FAT oscar, never poops!

Hi,
Ive got an oscar w/ a problem. He can't poop! Ive had him for a
couple of years now, and have never seen him poop. Occasonially he
cough's and throws up. I asked around and everyone at the local fish
stores thinks Im crazy.. they say he must be going to the bathroom,
and that I just dont see him do it. I keep a very close eye on my
aquarium, and would really know if he was. It was never much of a
problem, and I always had the hope in the back of my mind that I was
wrong, so never did anything about it. Now, he's starting to have
some problems. He has a HUGE buldge just before his vent. It looks
like there is an inch wide marble stuck in his gut. He's also just
kind of looking unhappy and sick lately.
I first noticed the problem because I'd see him hack and throw up
about once a week. I payed close attention to him and noticed that he
never went to the bathroom. At that time I tried all kinds of
medications and salt water dips, and just about everything my local
pet store would sell me, and nothing has made any difference. I
haven't seen him throw up in weeks now, and the buldge on his
underside just keeps getting bigger. Im afraid he may pop!
Does anyone have any ideas of what could be wrong? Could he have
something stuck in him blocking him up? if thats the case, is it
possible to have surgery on a fish??

Thanks

"dave" wrote in message
om...
Hi,
Ive got an oscar w/ a problem. He can't poop!

Highly unlikely.....

In the case that this is a genuine post then the best kown purgative is
Epsom salts. Can't remember the dose but Google should find it for you. Its
worked every time I've used it inside an hour or two. Put the fish in a
small bare tank or a bucket (and remember to cover it!) - you'll soon see
the evidence!

I.

drop some laxettes into the tank , the fish will nibble at it and the crap
will come flowing out...

I`ve never heard of a fish not crapping before...
is it still swimming ok ??
you sure it`s not developing dropsy..

Brad...


"dave" wrote in message
om...
Hi,
Ive got an oscar w/ a problem. He can't poop! Ive had him for a
couple of years now, and have never seen him poop. Occasonially he
cough's and throws up. I asked around and everyone at the local fish
stores thinks Im crazy.. they say he must be going to the bathroom,
and that I just dont see him do it. I keep a very close eye on my
aquarium, and would really know if he was. It was never much of a
problem, and I always had the hope in the back of my mind that I was
wrong, so never did anything about it. Now, he's starting to have
some problems. He has a HUGE buldge just before his vent. It looks
like there is an inch wide marble stuck in his gut. He's also just
kind of looking unhappy and sick lately.
I first noticed the problem because I'd see him hack and throw up
about once a week. I payed close attention to him and noticed that he
never went to the bathroom. At that time I tried all kinds of
medications and salt water dips, and just about everything my local
pet store would sell me, and nothing has made any difference. I
haven't seen him throw up in weeks now, and the buldge on his
underside just keeps getting bigger. Im afraid he may pop!
Does anyone have any ideas of what could be wrong? Could he have
something stuck in him blocking him up? if thats the case, is it
possible to have surgery on a fish??

Thanks

Hi,
I am really 100% serious... I think he has gone over a year w/out
going to the bathroom.. He used to hack really bad and make himself
throw up to cycle the food out of his stomach. Now that he isn't
doing that anymore, he's developing that buldge.
I will look up droopsy and see what other symptoms there are. His
scales are still smooth and flat on his body, and he's always seemed
pretty healthy otherwise.
I cought him in a net last night and touched the buldge.. it is very
soft, almost like a plastic bag w/ water in it.
Personally, I think he's got a blockage, or a genetic problem, like
his vent can't open. He is in a 75 gallan planted aquarium w/ a few
other cichlids, who are all very healthy.
Ill try the epsom salts.. can't hurt!
Any more thoughts on the matter would be appreciated.

dave,

I am really 100% serious... I think he has gone over a year w/out
going to the bathroom.. He used to hack really bad and make himself
throw up to cycle the food out of his stomach. Now that he isn't
doing that anymore, he's developing that buldge.

I'm sorry. While you may be 100% serious, this is simply not possible. I
would have an easier time believing he had not eating for over a year. What
goes in must come out. It's as simple as that.

Any more thoughts on the matter would be appreciated.

I've read that feeding fish too much of one thing can cause constipation
(although, again, not on the scale you described). You might recheck what
you are feeding him and the quality of that food. Maybe it's time for a
change?

Jonathan

I fish would not live for years without excreting......no more that
you would. Sounds like dropsy to me. The fish could poop while your
getting the mail, taking a shower, eating, etc. When you vacuum the
gravel, do you see any remmants of poop? If not, look at your filter
for dark brown slimy stuff. Put the fish in a tank without gravel
(like someone mentioned) and then you can clear your mind.

"dave" wrote in message
om...
Hi,
Ive got an oscar w/ a problem. He can't poop! Ive had him for a
couple of years now, and have never seen him poop. Occasonially he
cough's and throws up. I asked around and everyone at the local fish
stores thinks Im crazy.. they say he must be going to the bathroom,
and that I just dont see him do it. I keep a very close eye on my
aquarium, and would really know if he was. It was never much of a
problem, and I always had the hope in the back of my mind that I was
wrong, so never did anything about it. Now, he's starting to have
some problems. He has a HUGE buldge just before his vent. It looks
like there is an inch wide marble stuck in his gut. He's also just
kind of looking unhappy and sick lately.
I first noticed the problem because I'd see him hack and throw up
about once a week. I payed close attention to him and noticed that he
never went to the bathroom. At that time I tried all kinds of
medications and salt water dips, and just about everything my local
pet store would sell me, and nothing has made any difference. I
haven't seen him throw up in weeks now, and the buldge on his
underside just keeps getting bigger. Im afraid he may pop!
Does anyone have any ideas of what could be wrong? Could he have
something stuck in him blocking him up? if thats the case, is it
possible to have surgery on a fish??

