EMERGENCY:<Sick Von Rio> Help with diagnosis before it's too late? (Lots of info.)

[carey]

I know what youre going thru. I have a thread about my cichlid with swim bladder. Mine isnt spazzing out or anything he just can't keep afloat. i hate watching him like this and knowing I can't do anything at all.

I;ve set him up in my qt 10 gallon. Even out a background on it and a few places for him to hide. I haven't noticed any decline or improvement. It's been over 3 weeks I think too.

I hope your fish gets better. Sounds like maybe he has a shot

 

[mandy2936]

Thank you for the replies. Bad news again.

Bad food. How long have you had your food and what type is it? Im glad your little guy is improving!

Thanks! I have been feeding them TetraMin Tropical Fish Flakes since the tank was established... (Aug '10) I still have about half the can left, but then found a brand new can of Aquenon Tropical Fish Flakes that came with something I bought for the tank. I began using both of these flakes..
Should I just ditch these two and buy a new can of fish food?

I know what youre going thru. I have a thread about my cichlid with swim bladder. Mine isnt spazzing out or anything he just can't keep afloat. i hate watching him like this and knowing I can't do anything at all.

I;ve set him up in my qt 10 gallon. Even out a background on it and a few places for him to hide. I haven't noticed any decline or improvement. It's been over 3 weeks I think too.

I hope your fish gets better. Sounds like maybe he has a shot

Thanks for the reply, Carey. Unfortunately, my hopes have again dropped for the little guy. I swear yesterday he was barely listing at all, but today his condition is declining. He is now back to listing a lot. No thrashing, but he looks worse than yesterday. I am going to feed the tank peas again and see what happens tomorrow.

Any other suggestions? Should I toss my fish flakes and buy something new? If so, do you have a specific suggestion? Thanks in advance!

 

[carey]

Mine will now only eat the peas. Won't touch the NLS I just went out and bought.

have you added epsom salts to the water? I was told it helps with buoyancy?

 

[mandy2936]

No, I haven't added anything to the water. I just fed them the peas... they will only eat them if they are really hungry. I will do a water change in a little while, the peas get pretty messy and I'm trying to keep the water super clean anyway. I usually do a 40% PWC every week, but I'm doing a few extra water changes to help the sick fish. (Even though water quality has never been an issue.)
I might be able to go to the pet store today, so again, should I pick up some new food?

Thanks guys.

 

[carey]

I just switched to New life Spectrum, it has great reviews adn everyone swears by it. You might not be able to get that locally tho. Have u tried soaking the flakes a little then dropping them? I heard they can expand in the fishs tummy when dropped in dry and cause an impedence.

 

[mandy2936]

Yes, I have tried soaking the flakes.

 

[carey]

I wouldn't worry too much about getting a new food right now. I would keep going with the peas. Mine ate like 6 all chopped up yesterday. But still no improvement.

You have enough food for your other fish so you should be ok. Did you ask your parents about a bucket or small qt tank? You could go really cheap on a qt and promise to take it down when he gets better. Plus you can just run a sponge filter in it u dont have to get all crazy $$ with it.