Lionfish with unusual bouancy

[pcola325]

Ok, I'll try and keep this short. I've got a 4" Russell's Lionfish and a 2" Humu Picasso Triggerfish, a couple of Tangs, and a Damsel. After about 6 months of getting along just fine, Trigger took a liking to chewing the fins off of my Lion. At the same time, the Lion started exhibiting an unnatural sort of bouyancy and stopped eating. I kept him in the hospital tank for about a month, and he's eating normally again, but he still floats. Today, I took the Trigger out and put the Lion back in the main tank. I can tell he's happy to be "home". He literally wears himself out swimming around the tank, then just floats to the top to rest. Occasionally, he'll lodge himself in the live rock and rest there to keep from floating to the top. SG is 1.021 and all other water conditions are normal, and all of the other fish are doing fine. Has anybody had any experience with a fish that can't seem to control his bouyancy, and is there something I can do to help him?

 

[Navarre]

I have heard of lions having bouyancy problems. really not sure what to suggest except perhaps it might be a bacteria infection? Have you tried treating the lion for anything so far or have you just isolated it?

 

[hyrookin]

if the lion is fine without the trigger in the tank,
I would keep the trigger out and see if the
condition improves after the fins have healed.

 

[pcola325]

Thanks for the replies. So far, all I've done is isolate him from the trigger so that he wouldn't be killed. Now that he's back in the main tank he's becoming more active... at least he spends more time swimming around than floating on top. Currently, the trigger is in the isolation tank until I can find it a new home. Until then, I suppose I'll just keep an eye on how the Lion is progressing. Any suggestions on what to treat him with once the trigger is gone?

This was the coolest fish ever before the trigger incident. He'd go nuts when I walked in the door from work in the afternoons, knowing it's feeding time. And he'd come to the top and blow water at me when I came to the tank to feed him. I sure hope I can get him back to that state of health.

 

[hyrookin]

good to hear he is improving.
I would think as long as the trigger is isolated, his fins
will continue to get better.

luckily, I have not needed any med. for torn fins, but
I am sure there are some effective ones out there.
good luck!

 

[Mr Miagi]

Sometimes an infection of the swim bladder by bacterial disease or a sudden change of water temperatures can damage the swim bladder. causing a fish to "float". I hope he gets beter. He sounds like he is.