Flowerhorn Stomach Bloated – Reasons, Treatment and Prevention 2024

Swelling of a fish’s stomach is a common condition in various cichlid species, and the flowerhorn is no exception. If you’re reading this article, it’s likely that your flowerhorn is experiencing stomach/abdomen bloating.

While it’s unfortunate, don’t worry we’re here this blog post on the bloated stomach condition in flowerhorns will assist in recovering your fish to its normal state and offer valuable information to prevent the issue from recurring.

Now, let’s get started!

What is Flowerhorn Stomach bloating or bulging?

The bloating of the stomach or abdomen in Flowerhorn is a medical condition where the stomach area of the flowerhorn cichlid becomes larger than its usual size.

Neglecting this bloating condition can lead to potential kidney failure in Flowerhorn, ultimately resulting in the demise of your beloved fish. This is why it is crucial to take this illness seriously and provide proper care.

Flowerhorn stomach bloating is a serious medical condition, we recommend you consult with a vet to solve your issue

What are the symptoms of abdomen bloating in flowerhorn cichlids?

The bloated belly condition in Flowerhorn is indicated by the symptoms exhibited by its stomach. If you regularly interact with your Flowerhorn, you can visually identify this condition by observing its body. Otherwise, the fish’s stomach will appear swollen, as if it has been filled forcefully with air or water. Two other primary symptoms are also listed below.

• Flowerhorn lying on the bottom
• Flowerhorn swimming abnormally

Symptom 2: Flowerhorn lying on the bottom

This symptom appears in the advanced stage of stomach bloating. The excessive buildup of gas or waste inside the flowerhorn stomach reduces the fish’s alertness and impairs its swimming ability.

If your fish is experiencing this, it is imperative to seek immediate veterinary attention. No amount of care guides or online tutorials can rescue your fish at this point, so it is crucial not to delay when your fish’s life is at stake.

Symptom 3: Swimming abnormally

These are the initial symptoms of stomach bloating in flowerhorns. When your fish becomes aware that it cannot expel waste, it experiences discomfort in its system, resulting in unusual behavior. At this stage, you may observe a swollen abdomen in your flowerhorn. Refer to the following instructions to treat your flowerhorn cichlid for a bloated stomach.

Treatment to cure bloated stomach

The treatment methods can be categorized into two stages:

1. Stage 1 Bloating
2. Stage 2 Bloating

Stage 1 Bloating Treatment:

If your flowerhorn is experiencing mild to moderate stomach bloating, it falls under Stage 1.

1. The treatment procedure is outlined below. Firstly, isolate the fish from a disruptive environment or other fish.
2. Next, refrain from feeding the fish for 2 days to reduce the stomach’s burden and encourage the expulsion of bloated waste.
3. Subsequently, change 30-40% of the water every 12 hours until the flowerhorn returns to normal.
4. Throughout the treatment, maintain the aquarium temperature for the flowerhorn at 28-30°C using a heater.
5. If stress relief medication is available, it can be added; otherwise, it is not necessary.
6. Monitor the fish’s activity and provide an undisturbed environment to help the fish overcome the issue.
7. Follow the post-treatment guide

Stage 2 Bloating:

Unfortunately, if your flowerhorn’s stomach is severely bloated, it indicates that your fish is in Stage 2. Just as in Stage 1, begin by isolating the fish from other fish and placing it in a quiet, separate environment (a hospital tank).

If your flowerhorn’s kidneys are functioning properly, there is a good chance that your fish can be saved with Stage 2 treatment. If not, it is advisable to seek veterinary assistance.

• Begin by deworming your flowerhorn and then changing 30-40% of the water every 12 hours.
• Additionally, using a water heater may improve the chances of recovery.
• Importantly, refrain from feeding your flowerhorn cichlid during the treatment process, as this could hinder its recovery.
• Wait for 2 days to observe the results.

It is recommended to take pictures of the bloated flowerhorn’s stomach to track progress throughout the treatment.

Post-treatment:

1. Make sure your flowerhorn’s stomach returns to its normal size by comparing it with previous photos of your fish.
2. Change the water regularly, and feed your flowerhorn small amounts of food that contain the right levels of protein.
3. Keep the water heater on at all times, and adjust the feeding schedule to longer intervals with smaller portions.
4. Use fish food with appropriate protein levels and avoid live food that may carry parasites, leading to urinary or bacterial infections.
5. Fast your flowerhorn for one day each week.
6. Deworm your flowerhorn every two months and maintain a high-quality filtration system.

Prevention tips for flowerhorn Stomach bloating

The prevention of this stomach-related disease for flowerhorn is listed below

• Avoid feeding live food such as feeding fishes, worms, and shrimps without ensuring they are parasite-free.
• Once your flowerhorn reaches its potential size (3-4 inches), transition from high-protein food to a normal diet with optimal protein levels.
• Implement a weekly fasting day for your fish to maintain its digestive system.
• Spend quality time with your flowerhorn, playing and interacting to identify any issues early on.
• Keep the water temperature at a consistent 28-30°C using a water heater designed for flowerhorns.
• Ensure the water filtration system is effective in removing waste, and perform regular water changes.
• Deworm your flowerhorn every two months to maintain its health.

Differentiate Egg carriage and Bloated stomach

Explore our guide on distinguishing the gender of flowerhorns, focusing on both males and females. If you possess a female flowerhorn, you may notice a slight bulge sometimes in its stomach, resembling a stage 1 appearance, which is merely indicative of eggs and not a medical concern.

While female fish may or may not lay eggs, it’s essential to recognize that this is not related to stomach bloating. However, if your fish is a male flowerhorn with an enlarged stomach, it’s undoubtedly a bloating issue.

Wrapping up

I hope this blog post on flowerhorn stomach bloating condition helps you to identify, treat, and prevent the medical condition.

Thank you wholeheartedly for investing your time in reading this guide. Your dedication to understanding and caring for your flowerhorn’s health is great.

Feel free to return for more insights and updates. Until then, take care of your friend, and I look forward to connecting with you again on another day!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Special mentions:

Some of the image credits go to Fish Dr India