lion head in trouble

[downloader]

Hi I have a lion head that has trouble swimming, its like he floating all the time an swims to keep lower in the tank. The water is fine all the other fish gold fish are fine, temp, everything checks out. I think it has to do with his air bladder or something like that, any Ideas?

[avoxo]

Is the fish always on top of the tank or is it only after you feed it. I have a fish now that after a feeding, it will float on top for 8-12 hours before it regains its buoyancy. The fish is basically constipated. Try not feeding your fish for a couple of days. If after a couple of days it returns to normal then it is constipated. The only way to fix it is stop feeding dry foods and feed fresh foods; peas, collard greens, spinach, brine shrimp, and blood worms just to name a few. You could also try feeding smaller amounts more frequently.

If it is swim bladder then I would double check the nitrAtes just to make sure it is in line. It could have an infection or intestinal parasitism. Feeding raw green peas can help. Swim bladder is very tough to deal with; if you can stand the fish floating then it is fine. The only problem with that is the fish will get a sore on its belly, which will lead to and infection. You could also try to surgically put in a quarts implant. The last thing is to do the humane thing and put it down.

[goldene]

Hi downloader :) it sounds like swimbladder trouble so try feeding your lionhead frozen peas, defrosted, peeled and chopped small for about three days and see if that helps, make sure you remove any uneaten so as not to pollute the water, if it continues and if possible seperate the lion head and starve for 3 days, then treat with swimbladder treatment. hope this helps, good luck :)

[downloader]

thanks for the fast replys,I think its just air in the bladder after feeding. MOst of the time the fish is ok. I'll try the peas. Thanks again

[downloader]

He is ok now

[aquariumfishguy]

Thats awesome! I'm glad these people here were able to help you. Kudos to you and your fish.

[karina17]

Hi, I have a small lionhead that has a huge bloated belly and is constantly nose down to the gravel and floating vertical. I have separated him and put him into a tank of his own with epson salts and have been feeding him peas. Today is the first day I have done this. Will this cure him? and how long will it take?
Thanksl

[downloader]

not really sure, how many days it will take mine was ok in 1.5 days. If he is still the same after two days, maybe you can lower the water level so he doesn't have to force so much to keep level. Good luck

www.bluewhippet.net

[JimT]

I don't know about the epson salts, but it doesn't take long for my goldfish to lose the floats. I feed Omega One pellets and dried seaweed sheets. I found that feeding higher protein foods increases the problem dramatically.


Hi, I have a small lionhead that has a huge bloated belly and is constantly nose down to the gravel and floating vertical. I have separated him and put him into a tank of his own with epson salts and have been feeding him peas. Today is the first day I have done this. Will this cure him? and how long will it take?
Thanksl

[fully sick]

I agree! try and make sure it isn't constipated because that makes the stomach expand causing it to float. So feed live food for awile.