Malawi Bloat
About Malawi Bloat[edit]
Malawi Bloat is one of the most common problems found in African Rift Valley Cichlids, despite its name it is also found in Cichlids from Lake Victoria and Lake Tanganyika. It is responsible for the deaths of many Cichlids in aquariums.
Not a lot is really known about this condition, some attribute it to internal parasites, others to internal bacterial infections, even diet such as feeding too much of a protein-rich diet to primarily herbivorous fish. Essentially, Bloat is not a disease in itself, rather a symptom of other problems very much like Dropsy.
Symptoms[edit]
The symptoms of Malawi Bloat are very similar to those of Dropsy. Firstly a fish will entirely lose it's appetite. Then it will begin to develop the characteristic bloating and pineconing of scales. It's breathing rate will rapidly increase and will become somewhat lethargic, either hiding away or hovering at the surface. It will have white stringy faeces and red marks may appear around the fish's anus. Skin ulcerations might also be apparent. These dramatic symptoms only appear quite late on in the problem, and will be quite difficult to reverse which is why early treatment for this problem is vital.
