Why is goldfish swollen belly on one side?
A goldfish’s belly may become swollen due to inflammation, reduced water quality, and/or a lingering infection.
It’s recommended to consult with a vet as soon as possible in situations such as these. If the swelling remains for a prolonged period, it can lead to serious quality of life concerns and sometimes death. This is why it’s best to be proactive and make sure you are getting out in front of the problem.
If your goldfish is showing other symptoms, it’s best to act right away.
These symptoms include:
- General Fatigue
- Unwillingness to Eat
- Remaining Hidden in the Fish Tank
These symptoms often indicate the swelling is starting to hinder the goldfish’s quality of life. If you let things stay as they are, the problem will persist and sometimes worsen!
If you are asking, “Why is goldfish swollen belly on one side?” it’s time to consider the symptoms along with what your vet has to say about the situation.
For those trying to figure things out, this guide should shed light on what you can to do help a goldfish that has a swollen belly on one side.
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Tips for Helping Goldfish With Swollen Belly on One Side
Tip #1: Check for Dropsy
Dropsy refers to a disease in goldfish where fluid begins to build up inside the body. It can often be a sign of an underlying parasitic infection, liver issues, and/or bacterial infection.
With a condition such as this, taking action right away is the only option available to goldfish owners.
The swollen belly is only going to worsen and it’s going to begin to rot. This is when things get to the point where the goldfish doesn’t survive and/or has to deal with major health issues for the rest of its life!
If your goldfish has dropsy, you are going to notice certain symptoms.
These symptoms include:
- Reduced Eating
- Swelling
- General Fatigue
You should always take the time to speak to a vet and have them diagnose the goldfish. This will make it easier to use a good dropsy treatment for your goldfish and make sure the fluid retention doesn’t worsen.
This is going to take a bit of time to get better, but there are viable treatments that can get rid of the infection.
If this is the problem, start on the dropsy treatment for your goldfish as soon as possible.
Tip #2: Test the pH Level Right Away
If you are asking, “Why is goldfish swollen belly on one side?” it’s often going to come down to subtle changes to the fish tank’s environment.
This can include the water quality getting ruined due to temperature changes, pH drops, and/or other problems that continue to eat away at the enclosed ecosystem.
You have to make sure to buy a good-quality pH test kit and see what the levels are like in your fish tank.
When you do this, make sure to take multiple readings throughout the day.
This is going to let you take the average of those readings and get an exact number. It’s only when you have this number that you can start making changes to the fish tank.
Stay patient throughout the process and you will see good results.
Tip #3: Consult with a Vet
If you are asking, “Why is goldfish swollen belly on one side?” it’s best to consult with a vet as soon as you can.
This is one of those situations where your goldfish’s life is going to be on the line. Whether it has to do with liver problems or an infection, taking action is mandatory.
You can’t let things slip out of control because it will be hard to help your goldfish later on!
The vet is going to know what to look for with your goldfish.
This can save quite a bit of time and make it easier to get started with a specialized treatment. As you begin using the medication, the swollen belly will begin to disappear too.
This can take a bit of time, but it’s all about getting started.
Tip #4: Change the Fish Tank and Water
Changing the fish tank is a good step in the right direction.
You want to flush out the water, install a good filter, and make sure to buy a new fish tank. This is an investment that is going to be worthwhile, especially if something went wrong with the previous setup.
A lot of fish tanks start to wear down over time and making wholesale changes is key.
Final Thoughts
Is goldfish swollen belly on one side a major problem?
Yes, this is a serious health concern for your goldfish and has to be treated as soon as possible. The more you delay things, the worse it is going to get for the goldfish.
Whether it is changing the fish tank, using dropsy treatment, or testing the pH level, it’s about focusing on helping your fish feel better.
Here are more articles on how to help your goldfish – tips for feeding a goldfish in a bowl, finding the right toys for goldfish, how to add water for a fish tank, and how to reduce ammonia in a fish tank.