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[font color="#C00000"]Okay, my platty is acting as if he has been hit in the head with something!!!:%)His equal libreum is off and he has trouble staying afloat, and it looks as though he is gasping for air. It sounds like Swim Bladder Disease but I have fed him a pea both after a fast and in the tank and in the breeder box in the tank.
Do you think he ate too many fry, because it is possible he got his fill of them. He has been like this for almost 2 weeks! We just don't know what to think.
He has no visable signs of anything except what I mentioned above.
What can I do for him? Any ideas????
Thanks,
Angie Oh yes and he is not eating well at all and stays away from all the others.[/font]

Last edited by angieinstlouie at 15-Feb-2005 18:16

Wow Angie... sorry your fish isn't doing well.


If this has been going on for two weeks he may be beyond help. One sign of hope is that he is still eating or trying to, is this the case?

Most important for him (if he is still alive) is to protect him from the other fish. You mentioned having a breeder box. It would be a good idea to keep him in that box. Try to keep him out of the current of the water so he isn't exhausting himself battling it.

Next, you have to make sure that whatever affected him isn't going to affect the rest of your fish. Check all of your water parameters to make sure everything is alright.
If you find any problems you need to fix any water quality problems right away.

Does he appear bloated at all?

[font color="#C00000"]Water Perimiters are right on, no he is not bloated nor does he show any outward signs of anything. Like sores or Ich.
He is doing way worse this morning... I am sure he will not be here much longer. He can't swim at all now and is in a plant "resting". I guess maybe we will never know what happened to him. Maybe another fish did something to him. We have 2 MEAN Neon Swordtails in there that harras them. They are going to be moved as soon as our new aquarium is cycled. Maybe it was just too late. Poor Guy![/font]

One possible solution suggested by another poster in the "breech birth" thread - bathing the fish in a solution of Magnesium Sulphate (Epsom Salts) just in case it's constipation-related. However, check your fish's posture. If the fish is upside down and bashing its head against things while trying to swim, then chances are it's a brain injury of some sort, and the poor thing is better off humanely euthanased.



Panda Catfish fan and keeper/breeder since Christmas 2002

if she/he is suffering and the peas haven't helped, have you tried the algae sheets? I know CoryDi has had great luck using them...Heidi

"I've got a great ambition to die of exhaustion rather than boredom." Thomas Carlyle

[font color="#000080"]Well he started really gasping and just falling into the plants, so my Hubby put him down... I know it was the best thing to do for him but OH I hate it!!!!
Thank you all for your input in all of this, your help was greatly appreciated![/font]