I wanted to make sure there are no misunderstandings. It’s a 2 gallon tank… not 5 gallon.
Kathy
YIKES
When I checked on him a couple minutes ago, I thought he was dead. When I touched him, he swam off, but this time I got a look at his side he’s been laying on.
There’s a dark pink patch. I was thinking blood, but it’s not red.
What is it? Does that help identify what is causing the Swim Bladder Disease? Is there anything more I can do for him?
Kathy
http://www.notcatfish.com/health/ident.htm
This site has a good listing of symtoms and their related diseases. Looks like the red spots could be caused by fish TB, septicaemias, or even tumors. Or it could be something irritating him on the side and he has rubbed in raw.
The problem is fuguring out what caused what. The lack of fresh water likely stressed the fish, which in turn led to whatever caused the red patch, which then led to the swim bladder problem.
Even if he pulls through whatever is ailing him now, he will likely never be completely healthy do to living in such a small space.
Do you think it might help him to get better if I was to go get a real aquarium at this point or would that be to much of a shock to him?
Kathy
Do you want a real aquarium, with all the maintenance (and enjoyment) that it involves? If yes, then go right ahead. If you mean put him in someone else’s real aquarium, that’s not a good idea because he’ll either infect the other fish or get picked to bits by the other fish.
My initial advice was not to flush him yet, 'coz he might get better.
It doesn’t sound like he is getting better.
I’d either:
a) let him stay where he is until he dies, or
b) do the hightechburrito thing with the freezer.
Oh YES Desmostylus! I sure do want a real aquarium with all the maintenance and ENJOYMENT.
I haven’t had one in several years but have missed them something awful. I’ve spent the last couple years trying to convince Rico that the advantages outweight the initial expense. Since he “doesn’t do fish”, I haven’t succeeded.
I was kinda hoping this would be something he’d see as being almost necessary, but if it wouldn’t be good for our gourami then I sure don’t want to make things worse for him. That poor little fish has been through way to much!
I liked hightechburrio’s idea with the freezer. I don’t want to traumatize the little guy anymore. Just going to sleep sounds so much better then the toilet. I don’t want to euthanize him to soon, nor do I want him to suffer if he can’t get better.
He hasn’t gotten any better. In fact, he’s less energetic then he was. Twice I’ve thought he was dead only to reach in and he swims off when I touch him. So you think he’s not going to get better? I’ve been wondering how long it would take to know.
I guess I better prepare myself for the freezer idea.
Thanks for all your help everyone!
Kathy
Sounds like he might be on the out.
There are a couple of things you could check:
has the temperature changed fairly substantially recently?
The pH of the water may be out of whack, but seeing as you don’t know what it was to begin with you won’t be able to tell.
Although it doesn’t look like it, your tank does have at least one type of filter in it - a biofilter. This consists of denitrifying bacteria that convert ammonia (toxic to fish and caused by fish waste and uneaten food) to nitrite (also toxic to fish) and then to nitrate (not really toxic to fish but loved by plants). Water changes are performed to reduce nitrate build up, which can lead to algae bloom.
You might want to check the ammonia level in the water to see if either the biofilter is not functioning or it’s not able to deal with all the ammonia (the most common source of this is overfeeding the fish - the uneaten food rots and ammonia levels go beyond what the biofilter can handle).
If you do change the water, as mentioned earlier, don’t do more than 25% of the water in the tank. Any more will stress the fish, and even the water is getting a little dangerous in some areas these days after the relaxed drinking water standards were introduced.
Your fish could possibly have dropsy if you saw some internal bleeding, or it may have an internal bacterial infection. You can treat these with stuff you buy in the store.
Larger tanks are easier to treat than smaller tanks - they are less likely to fluctuate as quickly in terms of temperature, pH and “chemical elements” - ammonia…etc.
Remember all fish eventually die. It might just be his time as well.
I’d leave him in the tank until you’re sure he bought the farm and then flush him with dignity.
Oh - I didn’t mention, you can check pH, ammonia and a bunch of other stuff using cheap reagent dropper kits that you can buy at any store.
I just came back from cleaning the tank.
I had gone in to check on him and his time had come.
I can’t believe how upset I am. He was flushed with dignity.
Thanks for all your help everyone.
Kathy