Sick Cory, Is It Swim Bladder?

[v_ness]

Hi all,

I'm new to the fish keeping thing - have a 12 gal and have slowly been setting it up, introduced two julii cories to the tank a couple of months ago to cycle - one died within a month and now the other is sick although im sure the tank is cycled, levels are fine.

The cory is having troubles staying on the bottom of the tank, when he lies down his head starts to float back and his body becomes vertical! he'll swim around a bit but every time he tries to settle same thing, then after a while he's able to sit still.

at the same time these symptoms occurred i noticed he lost the back bottom part of his fin! not sure if it got caught on a rock or if its more serious... im truly mystified by what's happening. i was just about to introduce some more fish to the tank but now not sure what to do.

i have since stopped feeding him (he was getting dried shrimp pellets and salmon flakes) its been three days and no change, i gave him a little bit of pea but still cant right himself.

what should i do??

im truly new to this and have read that he could need dietary changes but none of the fish stores recommended anything but what i am feeding - can they eat veggies, and what kind? how much?

any help is greatly appreciated!!! i dont want to loose this lil fellow, oh and if he survives will his fin grow back?

thanks

V

 

[WILDER]

It's swim bladder and corys are prone to bacterial infections, corys are not hardy enough to cycle a tank as they need mature tanks.
You could try a bacterial med if you can issolate the fish.
Try some shelled peas and daphnia.
I feed my cory bloodworms,daphnia,brimestrimp, river strimp,micro worms, tubilex worms all frozen.
Veg,
peas,broc, cabbage, spinach, cucumba though not keen on that, sproats.
Cat pellets, and algae tablets.

 

[v_ness]

thanks wilder - will he get better or is it grim? how long would recovery take without meds?
i was going to cycle the tank with some tetras but the fish store advised to start with cories!!

any thoughts as to his fin loss?

It's swim bladder and corys are prone to bacterial infections, corys are not hardy enough to cycle a tank as they need mature tanks.
You could try a bacterial med if you can issolate the fish.
Try some shelled peas and daphnia.
I feed my cory bloodworms,daphnia,brimestrimp, river strimp,micro worms, tubilex worms all frozen.
Veg,
peas,broc, cabbage, spinach, cucumba though not keen on that, sproats.
Cat pellets, and algae tablets.

 

[WILDER]

The fins are a secondary bacterial infection and once they start to get other infections the odds go down, swim bladder is hard to cure, but there is no harm in trying, you will need a bacterial med.

But you might have to be prepared for the worse, good luck.

 

[v_ness]

thanks for the info - would Maracyn-two work?

 

[WILDER]

Yes that's fine, good luck.