Blue Hippo with possible swim bladder issue

[cdklos]

I ordered this Blue Hippo from Dr. Reef, it arrived yesterday (5/25/23) at 11:00 am. I immediately recognized it was swimming upside down. Got the fish acclimated and in a QT tank asap, I tested the water that was in the bag the fish was delivered in for ammonia, found no traces of ammonia. I did a 30 minute methylene blue dip yesterday evening about 10 pm. And another methylene blue dip this morning at 10am. After a bit of research, every symptom this fish is showing is classic swim bladder problem. Head down, no buoyancy control. (Video Attached) I finally got it to eat nori this afternoon. After some careful observation I noticed the fishes belly seems to be pretty bloated, you can see this in the video.

Question: Should I prepare to lance the swim bladder or continue methylene blue dips for the next few days and see if it will correct itself?

 

[cdklos]

Forgot to add the video!

Hippo Tang with Bladder Issue

 

[Humblefish]

@cdklos I would give the fish another day or two to settle in before attempting to vent the swim bladder: EMERGENCY FISH OPERATION: Venting a Swim Bladder - REEFEDITION

Sometimes the change in air pressure (from the plane ride) can cause these sort of issues. I don't think Fedex or UPS pressurization systems are as "stable" as a commercial airliner.

Air pressures on FedEx Express aircraft vary from as low as 8.3 psi at cruise altitude to as much as 14.7 psi on the ground.

Source: https://www.fedex.com/content/dam/fedex/us-united-states/services/FreightPackagingGuidelines.pdf

 

[Big G]

I ordered this Blue Hippo from Dr. Reef, it arrived yesterday (5/25/23) at 11:00 am. I immediately recognized it was swimming upside down. Got the fish acclimated and in a QT tank asap, I tested the water that was in the bag the fish was delivered in for ammonia, found no traces of ammonia. I did a 30 minute methylene blue dip yesterday evening about 10 pm. And another methylene blue dip this morning at 10am. After a bit of research, every symptom this fish is showing is classic swim bladder problem. Head down, no buoyancy control. (Video Attached) I finally got it to eat nori this afternoon. After some careful observation I noticed the fishes belly seems to be pretty bloated, you can see this in the video.

Question: Should I prepare to lance the swim bladder or continue methylene blue dips for the next few days and see if it will correct itself?

Welcome to the group. Sorry your new buddy is having issues. We're here to help.

 

[cdklos]

Welcome to the group. Sorry your new buddy is having issues. We're here to help.

Thank You! I just started up a new 800 gallon mixed reef and added the first set of fish. I want to respect the fish and do everything I can to keep them healthy and fit!

 

[cdklos]

Sometimes the change in air pressure (from the plane ride) can cause these sort of issues. I don't think Fedex or UPS pressurization systems are as "stable" as a commercial airliner.

Do you believe, based on the video of the hippo tang that it does in fact have a swim bladder problem? It was totally upside down when the fish arrived. I've had it in MB for 48 hours and tried epsom salt, no change whatsoever, the fish is eating a lot of nori also.

 

[cdklos]

This is what the Hippo tang looked like immediately after receiving her in the mail on 5/25/2023

VIDEO: Hippo Tang in acclimation bucket swimming upside down

This is what she looks like today 5/29/25 in QT. I have done multiple 30 minute MB dips (2x a day, at 10am and 10 pm), and added Epsom salt to the tank at 1.5 TBSP / 5 gallons.

VIDEO: Hippo tang in QT

I have not observed the Hippo Tang eat any pellet food yet, but she does eat nori pretty good. I have not observed any bowl movements.

I did force feed her some cooked peas on 5/26 in the evening and while feeding her she did have a bowl movement while I was holding her. I put her back in the QT tank and she looked like a totally normal fish for about half an hour, swimming looked great, she began swimming vertically to the top and back to the bottom on the tank very rapidly, her buoyancy looked like she was able to control it much better. She has not done this before.

