Bulging Anus Treatment

Bulging Anus

Symptoms: 

The intestine of the fish is bulging.

Cause: 

Fish under Severe stress (as in the case of newly transported fish) and Suffering from severe indigestion ( common for small fish fed with shrimp, Superworms or any live feeds)

Treatment:

1. If you're using an overhead filter (OHF), remove the carbon if any.

2. Do a 50% water change. Syphon your tank until it's half empty. Replace with 25% chlorinated water and 25% conditioned water. (must be aerated for at least 48 hours and dosed with Sera Aquatan)

3. Dissolve the Metronidazole tablet/s in a cup of warm water. It works best when dissolved at a temperature of 90+ degrees. A cup with 50%-60% "cofee-hot" water plus 40%-50% tap water would be fine.

4. Let the tablet/s dissolve for 5-10 minutes. Afterwards, mix well.

5. Drop the Metronidazole solution in your tank. the required dosage would be 500 mg. per 10 gallons.

6. If you have a heater, set it at 40-32 degrees. For those with no heaters, don't worry. Its not absolutely neccessary to use one. Just be sure to dissolve the Metronidazole in a warm water.

7. After 24 hours, implement a 20-25% water change.

8. Drop your Metronidazole solution but this time at 250 mg. per 10 gallons. Repeat steps 2 and 3 everyday until the fish recovers.

my own way of treatment for bulging anus--no feeding,instead of metronidazole i prefer to used Amoxicillin 500mg per 20gals every 2 days,heater, water changed 50% after 5 days then do the same procedure until the fish is treated.

Where to buy?
- Metronidazole, usually sold as Flagyl. This drug can be bought over the counter (OTC) at any drugstore. Each 500 mg.
tablet would cost around P16-P18.
- Sera Aquatan is available in your nearest pet shop