Bleeding heart tetra with possible swim bladder not sure what to do next. NEED HELP!.

platytetrafan

platytetrafan

AC Members
Jan 20, 2007
1,563
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NY
Ok I have had this bleeding heart tetra since I first cycled my 36g tank been set up for 2 years now. Last week I noticed he was swimming oddly on his side and sort of upside down :(. I did not notice anything externally on him but I think he may have swimbladder.

I don't have a QT yet and I think I had read that swimbladder is not contagious but since his swimming was so erratic I didn't want him to get injured on the decorations or gravel so I isolated him in a fry container in my 36g. I read that if you suspect swimbladder to fast the fish for a few days to see if the they will past the impaction. I decided to fast him for a few days and then decided to try to feed him a pea one the day before and one last night. I think he ate a little of it but he is still swimming oddly sometimes on his side.

I am trying to do whatever I can for him but I fear that soon I may have to euthanize him and it breaks my heart to do that but I don't want him to suffer. What should I do he seems to be hanging in there. Should I give it more time and see what happens. I am torn on what to do. Any advise is appreciated.:help:
 
Bleeding Hearts have a 3-5 year life span. If you used him to cycle your tank, it will be shorter than that.
As far as euthanasia goes, unless the fish seems to be in distress, you aren't going to be hurting anything to give it a bit. When it is time for a critter to go, you will know. Take comfort in the fact that you were able, one last time, to keep your critter from suffering.
 
I didn't cycle the tank with him he was added after the cycle was completed :). I just don't want him to suffer I will give it another couple of days and see what happens. I am only feeding peas to see if he is truly impacted this will help relieve it.
 
Update on bleeding heart tetra

Just an update to let you know that the tetra died a few days ago. I think it was his swimbladder. I couldn't see any other observable signs of disease and he was swimming sideways. I isolated him in a fry container in my 36g tank so atleast he wasn't crashing into decorations and gravel. I fasted him for a few days and then tried to feed him a boiled peeled pea but he didn't really eat it. Poor thing is at peace now.:tombstone:
 
RIP to your bleeding heart tetra
 
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