I can't just watch...

[Fungi]

I'm facing a moral dilemma, this angel fish in my school Biology room most likely has swim bladder disease, it's been swimming on its side, doing back-flips the lot. I told my teacher (who I don't think actually looks after them, I think it's the lab-assistant) that it was behaving oddly, he took a look at the tank and said that maybe it was "Showing off".

Then all of my classmates crowded around the tank making jokes that it maybe had a 'big night out' :wall: . It was like some experiment itself. I'm upset for the fish and told my teacher it would probably be dead within a few days if it's left untreated, it's a really nice fish. A few of the kids in the class noted that it was only breathing through one gill.

How could I tell my teacher that it's probably preventable (e.g. water parameters, feeding etc) without insulting his intelligence (and my exam results:lipssealedsmilie: )?

[Cylinder]

Oww!! Oww!! A question I can answer!! Luckily this has nothing to do with fish-keeping and everything to do with interpersonal relations.

1. Start with asking non-pointed questions about the fish's diet, care ect... Don't act like a fed, just ask simple questions.

2. Point out the symptoms and explain why you think they are appearing.

3. Compliment the magnificence of the fish and let the instructor know that you have a special interest in fish-keeping.

4. Offer to help with the cure - be sure to ask if you would be stepping on someone else's toes if you helped care for the fish.

5. Offer some citations to back up your diagnosis or trouble-shooting procedure. Make certain you demonstrate (in a friendly manner) your special knowledge.

[Fungi]

Haha, thankyou! You know your stuff...

[Fungi]

I tried it, he let me feed it frozen peas. It didn't want to eat them but I printed off a sheet with other possible things he could do that are easy. He was totaly fine with it all and actually likes that I'm showing an interest in the fish!

Seems they don't get much attention otherwise (they had a school of cardinal tetras that just 'disappeared' no-one noticed for weeks). The sheet has things that the lab-assistant can do like pre-soaking the food so it doesn't inside the belly. Practical things =) I hope it can pull through! Thanks again for your help!

[star_rider]

is there a test kit for the water?


you need to know where the water parameters are.