My powder blue dwarf gourami has had this for 4-5 weeks now. First and second time it was a distinct tilt and inability to swim straight, this time it's hanging vertically, with the head at the top. I can snap her out of it for a few minutes by repositioning her. She cab even straighten herself out when she wants to swim. With each occurrence she eventually goes back to swimming normally until it takes over again. She has been isolated in a 5 gallon tank during this time. I see no poop anywhere. She never fights me. In fact she even wags her butt and fins at me when she sees me - which I always interpret as a sign that she's glad to see me when my other fish do it.
As far as I can tell she has not eaten a real meal in 4-5 weeks. She was terribly thin, now somewhat bloated,but she'll likely get thin again. She just refuses to eat - which means she doesn't ever eat the blanched peas that I've peeled for her. (actutally none of my fish will eat peas - isn't that strange?).
I've treated with General Cure. No change. Currently on the third round of Furan-2 (a broad spectrum antibiotic). No notable change other than she's still alive.
Have twice added Epsom salts (medical grade) (about 2 teaspoons each time in a 5 gal tank). I DO think it helps but I've dosed the tank twice and do a 25% water change after every 2 doses of Furan-2 - so every 3 days - but I'm sure there is plenty of salt in the tank. Do I dare dose salt again?
Here is what I DO feed her: I mash the peeled peas into lots of water until the water is very green. I add about 1 teaspoon Miralax. I added a little garlic extract (that is what really caught her interest). I used a small syringe (no needle) to force feed her the mixture. First time I tried it with the garlic she willingly opened her mouth - now not so much. Problem is she's not really getting the fiber from the peas at all just the flavor. I continue to offer her flaked food and blood worms and during about week 3 she ate some twice in a row. The next day it all came back up completely undigested. So I am assuming she still cannot process food. She still rejects all that is offered daily.
Most often after a "feeding" of pea "soup" she goes to the top of the tank and a big airbubble comes out. Not sure if that's a puke of what I just fed her or just her regular breathing (she's a labrynith fish like a betta). Starting to think she swallowed too much air during feeding just puked up the air.
I noticed her issue to begin with because she stopped going up for air ALL the time, every time I watched her for nearly 2 weeks - very abnormal - in fact I thought it was believed that Gourami's (not Betta's) MUST go up for air periodically, yet here she was, alive, but not breathing normally and not eating at all.
So going into her 5th or 6th week I wonder how can this fish be alive? No way is she getting enough nutrition off of pea soup. Is she suffering? She seems pretty lively not at all depressed. The only time I get a serious pain response out of her is if I press on her lower sides where I presume most of her intestines are. Trying to see if there is a hard mass in there or what is going on - she just about jumps out of the tank when I press there so I don't try that any longer. Other than that she just lets me handle her and hold her upright until she re-stabilizes herself. I keep thinking if I could just get her to EAT the DAMN PEAS she would have been well a long time ago.
I'm not even sure if what she has is bladder disease now anyway - most of those cases resolve fairly quickly don't they? (for better or for worse)? If it's a blockage of her intestines I'm guessing her intestines may have died by now.
Do I go ahead and euthanize her? (I'm not sure I'm ready to do this)
Do I stop all supportive care such as the pea soup, laxitive and antibiotic
Do I go ahead and add more Epsom Salts - if so how much?
Was adding Miralax crazy? I just wanted some way to get a bunch of fiber in her when she will only consume watery substances. Any better ideas
One limitation I am VERY VERY sick with one of the work cases of bronchitis I've ever had so I can't run to the store and buy anything - I can get it from Amazon in 2 days typically.)
Is it time to give up and let her go? I do have clove oil so I'm prepared to euthanize when necessary.
As far as I can tell she has not eaten a real meal in 4-5 weeks. She was terribly thin, now somewhat bloated,but she'll likely get thin again. She just refuses to eat - which means she doesn't ever eat the blanched peas that I've peeled for her. (actutally none of my fish will eat peas - isn't that strange?).
I've treated with General Cure. No change. Currently on the third round of Furan-2 (a broad spectrum antibiotic). No notable change other than she's still alive.
Have twice added Epsom salts (medical grade) (about 2 teaspoons each time in a 5 gal tank). I DO think it helps but I've dosed the tank twice and do a 25% water change after every 2 doses of Furan-2 - so every 3 days - but I'm sure there is plenty of salt in the tank. Do I dare dose salt again?
Here is what I DO feed her: I mash the peeled peas into lots of water until the water is very green. I add about 1 teaspoon Miralax. I added a little garlic extract (that is what really caught her interest). I used a small syringe (no needle) to force feed her the mixture. First time I tried it with the garlic she willingly opened her mouth - now not so much. Problem is she's not really getting the fiber from the peas at all just the flavor. I continue to offer her flaked food and blood worms and during about week 3 she ate some twice in a row. The next day it all came back up completely undigested. So I am assuming she still cannot process food. She still rejects all that is offered daily.
Most often after a "feeding" of pea "soup" she goes to the top of the tank and a big airbubble comes out. Not sure if that's a puke of what I just fed her or just her regular breathing (she's a labrynith fish like a betta). Starting to think she swallowed too much air during feeding just puked up the air.
I noticed her issue to begin with because she stopped going up for air ALL the time, every time I watched her for nearly 2 weeks - very abnormal - in fact I thought it was believed that Gourami's (not Betta's) MUST go up for air periodically, yet here she was, alive, but not breathing normally and not eating at all.
So going into her 5th or 6th week I wonder how can this fish be alive? No way is she getting enough nutrition off of pea soup. Is she suffering? She seems pretty lively not at all depressed. The only time I get a serious pain response out of her is if I press on her lower sides where I presume most of her intestines are. Trying to see if there is a hard mass in there or what is going on - she just about jumps out of the tank when I press there so I don't try that any longer. Other than that she just lets me handle her and hold her upright until she re-stabilizes herself. I keep thinking if I could just get her to EAT the DAMN PEAS she would have been well a long time ago.
I'm not even sure if what she has is bladder disease now anyway - most of those cases resolve fairly quickly don't they? (for better or for worse)? If it's a blockage of her intestines I'm guessing her intestines may have died by now.
Do I go ahead and euthanize her? (I'm not sure I'm ready to do this)
Do I stop all supportive care such as the pea soup, laxitive and antibiotic
Do I go ahead and add more Epsom Salts - if so how much?
Was adding Miralax crazy? I just wanted some way to get a bunch of fiber in her when she will only consume watery substances. Any better ideas
One limitation I am VERY VERY sick with one of the work cases of bronchitis I've ever had so I can't run to the store and buy anything - I can get it from Amazon in 2 days typically.)
Is it time to give up and let her go? I do have clove oil so I'm prepared to euthanize when necessary.
