Help! Parrot Cichlid floating on side at top of tank!
- Thread starter katfich
- Start date
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dkpate
Aquarium Advice Addict
It might be a swibladder issue.
What are your water parameters? (Ammonia, nitrite and nitrate) And water changing schedule?
Try not feeding her for a couple days, she will be fine without food.
If that doesn't work, you can boil and shell peas, and see if she will eat those. They are a laxative for fish.
What are your water parameters? (Ammonia, nitrite and nitrate) And water changing schedule?
Try not feeding her for a couple days, she will be fine without food.
If that doesn't work, you can boil and shell peas, and see if she will eat those. They are a laxative for fish.
What about needle aspiration
She spits the peas out. So, I have also heard of needle aspiration. She is really struggling and floating on her side around the tank and I'm getting ready to put her out of her misery, but I have had her for so very long, I am ready to try anything.
Do you know exactly where the swim bladder is? I have a large guage syringe that I could try.
Thanks,
Kathleen
She spits the peas out. So, I have also heard of needle aspiration. She is really struggling and floating on her side around the tank and I'm getting ready to put her out of her misery, but I have had her for so very long, I am ready to try anything.
Do you know exactly where the swim bladder is? I have a large guage syringe that I could try.
Thanks,
Kathleen
I've also check the water and it is fine. I am trying the epsom salt bath right now; still trying to feed her peas but she spits them out. All the other cichlids in my tank are fine...this is just such a mystery to me. Still trying to research needle aspiration. I'll try to add an image of my fish shortly.
dkpate
Aquarium Advice Addict
Yikes! That's pretty bad. 
I have never heard of the needle thing. Is there any way you could make a little sling type thing for her so she can be upright? Have you put anything new in the tank recently? If you are able to QT her, you can try dosing salt in the QT tank, (1 tsp per gallon).
I have never heard of the needle thing. Is there any way you could make a little sling type thing for her so she can be upright? Have you put anything new in the tank recently? If you are able to QT her, you can try dosing salt in the QT tank, (1 tsp per gallon).Apparently the needle aspiration is a pretty common thing as a last resort. I did a 45 minute epsom salt quarantine as recommended by a veterinatian. Apparently the magnesium sulfate can help, but I've seen no response yet. I've also read of using aquarium glue to glue a temporary fishing weight to the floating side to keep her upright and under water...but I can't bring myself to do this to her. I'll keep looking for the diagram on location of the swim bladder. It is this, or I have to put her down; she is suffering. Thank you for your comment.
dkpate
Aquarium Advice Addict
I wish you alot of luck. You have had her for a long time, and I know how it is. I had one fish for only 8 months, and I was devestated when he died.
Keep me/us posted!
I had one fish for only 8 months, and I was devestated when he died.Keep me/us posted!
dkpate
Aquarium Advice Addict
I am finding a few diagrams, not specific to the blood parrots, but they might be helpful.
Google Image Result for http://www.sportsmanschoice.com/A%20Note%20Worth%20Reading/encyclopedia/lr000532.gif
Fish Anatomy, learn to identify and understand the different parts of a tropical fishes body
Google Image Result for http://www.sportsmanschoice.com/A%20Note%20Worth%20Reading/encyclopedia/lr000532.gif
Fish Anatomy, learn to identify and understand the different parts of a tropical fishes body
Decided to Euthanize Parrot Fish
Thank you for trying to help me out. I had to make the awful decision to euthanize my dear friend today. She was suffering so terribly and I couldn't watch her struggle with one gill out of the water any longer.
Such a sad day for me. It's a good I dropped out of Veterinary school...I was right...I would have been too saddened by every pet death.
Take care.
katfich
Thank you for trying to help me out. I had to make the awful decision to euthanize my dear friend today. She was suffering so terribly and I couldn't watch her struggle with one gill out of the water any longer.
Such a sad day for me. It's a good I dropped out of Veterinary school...I was right...I would have been too saddened by every pet death.
Take care.
katfich
dkpate
Aquarium Advice Addict
I am so sorry she couldn't be helped!!!!!! I had to put a fish down not too long ago also, for dropsy, and it's no fun. I am glad you did the right thing and didn't let her suffer though. Two years ago I had to put my rat down and people laughed at me for taking a rat to the vet and spending $40, but it was worth every penny to me.Keep your head up though, and don't give up on fish! She had a good life with you for a few years.
Thank you Darby. I can't get the memory of her last hour out of my head. I've decided not to put the cat down tomorrow now...I just couldn't deal with that too, right now. Don't worry about what other people think about how you feel about your pets. I think that it's all about Karma; how you treat other lives during your life, whether people or animals, all comes back to you in the end. Thanks again for your support; it truly helped me out yesterday.
I've decided not to put the cat down tomorrow now...I just couldn't deal with that too, right now. Don't worry about what other people think about how you feel about your pets. I think that it's all about Karma; how you treat other lives during your life, whether people or animals, all comes back to you in the end. Thanks again for your support; it truly helped me out yesterday.
