Clown that wants to live

[Mark3]

I have a clown that is swimming at the surface, vertical, nose down tail at the surface. When I noticed this, I thought he would be dead in a day or two, ...but he is still swimming....it's been about 10 days now.

It is one of a pair that have been in my tank 6 or 7 years. It's so sad to see it suffer, I haven't seen it eat, and yet it must be getting some food, I don't think it could go a week without eating.

Do you think there is any hope for this old fish?

I tried to upload video...wrong extension?

 

[Mark3]

I tried to post video....wrong extension? How do I fix this?

 

[Jake_the_reefer]

Are you getting enough oxygen in your water. Does he swim normal at all?

 

[Mark3]

all other fish are fine....just him.....he swims like this constantly, and right in the same spot....tried for video, but no luck

 

[rkpetersen]

You can't upload a video directly to the forum. Standard way is to put it on youtube and then embed that link here.
What you're describing could possibly be a sign of swim bladder dysfunction; with this condition, a fish has trouble with bouyancy control and tends to float near the surface.
If that's what it is, I'm sorry to say that treatment is difficult and not often successful.

 

[Mark3]

Is there a fix for swim bladder dysfunction ? Clown is still hanging in there! It's been more than 20 days now, has gotten worse, now swimming on his side at the surface.

Is there anything that can be done, or should I ....

@Humblefish can you help me?

 

[rkpetersen]

Humblefish unfortunately has pretty much retired from this forum.
You can try adding pure Epsom Salts to the water (1 T per 5 gallons).
Sometimes this seems to help, although probably more useful in freshwater than saltwater, which already has substantial mag.
The most aggressive approach is trying to vent the swim bladder by using a hypodermic needle to puncture it.
It's not easy, and best done with the fish anesthetized and with a light shining up through the fish's body.
I've done this twice and the second time was successful in relieving the swim bladder distention and it didn't kill the fish.
Unfortunately by that point he hadn't been eating for awhile and was very thin, and ultimately didn't make it.
If you want some other thoughts, the #reefsquad might help.

 

[Big G]

Swim bladder problems can be caused by a variety of conditions and parasites. Consider treating for internal infection with dosing of both Metroplex + Neoplex. Once treats aerobic the other treats anaerobic bacteria. Treat for 7-10 days. And then observe.

 

[Mark3]

Thank you for your replies.....I'm not sure yet what I want to do.
... This is a little strange, but fish do have a personality....the other clown keeps coming up to the sick one and hangs out just below him....I guess they really are a mated pair.