fat fishie

[Kristy]

In the past month or so, our lantern basslet has really gotten rotund! Looks like it has swallowed a large marble. This fish has always had a healthy appetite, but the sudden increase in its size makes it look miserable and does not seem to be swimming around as much in the water column. No other symptoms or problems, still eating great, of course! Has anyone else been through this with your fish?

I thought that I read somewhere about a fish getting suddenly engorged before it releases eggs. Is that what is going on here or do we have a problem? Any thoughts are appreciated...

http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff316/mekdean/210glateAugust08.jpg
http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff316/mekdean/fatfish.jpg

[Kristy]

Bump - no one has any ideas on our fat fish?

[princer7]

That is one fat fish!

Has there been any increased stress on the fish with new tankmates or water conditions?

[greenmako]

Our lantern was the same way. HUGE belly. We had him for years like that, he died a couple months ago though. Dunno why, he was a favorite for sure. Personally, I like to see fat fish. So many reefers have underfed/malnourished fish its embarrassing.
-christina (mrs greenmako)

[Kristy]

Thanks for the responses! Nothing newly stressful that I can think of, princer, or certainly not inordinately so.

The lantern basslet has always been a little on the full-figured side, but has just recently gotten huge and round. Very glad to hear, Christina, that yours was similarly shaped (helps us to feel reassured that it's not a tumor or something). The lantern is probably Mike's favorite fish at the moment. Sorry to hear you lost yours.

I prefer to see the plump healthy fishies too and ours are mostly just that way (or they become that way soon after a few months in our care!) Nothing sadder than seeing a really emaciated fish in the store, right?

[alton]

Do you have any bristle worms in your tank? I have had in the past a purple pseudochromis and my boss had a long nose hawk fish that grew extremely fast and where always over weight and they both ate bristle worms.

[Kristy]

You know what... we do have a lot of bristle worms in that tank! I wonder if he's pigging out on bristle worms when we're not looking. That would be like giving him an all you can eat buffet! Thanks for the tip, now I'll have to keep an eye on that.

[ErikH]

That is a fat, fat fish.....

[jc]

swim bladder problem?