No Muscles To Swim To The Top

[MLilahtiger]

It's like he has a weight on his tail draging him down. He'll make it up for a quick bite and then sink back down. His back half seems thin and wasted like he can't use it to help him swim. He's trying to make it by only using his front fins. What should I do?

 

[liz2]

He sounds like my old boys. If he is old.. he needs clean warm water and I lower the level of my water so they dont have so far to swim.
I am sure someone else will come on with what meds you can use. But, they will probably ask for more info about him.

 

[ileopard]

It sounds like it might be swimbladder, but it doesn't fit the exact description of swimbladder. One cause of this can be constipation. Does he happen to have a bloated belly? If so, fast him for 2 days (don't feed him) and then, feed him a deshelled pea. It might also be a bacterial infection - if so, treat with an internal antibiotic (Maracyn-Two is for internal gram negative problems), or try medicated food (such as Jungle Anti-Bacterial Medicated Food).

 

[jollysue]

Yes do lower the water and give some details of his housing, care, water stats, diet, age, etc.