fish not swiming right

what type of fish? I don't know about all fish, but i do know that goldfish are known to get swim bladder infections. That gets them swimming sideways and upside down. I've always not fed them for a week or so, then make sure that when i do feed them that i made sure that the food was soaked and sinking first so they didn't ingest so much air. Dunno if this is a problem with other fish or not.

I agree. I have a fancy tail that swims on his side all the time. Goldfish are bad at sucking air and getting bladder infections.

That poor fish. Do you think that any fish swimming sideways and/or upside down is in good health?
Unless you know exactly what the problem is, and can treat/medicate for it, you should flush that fish and buy a replacement In My Opinion. Put it out of it's misery. Guarantee that the medicine and time wasted is far more expensive than buying a new fish.

Ummm lets figure out the problem prior to flushing the fish. No sense going through this again and again.

I've actually heard of cases where this has become a permanent problem among show winning fancy goldfish, and surgery was performed and an aluminum weight was inserted into the abdomen of the fish to balance it out. Thats taking it to extremes, imho. As far as i've read i don't think its a serious issue, and if its not stressing the fish much, leave it. Flushing things because you don't want to deal with it isn't the answer.

Yep. Go have surgery on that fish, that's a GREAT idea. I mean, never mind it's A GOLDFISH that cost - what - 2 bucks? Sigh...but life is precious, and no amount of money ever balances the sanctity of life. No, no, seriously, swimming upside down and on it's side is just the cross that poor thing has to bear. Let the other fish laugh and point, and just possibly lick their chops until it dies an agonizing death so they can start munching the moment before he dies...being eaten alive is a MUCH better idea, FROM WHAT I've HEARD HERE.

While I realize it's "not for everyone" (man, is that an understatement here...and I thought *I* was a bleeding heart liberal...) I will refrain from using the "F" word and just act it out in interpretative dance. It goes like this:

Ka-whoosh...swirling....swirling...swirling real fast....gone.

Ahh. clap-clap-clap; problem solved. Get thee to a fish store and buy a replacement. That's MY opinion, and you're ALL welcome.

Come on now!! Be nice... I didn't say that i would have surgery as a goldfish. I read about that years ago, and the only reason i remember it is that is SO absurd. Flush it, if thats what you want. Its your tank. You cold even flush the thing, then tell all of us suckers here that it fixed itself and is even now nosing around doing cute little goldfish things. How would we know? Of course, this is all assuming that it is a goldfish. Unless i've missed a post, i don't recall us ever being told what it was. Maybe it a thousand dollar rare fish that he's raised since he was just a little fry!! Flush flush flush. Send that sucker to the great porcelain god in the sky. It's your fish, your tank. I'm sure that somewhere in the past 26 years i've done dumber things with less reason....and not always involving vast amounts of alcohol, either!!

Tando/Ozark/Name of the minute--your opinion is well known. Beating us over the head with it will not help, will not gain receptivity and will get threads closed fast. Please attempt to be productive in your advice. Eathanizing a fish that will not recover is a valid suggestion--flushing a live fish is not.

mustangguy---sorry to have to lock this. Does not reflect on you nor your topic.

OG