Glowlight tetra having trouble swimming - HELP!

Yeah, and that Melafix - it's okay that the other fish get it too, or do I need to set up a 'hospital tank' to put the one fish in with the Melafix?

And if anyone else could reply to this whole situation too I'd really appreciate it, I would like to have the suggestions of more than one person (Nothing against you, budrecki, I just like to know as much as I can from as many sources as I can)
 
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Hospital tank time! (Oh joy.)

Well, I just called my LFS and they seemed absolutely positive that this is a swim bladder problem, which is kind of what i've been thinking after observing this fishy for a long time. So, I need to isolate the little guy... the LFS suggested a net breeder, but I'm thinking that this will cause him more stress. I am therefore going to set up a hospital tank. Considering that my largest fish (platy) is only 2 inches, and therefore will probably never need to 'hospitalize' any fish larger than that, do you believe that getting a 5-gallon setup would be sufficient?

Also, I have not had a spare sponge in my filter as I now realize is recommended so as to quickly establish a biofilter in the hospital tank... what do you suggest that I do? I figure that I could put 4 or 5 gallons from my current 10 gallon setup in there and then add a few gallons of fresh water to each one, plus I could add a bit of gravel from the current tank - will this be sufficient?

It seems like my list of items needed will be:

Tank, 5-10g
Heater
Filter - what kind would be best?
Small amount of gravel (apparently too much can absorb some of the medicine put in the water?)
Cave/hiding place made from PVC

Anything else?

Would it be better to get a large net breeder to put him in for a day while the biofilter in the hospital tank gets a bit more established, or what?

Help!
:thud:
 
If it is a swim bladder problem, I dont see how isolating him is going to help. What else did they suggest you do to help him?
 
jodimartin2003 said:
If it is a swim bladder problem, I dont see how isolating him is going to help. What else did they suggest you do to help him?
Click to expand...

he said to isolate him since the other fish were picking on him, so that he would be able to recover in peace... doesn't make all that much sense to me, don't I need to treat him in some way for this? And also many of his fins have been nipped as mentioned previously, so I figure that I need to treat him for that as well so that he does not get any infections or whatever else may come from this.
 
I'm not sure that swim bladder CAN be treated. I had a weather loach with it once and I looked into swim bladder and could not find a cure. He eventually died when I had an outbreak of ich in the tank. Some people told me to feed him peas as constipation can look like swim bladder, but obviously that didnt work in my case. Sorry I dont have better news for ya, maybe you can google swim bladder and see if you have more luck than I did.
 
Alright, well thanks for your time. I am trying to find out more about swim bladder treatment, etc. online now.
 
Well, I've looked around a bunch and have found many different things... people have said that broad-spectrum antibiotics such as melafix and pimafix mixed together or Mardel's Maracyn-two would be good, and also Paragon II by Aquatronics is apparently supposed to help with swim bladder issues.

Thawed+shelled+mushed peas and green leaf lettuce help with constipation, though I really don't know how I would figure out if it is constipation or some kind of bacterial infection, etc. that is affecting the swim bladder - and I have read in the past few minutes that treating for the wrong one can make things worse.

So, anybody want to take a shot at this one?
 
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Well, I have the hospital tank setup now with the swim-bladder problemed fish in it (right now he's laying on his side on the gravel...)

I bought Maracyn-Two, as the store I went to did not carry any swim bladder medications - apparently people were ingesting them. :confused:

So, basically I still need an answer to my last question: should I feed him a pea or two, and possibly lettuce, and wait; should I begin treatment with the Maracyn-Two; should I do both; or should I do something which has yet been entirely unthought of?
 
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Hi, In the case of swim bladder it can be caused by digestive upsets and over here in Australia some of us use "Epsom" Salts at a rate of 1teaspoon per 40 Litres (sorry I dont know what that is in gallons) Epsom salts is Magnesium Sulfate and it acts as a laxative for fish (we get it at our local supermarket usually found either in Laundry section or with anti acid treatments. :D )...

One treatment only is necessary and you should see a result within 24 hours (whether he passes anything or not)

Also regular water changes in order to keep water pristine... whilst he is in the hospital tank...

In regard to his fins they should grow back but I dont think they are the reason that he cant stay upright...if the problem is an internal bacterial problem you might try a med such as tetracycline usually available at LFS

I hope this helps
 
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