Help! Intestine or genitals?

[Reagan]

This guy (or girl) should be relatively healthy. He eats well, begs, and play fights with his siblings like they always have.

I noticed this protusion a few days ago and was just horrified that his intestines were coming out. I treated the tank with Metron just in case, but there has been no difference.

I did see him go to the bathroom yesterday, so that got me really confused. There doesn't appear to be a blockage . . .

He is about 4 inches now.

Please help- I'm just miserable!

Sorry the pic quality is so bad- I was in a hurry to get them posted!

http://home.att.net/~kwink/dis.jpg

http://home.att.net/~kwink/dis1.jpg

[Carol_Roberts]

I'm not sure what that is, but it is not normal . . . prognosis is not good . . . .

[pcsb23]

Sadly, I agree with Carol, it looks like the intestine has prolapsed. Maybe a better picture could help. If it has prolapsed the kindest thing to do would be to humanely kill it. Sorry.

[Reagan]

OK, note to self, time to upgrade camera . . .

http://home.att.net/~kwink/dis4.jpg

http://home.att.net/~kwink/dis5.jpg

So, I've read that sometimes a prolapsed intestine can be helped by more fiber? Is that just a pipe dream? I've been feeding brine shrimp since I noticed it and no beef heart, since I read that is not always high enough in fiber.

As long as he is "pooping," he shouldn't just explode should he? How will he finally die? I just don't know if I could bring myself to put him down as long as he looks happy, is eating and pooping. But when he looks like he is suffereing, I will do what I have to do . . . I hate this!! :(

[pcsb23]

Ok, the pics are not great but it doesn't look good, sorry. The risk is that he will get infected, there is no protection as in scales, and slime etc.. against water borne diseases so it is very vulnerable. The problem will be getting the gut back into the fish. In all probability he will get a bacterila infection, turn dark and decline quite quickly. He may get an obstruction too which could cause him pain.

Before you take drastic action, make sure the tank is as spotlessly clean as possible, add 1 or 2 drops per gallon of acriflavine (antiseptic) and keep the temp around 84f. Keep it as clean as possible and when you do w/c's re-dose the change water with acriflavine. Feed very lightly, in fact I would not feed for a few days. Don't worry about not feeding, they can go a long time without food, many weeks in fact.

If it gets to the stage that you have to kill it, there are a number of ways, some freeze them, some use a sharp knife and be-head them. I use an anasthetic, MS222 if I can get it, if not NT Labs Koi calm or Kusuri's anasthetic. I know it won't help but I hate this too! My sympathies.

[Reagan]

Thanks! Not what I want to hear of course, but thank you for taking the time to tell me the truth and help me! :o

[Reagan]

I'm so thrilled! The tissue has completely retracted! So strange. I never imagined I would have a happy ending, and I'm not 100% comfortable that it might not come back, but, for now, he is all better!! Eating like crazy and stool looks just fine. Big sigh . . . :) What in the world could have happened?

[BIGFOOT]

Glad to see it got what did you do if anything to make him better?

[Reagan]

Cried, prayed, obsessed?? Ran to the tank first thing whenever I woke up, came home, got out of the shower. Called my husband to check in on him if I was working late? :D He was probably afraid to die. Afraid I'd follow him there too.

I fed him nothing but brine shrimp hoping for lots o' fiber. I laid off the beef heart entirely.

[kdazzel]

He was probably afraid to die. Afraid I'd follow him there too.

I fed him nothing but brine shrimp hoping for lots o' fiber. I laid off the beef heart entirely.

:D hilarious

Maybe it was a big piece of undigested beefheart or something.....just a guess:o :o :o

glad he's okay

kdazzel

[jeep]

I'm glad it seems to have gotten better, but I would maintain very good water conditions. I would also add 2 TBS salt per 10g just to help ward off any possible infection...

[Kindredspirit]

:D He was probably afraid to die. Afraid I'd follow him there too.
.


That is the sweetest statment I had heard in a long time ~ Way K00L ~

I am so very glad things progressed the way they have for you! Do keep us posted and follow Jeep's advice~


wtg ~


Marie ~ http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/16/16_4_10.gif

[pcsb23]

:D