Thanks

Is he a hot looking Oscar? Hot chicks dont poop either.

"Dan J.S." wrote in message
...

"dave" wrote in message
om...
Hi,
Ive got an oscar w/ a problem. He can't poop! Ive had him for a
couple of years now, and have never seen him poop. Occasonially he
cough's and throws up. I asked around and everyone at the local fish
stores thinks Im crazy.. they say he must be going to the bathroom,
and that I just dont see him do it. I keep a very close eye on my
aquarium, and would really know if he was. It was never much of a
problem, and I always had the hope in the back of my mind that I was
wrong, so never did anything about it. Now, he's starting to have
some problems. He has a HUGE buldge just before his vent. It looks
like there is an inch wide marble stuck in his gut. He's also just
kind of looking unhappy and sick lately.
I first noticed the problem because I'd see him hack and throw up
about once a week. I payed close attention to him and noticed that he
never went to the bathroom. At that time I tried all kinds of
medications and salt water dips, and just about everything my local
pet store would sell me, and nothing has made any difference. I
haven't seen him throw up in weeks now, and the buldge on his
underside just keeps getting bigger. Im afraid he may pop!
Does anyone have any ideas of what could be wrong? Could he have
something stuck in him blocking him up? if thats the case, is it
possible to have surgery on a fish??

Thanks

Is he a hot looking Oscar? Hot chicks dont poop either.

Actually, they do, but only once a week and it *never* stinks.

(I wrote the original message about the non pooping oscar)
Well,
I took everyones advice, and treated for dropsy/bloat. No improvement..
plus this has been going on for a year and it sounds like those diseases end
in death before this much time goes by.
so, a couple of days ago I took my oscar to the vet. The vet squezed the
fat buldge under his tummy and said he's got a blockage. He tried to put a
tube up his but and discovered that there was no opening. He cut open my
poor fishes gut, and out came almost 1/3 cup poop and snail shells and all
kinds of grose stuff. He sprayed his gut out w/ saline solution and
stitched him up.
Now its two days later and he looks like he is going to survive the surgery.
Now my FAT oscar has instantly become a skinny oscar. I hope he starts
eating again soon.

Ive got to take him back in a few weeks to find out why his bum hole doesn't
work. The vet said either the swelling from inside is the reason he
couldn't put a tube in it, or that he had a birth defect that just never
opened up the hole. The vet also said it is completely possible that he
lived his whole life this way and really did throw up to cycle the food out
of his body. its aparently a fairly straight shot from mouth to butthole in
a fish, so they can get out bones and other stuff they eat. Once he started
eating the small snails in my tank the shells were too heavy for him to
expell, and they built up in his gut.

If youve got a fish that you care about, dont be embarrased to take him to
the vet.. sure everyone I know and the receptionist at the vet all made fun
of me, but at least my pet will be better. The vet took one look at him and
said its not dropsy, and knew exactly what was wrong! This same vet
grafted snake skin on my injured chameleon a few years ago... and that
worked too!!!! amasing.

|| (I wrote the original message about the non pooping oscar)
|| Well,
|| I took everyones advice, and treated for dropsy/bloat. No
|| improvement.. plus this has been going on for a year and it sounds
|| like those diseases end in death before this much time goes by.
|| so, a couple of days ago I took my oscar to the vet. The vet
|| squezed the fat buldge under his tummy and said he's got a blockage.
|| He tried to put a tube up his but and discovered that there was no
|| opening. He cut open my poor fishes gut, and out came almost 1/3
|| cup poop and snail shells and all kinds of grose stuff. He sprayed
|| his gut out w/ saline solution and stitched him up.
|| Now its two days later and he looks like he is going to survive the
|| surgery. Now my FAT oscar has instantly become a skinny oscar. I
|| hope he starts eating again soon.
||
|| Ive got to take him back in a few weeks to find out why his bum hole
|| doesn't work. The vet said either the swelling from inside is the
|| reason he couldn't put a tube in it, or that he had a birth defect
|| that just never opened up the hole. The vet also said it is
|| completely possible that he lived his whole life this way and really
|| did throw up to cycle the food out of his body. its aparently a
|| fairly straight shot from mouth to butthole in a fish, so they can
|| get out bones and other stuff they eat. Once he started eating the
|| small snails in my tank the shells were too heavy for him to expell,
|| and they built up in his gut.
||
|| If youve got a fish that you care about, dont be embarrased to take
|| him to the vet.. sure everyone I know and the receptionist at the
|| vet all made fun of me, but at least my pet will be better. The vet
|| took one look at him and said its not dropsy, and knew exactly what
|| was wrong! This same vet grafted snake skin on my injured
|| chameleon a few years ago... and that worked too!!!! amasing.

Wow... amazing story... glad all is well....and I wish there were more vets
like yours... thats just great...

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