VISITOR'S QUESTIONS
9... Zebra Danio Distended Belly
I'm afraid Lila, as it is the best part of five months
since your danio's belly began to distend, it does look likely that
an abnormality within the fish is causing the fish's belly to get bigger.
Breeding the Zebra Danio (Brachydanio rerio) is a simple
matter. If you were to have a dozen pair in a densely planted pool that
also contain some algae, and in partial shade, you would have thousands
of Zebra Danios after three months, so you can see where I'm coming
from.
As far as I can tell it looks like there may be one
of two possibilities here:
- A tumour, either benign or malignant. Benign tumours can be
caused by an irritant and it is possible that the tumour may disappear
once the irritant is removed. However, malignant tumours are often
hereditary or, they can be caused by carcinogens and cancer-producing
elements sometimes found in foods, or possibly by a virus. It is
impossible to know without close examination, which is beyond the
most of us.
Practically all tumours are untreatable and if the fish is in distress
it is best to kill it as humanely as possible. This is best done
by putting the fish in a container that is filled with aquarium
water and placing it in the freezer compartment of the fridge. The
fish's metabolism will slowly close down as the water cools and
the fish will go to sleep before passing away.
- Swim bladder inflammation (Aerocystitis) is a possible culprit,
in its early stages you may find the fish has stopped eating. As
the disease progresses pus-filled cysts form at the rear of the
abdominal cavity. This distends the body and causes the fish to
do what appears to be headstands. As the cysts gets bigger so does
the girth of the fish, as the illness progresses it brings about
degeneration of internal organs, at the end it causes failure of
organs such as the kidney and the liver.
The disease is highly infectious and causes uncontrolled
tissue growth between the swim bladder and intestine, although it may
be slowed down by the use of antibiotics this is only prolonging the
agony and its best to put the fish to sleep.
I have to say, I am not an expert, I can only give
these suggestions based on the information that you sent me, however,
I hope this at least sheds some light on your problem and is of some
help to you, albeit it not very good news.
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