Is It Swimbladder?

[pugwash666]

My platy has been ill now 3-4 weeks,he is over 2 years old.He swims around for a bit,then just rests on his side at the bottom of the tank,has a breather,then repeats this all the time.I was advised he may have swimbladder so bought the meds and gave him the dosage for the term,but he still has not improved.He still eats though.All water readings in the tank are as they should be,and thankfully always are now.
I had him isolated for 2 weeks,but now just back in the tank.Here is a clip of him http/uk.youtube.com/watch?v=jQ8aUd0j7Z8


By the way,2 weeks back we noticed baby fry in the tank,must have had them in the night.But we only managed to save 3,who are in a birthing net.They have the same colour and markings of the ill fish,but it showed no signs of pregnancy.

Any help please,i do not want to lose the little thing(Bosco,is his name).

 

[Colin_T]

it sounds like the fish is getting old. If it swims around normally and then sits on its sides when resting there is nothing wrong with the swimbladder. If the fish has trouble swimming around, (ie: rolls around or floats upwards, or sinks downwards when trying to swim) then it might have a swim bladder problem. However there is no cure for swim bladder issues so you don't treat them.

 

[pugwash666]

Should i just leave him has he is then?

 

[Colin_T]

If it isn't getting worse rapidly then I would probably just leave him be until he has trouble swimming. Then I would euthanase him. Until then just keep feeding him and make sure the other fish don't pick on him when he is sitting on the gravel.

 

[pugwash666]

The other fish do not pick on him,they just seem to go up to him and nudge him with their noses,as though to help him to get up.But thanks for your help anyway.Cheers.Happy Xmas.

 

[rdd1952]

As mentioned, there is no cure for swim bladder so I'm not sure what meds you were using. Fish with constipation exhibit the same symptoms as swim bladder. That can be cured by feeding them some cooked peas with the hull/skin removed. YOu might try that. it's fine to feed the entire atank as the other fish will love it too. But like Colin said, since he appears to be swimming normally, it's probably more a matter of age than a problem with constipation or swim bladder.

 

[pugwash666]

I was working last night,so got home this morning,could not find Bosco,found him lying sideways on one of the plants,did not seem too well,so put him in his little homemade isolation unit,and gave him a flake,which he tried to eat.
But when i woke up,this afternoon,found that he had died,i hope it was only old age and he did not suffer.As daft as it is,i did not throw him in the bin or rubbish,i put him in the back garden.

I tried the peas thing,but he nor any of the other fish seemed to eat them.

 

[Colin_T]

sorry to hear about the loss.

peas can be fed as raw or partially cooked. Some fish prefer raw while others prefer them cooked. Also you can try squashing the peas before you feed them. Many fish will eat pumpkin, zucchini and various other fruits and veges too. Try them on different things and see if they take a fancy to any of them.