FishProfiles.com Message Forums

After transferring my shy blue powedered DG from a 90 gallon my 10 gallon, everything has gone downhill for him. Basically he lays on his side all day (at the top of the tank) and ocassionally rights himself up to get some air from the surface. He has been this way for about a week. (I'm surprised he's still alive.)

I realize this is most likely a problem with his swim bladder or internal parasite, but is there anything I can do to help the poor guy?

Inhabitants:
1 Dwarf Gourami
7 Cardinal tetras
2 ottos

Last edited by fishnewbie at 26-Feb-2005 10:26

The new 10 gallon he is in has the cardinals and otos?

You are right to be surprised that any fish down on his side would still be alive at this point. Usually they don't survive the night like that.

Is he emaciated/really skinny?

See any other signs like bloodiness?

If he was alone, I'd recommend the Parasite Clear Tank Buddies as a long shot. In reality this med won't hurt the other inhabitants and should not affect the biofilter. If you try it, make sure you get one that has Praziquantel in the ingredient list. Jungle reformulated it last year and it is not safe at full strength for scaleless fish and tetras unless it is the version with praziquantel. You may consider just under a full dose if you have alot of gravel and decco in the tank (displacement). Watch the fish and if all are tolerating it well, add the other small piece an hour or two later and watch again.

Prazi makes them expel internal parasites in hours.

Does he have trouble reaching the surface? Is he disoriented on the way up? If he can do it in a straight shot, it doesn't sound like SBD. Rather, something is completely exhausting him.

Last edited by Cory_Di at 26-Feb-2005 10:32

I see no bloodiness and he's not abnormally skinny....

He just lays at the top all day, so he's ALWAYS at the surface... After he gets some air, he lays back on his side.

Oh, he's not at the bottom on his side?

That does sound like SBD.

Is he eating? If so, try to feed him a deshelled, thawed, frozen pea. Just pop the two pea-halves out of the round shell after leaving it out a few minutes. Break it down to bite size pieces and see if you can entice him to eat it. If constipation is causing it, then the pea may break it lose. Infections can sometimes do this too. But, I would treat him separate from any tetras or scaleless fish where full strength meds like Furan-2 or just Fungus Clear Tank Buddies could be used. They may be sensitive and half strength won't work on an internal infection.

Nope he's at the TOP on his side....
I got him to eat a few flakes the other day, after I changed the water. (BTW I do weekly water changes)

I have a spare 2 gallon hex that I could place him in temporarily to treat him. I hope that's not too small...?

I'll look in the freezer to see if I have some peas,(hehe) and try that first, before moving him and using chems.

Last edited by fishnewbie at 26-Feb-2005 21:20

It may stress him, but if you use all water from the 10 gallon and keep it well aerated and warm that may work for the time being. But, you will need to do 50% water changes daily.

You can crack those tablets in half and in half again until you get down to 2 gallon dosing approximation.

I'd go first for bacterial infection by using Fungus Clear Tank Buddies. Then I'd go for internal parasites. In fact, you may want to email Jungle labs at http://www.junglelabs.com by clicking "Contact the Lab" and ask them if you can dose Fungus Clear Tank Buddies at the same time as Parasite Clear. I think they may tell you it will be fine. That way, you can address a possible bacterial infection with a possible parasite issue.

In the meantime, I'd leave him in the tank he is in and try feeding the pea. your otos may enjoy the snack too.

Last edited by Cory_Di at 26-Feb-2005 21:22

Ok, I'll take the heater from my betta tank (rated 2-5 gallons) and put in an air pump w/ stone.

Thanks so much for your help!

Last edited by fishnewbie at 26-Feb-2005 21:23

Okay, I asked them and am waiting for an answer.

Last edited by fishnewbie at 27-Feb-2005 10:28

Hey, for some odd reason, he seems to be doing fine today. It's a miracle! (LOL, J/P)

He's just lost a bit of his color, but he's swimming around fine. He even ate some flake food.

I can't believe he survived.

He may have been stopped up and the constipation may have passed. I'd feed him deshelled pea for a while and let it clean him out.

Okay news:

He's dead.

It WAS constipation and I couldn't get him to eat much of the pea(s)....

He had this huge turd and then he died a few days later ... You could tell he had a lot in him because he was kinda fat.

Well poor guy... had to suffer for a month. I should have put him out of his misery sooner.

Case Closed.

Last edited by fishnewbie at 10-Mar-2005 18:59