The morning of 5/27, she was back to the same symptoms of swim bladder problems. I am not convinced she has a swim bladder problem yet, maybe a constipation issue or a gas build up in her stomach/bowls?

I have no problem attempting to vent the swim bladder, I just don't want to do anything without being 100% sure. I don't have a lot of time to figure this out, I am leaving out of town on Saturday and wont be back till the following Friday. Any direction would be gratefully received!

 

[Humblefish]

@cdklos I think the fish looks better, but obviously something is still off here. What complicates matters is that Hippo Tangs are notorious for acting like weirdos sometimes, especially in QT. Is the bulge in the swim bladder area still the same size? It looks “better” to me in the latest video, but I can’t tell for sure.

 

[cdklos]

@Humblefish

This image is from 5/25/23	This image is from 5/29/23

These pictures were taken from approximately the same angle and distance, should be pretty good for comparison sake. I would say the bulge is considerably less than it was 4 days ago.

 

[leebca]

Hippo Tangs usually freak out so often, it's hard to say if they are really stressed, or they think they're stressed.

In the second video of post #7 I see something on its left pectoral fin.

The fish has been through a lot. Maybe it will eat some other herbivore foods if you try. They are listed in the Fish Nutrition post.

 

[Humblefish]

@Humblefish

This image is from 5/25/23	This image is from 5/29/23
View attachment 97893	View attachment 97894

These pictures were taken from approximately the same angle and distance, should be pretty good for comparison sake. I would say the bulge is considerably less than it was 4 days ago.

Since the fish is at least eating nori, I would wait a week before attempting to lance the swim bladder. Just in case this is actually just a swim bladder infection that self-corrects.

 

[leebca]

The fish is breathing pretty fast. Although I see plenty of bubbles and water movement, maybe I'd add some MB to the QT. Aim for about 3ppm. Use only ambient lighting. Keep people away from the QT as much as possible.

What do you think @Humblefish?

 

[cdklos]

Will the MB take the place of any other medications to combat a possible swim bladder infection?

 

[cdklos]

The fish is breathing pretty fast. Although I see plenty of bubbles and water movement, maybe I'd add some MB to the QT. Aim for about 3ppm. Use only ambient lighting. Keep people away from the QT as much as possible.

Will the MB take the place of any other medications to combat a possible swim bladder infection? Or should I also add another medication?

 

[Humblefish]

Will the MB take the place of any other medications to combat a possible swim bladder infection?

It’s worth a shot to start. A stronger treatment for a swim bladder infection is to dose Metronidazole in conjunction with Neomycin (e.g. Seachem Neoplex). You can food soak this combination as well.

 

[leebca]

Will the MB take the place of any other medications to combat a possible swim bladder infection?

IF the fish will eat flake food (?) you might try Metronidazole medicated flake food. I struggle to get medication into a fish.

 

[leebca]

Will the MB take the place of any other medications to combat a possible swim bladder infection? Or should I also add another medication?

No IME. Metro can be fed to the fish or the Metro-Neoplex Humblefish suggested.

 

[leebca]

Sorry. I didn't notice you were a new member. Glad to have you here. Sorry the problem brought you to us, though.

 

[Dierks]

IF the fish will eat flake food (?) you might try Metronidazole medicated flake food. I struggle to get medication into a fish.

Here is the key from my buddy Joe:

Solved - MAKING FREEZE DRIED FOOD NOT SUCK!!!

Here is a link to my video showing how to rehydrate freeze dried food. attain ZERO floaters with mysis!! It should also allow medicating foods more effectively.I invite @Humblefish to add affililate links if he'd like.

humble.fish

 

[leebca]

Here is the key from my buddy Joe:

Solved - MAKING FREEZE DRIED FOOD NOT SUCK!!!

Here is a link to my video showing how to rehydrate freeze dried food. attain ZERO floaters with mysis!! It should also allow medicating foods more effectively.I invite @Humblefish to add affililate links if he'd like.

humble.fish

He or someone should make a kit of the system and sell them into the hobby!