Need to Know--Important!!

[angel]

This was a blue orchid peacock in full breeding mode, and his woman is holding but yesterday I noticed no one was eating. They were both in their log ornament. I got them out and he wouldn't swim up he stayed low and didn't move much. His one eye was more swollen. The other looked normal. I need to know what happened to him because I found him dead this morning and his holding mate is in the same tank. If it's something I need to treat or get her out I need to act before she dies too and all her eggs. These are so beautiful. I don't want to lose her too!




It was very difficult to pose him and take his pic when he's dead. Undignified. He was spectacular when he was alive.

[fishme]

I can't really tell too much from looking at a picture, but is it possible he has "popeye?" It's a fairly common thing, though it's not reallly a disease in and of itself but rather a symptom of infection. Here's some info on it:

www.fishlore.com/aquariummagazine/dec07/fish-popeye.htm

[fishme]

After thinking it over and looking at the pics again, I'm not sure "popeye" is what's going on here. Every fish I've ever seen with it, the eye really bulges to the point it would show up easily in a pic such as the last one you posted.

[angel]

And it takes a while. This happened in the last three days. He was fine I was busy noticed last night there was uneaten food building up got him out of the log where he was with her and found he wasn't well and she was holding. The redness in the face and gills concerns me and I couldn't see this when he was in the water. I thought his belly was fat. I had thought of bloat. But he wasn't driving her away like they like to do and he didn't have any poop at all to look at. Plus that usually takes a while too. I just don't know.

[fishme]

Are there other fish with them? Any of them showing symptoms that could lead you to believe something has happened to the water quality?

[angel]

Spose it's a good time to share environment. The two of them and an albino BN pleco shared the 20Gallon Long tank. They had sand substrate and an arificial log for hiding in. The filter is an aquaclear 70, and there's a powerhead as well. The water got an 80% change 9 days ago when we moved the tanks. They're fed twice a day, just a few flakes or pellets for each. The only meat they had was bloodworms about 2 weeks ago, and that should have been ok as they're carnivores. They'd been fine up to the weekend. I was extremely busy Friday and Saturday, and til last night. So all I did was feed and go. They were voracious little eaters at each feeding previously. They were treated for ich within the last month, but they didn't have it. The pleco did.

[jon carman]

Looking at the belly I would say bloat. That is amazing they were already breeding. How did you like them? They are my favorite peacock/ malawi in general, and I don't think pics do them justice.

[angel]

I thought they were nice, but not striking--until he got his colors! He seemed to turn overnight into this beautiful creature with bold markings and colors. I have to make sure this female is ok and the babies are safe! I don't think she has many, but her mouth is clamped tight and she's shaking them up regularly. I'm so disappointed he died though.

[davidtcb1]

Looks like a swelled/bloated belly to me too. I'm not expert on diseases, but from what I've read and seen it would appear to be bloat.

[angel]

It was bloat for sure. When I did a 25% water change tonight I suctioned the sand as well as I could. I found poop. It was light and stringy, but short. I'm really bummed. And worried about the female. I'm not sure she's still holding--she wasn't clamping her mouth tonight. She's not eating though. Gotta watch really close. It's tough to know when to clout in this situation and when to ride it out. I appreciate all the help.