I am currently soaking some dried split peas, but they will take a little while to moisten. Will lettuce work until then? Will the constipation kill my fish if I don't take care of it soon, and if so, how long do I have?
2007-03-14 19:07:19 · 8 answers · asked by Mommy to Boys 6 in Pets ➔ Fish
Penny, read the answers to my question about my Black Moore.
2007-03-14 19:12:32 · update #1
I'm worried about fasting my fish because I have other fish in there. I have a couple more fancy goldfish and a shubunking. I also have a loach that eats every day.... I have no quaranteen tank.
2007-03-14 19:22:37 · update #2
Okay, see, the reason that your fish are constipated is because they are eating too much. The food goes in, but it's not coming out. So, don't worry that you need to feed them something. You need to give them time for that food to want to come out. Actually, a fish should be fasted for 3 days before the peas are fed anyway. So, use this time to fast your fish. Yes, the constipation could kill your fish, but mostly only if you keep overfeeding them. It's really impossible to say how long this could take one way or the other. Just take it one step at a time. Fast for 3 days, then feed the peas, mashed a little if necessary (split peas already have the skins removed), for 3 days. Then see how they're doing from there. If they're still bloated, it could be swim bladder disorder, as they mentioned in your first question, so then the treatment would have to go from there.
2007-03-14 19:16:00 · answer #1 · answered by Venice Girl 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
No pea soup or lettuce please, unless you intend to make gum bowl. Any way the best remedy is not to feed the fish. Most fish especially goldfish will continue to eat all day long they have a foraging nature. They can overeat and die, I would increase the temperature a few degrees. Watching the loach. I would wait and see how the fish does. You might be in for a big surprise also. You fish might just be carrying eggs. You can test this theory very very gently cup the fish with both hands and squeeze ever so softly the eggs will just pop right out. Now only do this on fish that are of breeding age and as big as your hand. No the little guys they usually don't breed until they are much bigger oranda, lionheads, moors then need to be at least 2-3' before you can try this simple test. Just thought I would mention it. If the other fish seem to be folding this fish often then its a female. They try the egg trick.
2007-03-15 05:08:47 · answer #2 · answered by Jose R 2 · 0⤊ 3⤋
i agree with venice girl and copperhead - it shouldn't harm your tank to fast for 1-3 days, and possibly a fasting day once a week for the tank in general would stall future constipation situations (haha...constipation situation)...other then that, i think a Qtank is a good thing to have. Mine is a teeny little thing (2.5G) with some ghost shrimp and live plants - a good place for any vacationing fish in my home to chill out and get away from the bustle of community life. alltogether (without the living things) i put the tank together with bits and pieces from LFStores in my area and it cost me under 20$...not too bad...
anyway, just my thoughts.
goodluck!
(ps: if you give lettuce, avoid Iceburg lettuce and stick to the greener leafier varities. blanch it first so it sinks to the bottom and is easier to consume...my tank loves lettuce and spinach!)
2007-03-15 11:03:29 · answer #3 · answered by scampyfan 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Put them in a mixture of water and Epsom Salts for about half an hour. This should perk them right up and is perfect for fish constipation.
2007-03-15 11:10:16 · answer #4 · answered by Sparky5115 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Go with Venice's advice here - she knows her goldfish!
It won't hurt your other fish at all to fast for a few days Many expert aquarists even recommend fasting fish at least one day a week.
2007-03-15 03:15:01 · answer #5 · answered by copperhead 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hell no! I didn't know fish had constipation??? Lettuce and peas are foreign to fish. They may not digest it properly as well as aquatic plants. Lettuce and peas may actually KILL your fish. Feed it the normal diet.
2007-03-15 04:23:41 · answer #6 · answered by adonisMD 3 · 1⤊ 5⤋
lettuce won't hurt.
The key(s) to a successful tank are live plants, and some love---and changing 10-20% of the water weekly
good luck---B
2007-03-15 02:44:00 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 2⤋
how does one know if the fish is constipated?
2007-03-15 02:10:22 · answer #8 · answered by Penny P 5 · 0⤊ 4⤋