My Oscars have laid eggs before, usually in the same place, on one of the big rocks I have in there.

This time, she swelled up, the "tube" was present for a while and she was defensive of the area (normal). However it's been a month now, she hasn't dropped the eggs and she will not eat. It appears the tube has retracted too but it could just be "lost" in the swelling - she looks like she's going to pop! She's going to die soon if I don't do something, I just don't know what to do short of netting her and giving her abdomen a squeeze! LOL

I've kept the tank in good shape and tried re-arranging it to see if she was unhappy with placement or something. No good.

Please - anyone have any suggestions?

take a look at necros post

www.oscarfishlover.com/index.php/Emergen.../21632-blockage.html


seems to me like severe constipation

Thanks! I'll see if I can get her to eat peas!

She's not protruding down as much as the one in that pic, more bulging at the sides, but definitely sounds similar. She'll go up for food and then spit it out as soon as she gets it in her mouth.

The thing that makes me thing she's got eggs is the defensive attitude she gets about a certain area of the tank. But maybe she's just grumpy from being backed up!

-Rich

I would strongly discourage you to try and manipulate any eggs out, you may rupture something inside the fish. Only trained experts should attempt this. However from what you describe, it doesn't sound like the fish is egg bound. From my experience, they don't swell up that much. Their abdomen does become slightly distended, but not to the extent where they're going to pop. It could well be a severe constipation, otherwise known as a blockage in the intestine. Whereas constipation doesn't sound serious, unfortunately blocked intestine is often fatal. You could try peas, however, many Oscars don't want to eat them. Also, it's debatable whether these will work.

There are many reasons that can cause a fish to develop a swollen abdomen. If you go to "helpful articles" there is a section in there that may be of some help. I've got to be perfectly honest with you, I suspect there is not much you can do for your fish and I think you should prepare yourself for the worst. I hope I'm wrong though. Is it possible for you to post a photograph?

Thank you everyone for your replies thus far. BTW I was 99% kidding about squeezing her, I know I could do a LOT of damage.

Here are some pics, if they don't work for some reason I'll get them up on photobucket:

http://76.104.9.85:8080/Oscar/P1010028.JPG
http://76.104.9.85:8080/Oscar/P1010029.JPG
http://76.104.9.85:8080/Oscar/P1010030.JPG
http://76.104.9.85:8080/Oscar/P1010035.JPG
http://76.104.9.85:8080/Oscar/P1010038.JPG

The last one is a funny angle so things look distorted but it gives a good view of the side bulge.

I think my vet deals with fish too so I'll be calling them tomorrow!

-Rich

looks kinda like mine did when she first started getting larger. unfortunatly i havent had any results in treating mine so i can point you in any direction. mine has gotten bigger, at first it was the size of a golf ball and now it has grown to the size of a billard ball.

you should keep us posted on your progress as i for one am interested in any changes you might have with your oscar

Will definitely keep you posted - sucks doesn't it? Usually there's stuff you can do, meds and whatnot. I hate doing nothing but watching her die of starvation...

FWIW I did read on another forum where peas helped clear an Oscar out that was backed up. If you can get them to eat them that is.

However I found this on fishforums:
"an Epsom salt bath would be worth a try, as this is a very efficient laxative. Mix 75g or 2.5oz of Epsom salt per litre, or quarter gallon, of water from the aquarium into a container and bathe the fish for ten to fifteen. Do this daily until the fishes system is cleared."

Here's the full article:
http://www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=133546

I've read several articles on the Epsom salt cure now that I've found that one. One site was talking about netting the fish and spooning castor oil into its mouth. Sounds a little drastic but, beats dying I s'pose.

Who'd have ever thought a fish would be in dire need of a colonic?

-Rich

i have jsut freed up a 30 gallon tank which i plan on using for a hospital tank for my oscar. its a little small but i need somewhere to put her for treatment. i am going to look into the epsom salt thing and maybe give it a try. force feeding her some castor oil though sounds like it might be a little stressfull on her and me.

i will keep you posted on any progress i get with the treatments.

also i picked up some clove oil today as a final precaution in case she starts to suffer from her ailments.

Well I picked up Epsom salt last night after doing a lot of reading about it and at some point I'm going to try to giver her a dip (in a bucket probably). Yeah she's gonna hate that but, if it gets things moving... From what I've read you can do it up to twice a day for 15-20 minutes, mixing existing tank water with 1/2 to 1 teaspoon per gallon.

I couldn't find clove oil! I may have to order it off the net.

There are no changes in the oscar thus far. She showed interest in algae disks (which they all seem to like to crunch on now and then) and I thought it might help clear her out but she had the same reaction; sucked it in and spit it out. Tried spinach too, same thing.

I'm just hoping she didn't swallow a piece of gravel and it got stuck on the way out.

-Rich

oscar fish is very intelligent fish. whenever they grabbed foods and happened to grabbed gravel with it, they will spit out the gravel but not the food. i am amazed watching my oscars do that.

It is amazing to watch how they can sort that out! Even smaller gravel...

I'm starting to wonder if I'm dealing with dropsy. Going to start her on meds I think - not sure if I should try the mela/pimafix combo first or furan-2 first. Any thoughts?

-Rich

i come across with a post similar to your case, and they
treated it with Gel Tek. i am not sure if it availavle in
your area. please do check it may work for your fish.