I have a clown that has been in my tank for over 6 years I believe. Last night he was fine and this morning he was swimming very weird, sideways upside down and at times fine up and head down. Does not show any signs to bloat. No changes were made except I made an adjustment to my skimmer last night and it seemed fine. But this morning it was boiling over and I had a bio pellet reactor feeding into the skimmer. All other fish in the tank seem fine. I have him netted and and getting a QT going. Not sure what happened. I suspect swim bladder but I don't see any bloat. Other option from reading posts is maybe just backed up or he got some sort of a bacterial infection affecting his swim bladder. Once I get him in the QT I was planning on monitoring for a few days. If he continues to show no improvement thinking I need to treat for Bacterial infection. But not sure how long to wait before treating and don't want to wait to long. Also what would be options to use to treat something like this. Once in QT I can get a better video. The one I have right now may not show very well and not sure if I can post here.
Clown fish with possible swim bladder issue
- Thread starter ddennis
- Start date
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Humblefish
Dr. Fish
- Location
- Wandering Nomad
Is he swimming vertically? Head up or down? Can you post a video?
Humblefish
Dr. Fish
- Location
- Wandering Nomad
It says "Video Unavailable"
Tail up and head down is the usual MO for a swim bladder disorder: Internal Problems
And I have seen this happen many times with older clownfish.
Tail up and head down is the usual MO for a swim bladder disorder: Internal Problems
And I have seen this happen many times with older clownfish.
I tried to share the video from my post over on Club Melevsreef. But does not look like it is allowing.
Assuming it is a swim bladder disorder how long would be reasonable to wait before treating in case it isn't? Ill look through the links you sent and see what I can get my hands on her locally. Not sure may have to order online. Don't want to begin treating incase it isn't and cause harm but also don't want to waiting have should have begun treating sooner.
Humblefish
Dr. Fish
- Location
- Wandering Nomad
I would wait at least a week before starting any treatments. That should allow enough time to see if the issue will self correct.
Thank you! I have him in a QT and she is for sure swimming nose down tail up but staying at the bottom of the tank. Breathing looks good though. and no bloating of the belly or the body. I will review the treatments you mentioned in the post prior with the Methylene Blue and wait the week and see what happens. Should I attempt to feed at all for the next few days. I was thinking no, and just in case it is still something else and just wait the weekend before I try and feed. Thank you again for your thoughts!
Vincelovesfish
Well-known member
- Location
- Southeast Wisconsin
With no bloating of the body I would feed normally while you wait with some vitamin enhanced food(selcon and beta glucan) with a pinch of epsom salt mixed in
@Humble.Fish & Reef When doing the water changes and re dosing MB every 48 hours do you have a recommended amount of water to change out? I am using a 10g tank and had been doing 2-2.5 gal water changes. Also do you re dose the same amount teaspoon per 10g every 48 hours? Assume so from the directions but wanted to verify. And then ask on a recommended about of water to change. Should I do more than a 20% or is 20% good?
Humblefish
Dr. Fish
- Location
- Wandering Nomad
25%
Perfect
Yes; 0.5 ml per gallon (or 1 teaspoon per 10 gallons) every 48 hours for 10 days.
@Humblefish Thank you for your help so far. I had a few more questions. How soon after Dosing MB might you see a change if that will help the issue? Should I be Dosing anything else along side the MB? I was on the Kordon website and reading about MB dosing there and they talked about only treating for 3-5 days? Can you give some insight on why you recommend treating for 10 days?
Also kind silly question but should I continue to try and feed during this time? I'm looking at how blue the water is and wondering if I try and feed, will the fish even be able to see the food? since he is not able to really chase down the food I had been feeding him with a baster and putting food in front of him which he was taking. Or should I feed every other day when I do the water change and feed prior to re dosing the MB but after the water change so the color is diluted down. Or just wait until treatment is over to feed.
Also kind silly question but should I continue to try and feed during this time? I'm looking at how blue the water is and wondering if I try and feed, will the fish even be able to see the food? since he is not able to really chase down the food I had been feeding him with a baster and putting food in front of him which he was taking. Or should I feed every other day when I do the water change and feed prior to re dosing the MB but after the water change so the color is diluted down. Or just wait until treatment is over to feed.
Humblefish
Dr. Fish
- Location
- Wandering Nomad
Probably within a week or two.
The only other thing you can do is watch to see if a gas bubble forms in his swim bladder area: EMERGENCY FISH OPERATION: Venting a Swim Bladder - REEFEDITION
Just to give the fish more exposure time to the medication. To see if will help, because there aren't many other practical options for treating a swim bladder disorder.
Yes. He will be able to see the food if he wants to eat.
@Humblefish Thank you again for all the knowledge. Much appreciated!
@Humblefish Should I be re dosing the 1 tsp of MB every 48hrs when I do the water change? From the instructions it appears so. But just making sure. or just doing a water change? Even after the water change it is so blue you can barely see the fish.
Vincelovesfish
Well-known member
- Location
- Southeast Wisconsin
Yes you will want to dose MB every 48hrs with a water change before each dose. The water change is necessary as MB destroys the biofilter at 1 tsp per 10gal
cdklos
New member
- Location
- Lubbock, Texas
Have you had any luck with this fish recovering?