infested even though at the moment they have no visible signs of infestation?

I would treat the entire tank.....

Good advice above. There can be different causes, including a sort of fish tuberculosis. When I've had fish with that symptom it was normally confined to one fish, but it sounds like it's more than that in your tank. Prazi Pro (or other praziquantel med) is a dewormer and adding Metro works with other pathogens like flagellates and some type so bacteria. Neither one should bother the filters.

If you read down a ways on this page, this discus breeder has a whole little system for internal problems. Some of the info might be helpful, in terms of his approach.

...Come to think of it, Larry has posted some good information in a similar vein.
Treating wild fish


This post has been edited by neutrinoman: Mar 9 2010, 01:22 PM

Thanks neutrinoman,I am still doing this treatment and I have not changed the way I do it either.
If the fish are still eating this is the way to go.

Cheers,Larry