I know very little about fish since Bobin and Ping Pong (named by my daughter) are my first... Bobin got himself stuck between his tank wall and the pump. I cleaned the tank last night and this morning I checked and he was missing, I assumed he was in the cave, as I turned I saw orange and thought he had come out for food, but he had gone and wedged himself in a gap 1cm wide (less than half an inch) I moved the pump instantly and he was still alive but now he swims funny (like he has no balance) and doesn't want to eat, and stays in the cave. (Just checked on him at lunch time and he was still alive. WHAT CAN I DO I would hate to lose him...
Bobin got stuck and now he's injured himself
- Thread starter Laylah
- Start date
Unless he's showing obvious signs of a disease, I'd say all you can do is keep the tank very clean, try not to surprise/upset the fish at all (you may even want to leave the lights off for a couple days), feed sparingly (or not at all for a few days if he's decided not to eat) and cross your fingers.
Sometimes injured fish need some peace and quiet and time to heal, and they will recover on their own. Sometimes they're beyond healing and they die - it's not your fault; fish do occasionally bash themselves into rocks, jump out of the tank or cram themselves in behind a filter, there's nothing you can do but wait and see if they get better.
If he develops white spots (ich, can be brought on by stress), cottony white growth on an injured area (fungus), blood streaks or patches of skin that slough off (bacterial infection) or other signs of disease brought on by the stress of his injury, post again and someone can help you treat the condition.
*Fingers crossed* I hope he gets better.
Sometimes injured fish need some peace and quiet and time to heal, and they will recover on their own. Sometimes they're beyond healing and they die - it's not your fault; fish do occasionally bash themselves into rocks, jump out of the tank or cram themselves in behind a filter, there's nothing you can do but wait and see if they get better.
If he develops white spots (ich, can be brought on by stress), cottony white growth on an injured area (fungus), blood streaks or patches of skin that slough off (bacterial infection) or other signs of disease brought on by the stress of his injury, post again and someone can help you treat the condition.
*Fingers crossed* I hope he gets better.
I had this happen to my gourami once. He got his entire tail fin cut off by cramming himself in the sunken ship toy (since been removed and put into smaller tank with a few neons).
Immediately I moved him into a smaller tank and started dosing Melafix for about 2 weeks. It's bee like 6 months now since he's done that and he's got 90% of his tail regrown now!!
In your case is he showing signs of physical injury at all? If so you can try a bit of Melafix.
Immediately I moved him into a smaller tank and started dosing Melafix for about 2 weeks. It's bee like 6 months now since he's done that and he's got 90% of his tail regrown now!!
In your case is he showing signs of physical injury at all? If so you can try a bit of Melafix.
Agree, be careful about an infection
There are some remedies that will increase fish skin mucus...that would be helpful at this point to prevent infection. Also, I'd go out and buy some antibiotic now just in case - that way if an infection sets in, you'll be ready - that means so much more to survival...
You know, in the old days, we used to paint the fish with mercurochrome...I don't recommend this...just FYI.
There are some remedies that will increase fish skin mucus...that would be helpful at this point to prevent infection. Also, I'd go out and buy some antibiotic now just in case - that way if an infection sets in, you'll be ready - that means so much more to survival...
You know, in the old days, we used to paint the fish with mercurochrome...I don't recommend this...just FYI.
What kind of fish is it? What's the ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate levels? Tank size? Temperature? Tank mates? Maintainence routine?
We need to know the answers to all these questions before we can have an idea about what's wrong.
We need to know the answers to all these questions before we can have an idea about what's wrong.
I've never done this myself, but i know neosporin is used to treat more serious scale injuries (grab and glob). Its usually done for larger fish, not neon tetras though. I was a little skeptical of the idea at first, but i've only heard good results from using neosporin.
But, Laylah, i don't think its warranted in your case.
But, Laylah, i don't think its warranted in your case.
Thanks for the Info but he didin't make it
Thanks for all the info but Bobin didn't last the night, I checked on him in the evening (moving very little and didn't eat) and by morning he was gone. I then noticed the dark bruising in his abdominal region, it looked really bad. So to be on the safe side I've taken the toy out, replaced it with a plant (I want no more squashies) and I felt sorry for poor Ping Pong and got another commet (looks nothing like Bobin, who wants a replacement?) So lets hope this one is more carefull (as will I)
Thanks for all the info but Bobin didn't last the night, I checked on him in the evening (moving very little and didn't eat) and by morning he was gone. I then noticed the dark bruising in his abdominal region, it looked really bad. So to be on the safe side I've taken the toy out, replaced it with a plant (I want no more squashies) and I felt sorry for poor Ping Pong and got another commet (looks nothing like Bobin, who wants a replacement?) So lets hope this one is more carefull (as will I)
Layla, healthy fish very rarely hurt themselves on ornaments. I suspect there's something else going on. What size tank do you have and what kind of fish are they? What are your ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate levels (need to know the exact number, if you don't have a test kit your local fish shop will do the tests for you). What is the temperature of your tank? What do you do for maintanence? How long has the tank been set up; did you cycle it first?
Ping Pong could also be at risk of disease, so it would benefit him to have the answers to these questions.
Ping Pong could also be at risk of disease, so it would benefit him to have the answers to these questions.