Limp Female.

[andyw823]

I have 2 females in my community tank and have both been very happy for well over 18 months. One of them has become poorly, as its swimming around it looks like it has a heavy wieght attached to the back of it and its being dragged down, most of the time it hangs at the top in a corner up right. I have moved her into a tank of her own tank, she still eats as normal! Any ideas?

 

[Liberty802]

Sounds like she has a damaged swimbladder, which is usually caused by overeating/stress, try fasting her for a few days and then feeding her a cooked, shelled pea, this should clear up any blockages or bloating in her intestinal tract.

 

[andyw823]

Swim bladder was one of my thoughts too! From what ive been told its not curable, is that true or false? Her and her sister are very greedy when it comes to food, they eat the pellets i put in for the loaches and cat fish!

 

[sylvia]

Swimm bladder damage can be caused by lots of things - including bacterial infections (like those that cause dropsy). If the damage isn't too severe, it can often be reversed or, at least, won't progress further. however, when the fish gets to a stage where it can no longer control its swimming, recovery is pretty much out of the question. It's always worth trying the fasting + peas but, ultimately, you're going to have to decide whether this fish should live the rest of her life struggling to swim properly (with bettas you need to remember that it's not just eating - they need to breathe air too!).

 

[liz2]

I got 2 boys with swim bladder probs. They are both in plastic containers that are long but not very deep they so they dont have far to come up to the top for air. I havent got any gravel in at all and then I can see if they are going to the loo. I have drilled holes in the plastic lids to keep even more heat in. They both have those flat heaters and the water is nice and warm. So I think that is about all I can do for them. You can actually see through the containers so they watch me in the kitchen I hope this helps you with ideas. I find the meds are too stressful for the fish so I dont use them only a bit of aqua salt.

Just realised she would be a lovely match for my Brodie....bless her hope she is OK.

 

[lisa_perry75]

Keep her water pristine, add salt and treat with anti-internal bacterial meds.

The most experienced guy from my shop said its caused by a hole in the swimbladder that has then got infected. The meds will sort the infection. The salt and good water should fix the hole. But he did say sometimes the hole does not close, and he knows one guy with a fish with damaged swimbladder and it just hassn't healed!!!

Hopefully this gorgeous girly will be good as gold in no time

 

[andyw823]

Thanks for the info

 

[lisa_perry75]

Np, how is the little gal? Doing a bit better me hopes!

 

[andyw823]

Np, how is the little gal? Doing a bit better me hopes!

No change, i starved her for a couple of days and then fed her some pea. i have dropped her water level as she was finding it hard to reach the top for air.

 

[liz2]

She does sound poorly...must be a little fighter though...fingers crossed

 

[andyw823]

Well she has been in her own little tank now for a month and no change, i have reduced her feeding, she has had salt baths, added a small amount of melafix. Her personality hasnt changed though, she tried to have my finger off when feeding her Almost lost her though due to the cat, over night i have tank wrapped in a towel, the cat must have tried to pull it away and tipped the tank over, i found her in less than an inch of water, she is now next to my bed! It looks like her swim bladder is very badly damaged is there anymore i can do for her?