Blue Throat Trigger Mystery Illness, HELP!

[Tom2257]

I have a Blue Throat Trigger with the following symptoms: Will not eat, lays on side against tank wall, cannot maintain his balance. No heavy breathing. He will only move when I nudge him. When I bought him I acclimated him using the drip method in my quarantine tank. When I purchase him he was in same condition although the LFS said he would be fine. Its been five days now and zero signs of any improvement.
Current medications I am using: Copper Power, KanaPlex
Tank parameters are all within correct ranges.
Due to me undergoing chemotherapy for my cancer, I am unable to possibly return this fish to the LFS so I would prefer to attempt to medicate this poor fellow and save his life.
What possible disease/illness does he have and what medications would possibly help.
Its obvious he is suffering and I just cannot euthanize him.

 

[fishguy242]

#fishmedic

 

[Sharkbait19]

Could you perhaps post a pic/video, along with tank parameters. My first guess is that the lfs knew there was something wrong with the fish, and sold it to you anyway. If swimming seems to be its main struggle, then a swim bladder illness seems quite possible.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

I have a Blue Throat Trigger with the following symptoms: Will not eat, lays on side against tank wall, cannot maintain his balance. No heavy breathing. He will only move when I nudge him. When I bought him I acclimated him using the drip method in my quarantine tank. When I purchase him he was in same condition although the LFS said he would be fine. Its been five days now and zero signs of any improvement.
Current medications I am using: Copper Power, KanaPlex
Tank parameters are all within correct ranges.
Due to me undergoing chemotherapy for my cancer, I am unable to possibly return this fish to the LFS so I would prefer to attempt to medicate this poor fellow and save his life.
What possible disease/illness does he have and what medications would possibly help.
Its obvious he is suffering and I just cannot euthanize him.

Most of the diseases people are able to treat their fish for are external infections. This is likely an internal problem, and it may not even have a living organism involved, so there may not be any treatment to offer it.

It could be a swim bladder issue, but in those cases, the fish will often still eat. In some instances, the fish was collected with cyanide, and that causes residual damage.

I would call your LFS to give them a heads up. Since I don't see anything they could do to help this fish, they might be inclined to give you credit on it since it was like this in the shop.

Jay

 

[Tom2257]

Most of the diseases people are able to treat their fish for are external infections. This is likely an internal problem, and it may not even have a living organism involved, so there may not be any treatment to offer it.

It could be a swim bladder issue, but in those cases, the fish will often still eat. In some instances, the fish was collected with cyanide, and that causes residual damage.

I would call your LFS to give them a heads up. Since I don't see anything they could do to help this fish, they might be inclined to give you credit on it since it was like this in the shop.

Jay

Jay, I took the fish back to the LFS and he told me in his last shipment of fish he had 3 that all had the same symptoms. Thankfully he took this fish back.