EMERGENCY: Fish possibly dying

[edsbeaker]

I received a flame angel this morning through UPS. He was on his side gasping when I took the bag out of the styrofoam container. He is in a holding tank now and after 6 1/2 hours he is still on his side gasping. I have a sponge filter running. I feel like this fish is suffering and wondering if he has a chance or should I euthanize him. The little bit of swimming he did when I put him in the holding tank he was swimming upside down. I just don’t know if there is anything I can do for him.

 

[chip shop]

Did you put an air stone in

 

[Sharkbait19]

Pictures and a video would help. I wouldn’t give up yet (though I’d be ready to expect the worst).
Good Aeration and minimizing stress will be the best bet.

 

[DaJMasta]

If you have any methylene blue, dosing it can help oxygenation and reduce the effect of ammonia burn on the gills. Make sure the flow isn't too hard to push it around, but also make sure there is enough bubbling through the sponge filter for good aeration. Unless there are outward signs of disease, make sure there's a place for it to hide, keep lighting on the lower side, and I think your best bet is to wait and see. Also make sure the temperature is reasonable if not already.

I've had fish not being able to right themselves in the bag turn around and make it with several hours in highly oxygenated water (I also used some seachem prime, but plenty will now argue that it's unhelpful - can't say for sure in my experience/understanding), but I've also lost them from that point.

I wish it luck.

 

[edsbeaker]

I have an air stone going, and the tank has been covered to reduce stress. Here’s a video of him as he is now. of the little guy in the bag at delivery time and a second one of him right now. I can’t get a video to play.

 

[Idech]

Can we see the water line ?

 

[edsbeaker]

This is upon delvery

 

[edsbeaker]

I just added a power head instead of just the sponge filter for much more surface agitation. It is not blowing the fish. I do not have mythelene blue, unfortunately.

 

[vetteguy53081]

I received a flame angel this morning through UPS. He was on his side gasping when I took the bag out of the styrofoam container. He is in a holding tank now and after 6 1/2 hours he is still on his side gasping. I have a sponge filter running. I feel like this fish is suffering and wondering if he has a chance or should I euthanize him. The little bit of swimming he did when I put him in the holding tank he was swimming upside down. I just don’t know if there is anything I can do for him.

A video under white light intensity would be helpful.
How did you acclimate fish and for how long?
Sponge filter will help with oxygen but video will provide best assessment

 

[edsbeaker]

After adding the power head it looks like he became a bit more active, but not sure if it’s him or because there is more current in the tank. I can’t get videos to run only photos.

 

[Tamberav]

Methylene blue dip (I probably wouldn't bother now but for next time if something happens) and lots of aeration.

I had a wrasse arrive that I thought for sure was dead, laid on its back in a C shape for 20 hours looking like death. It didn't even attempt to move. Was that way during acclimation too.. just upside down on the bottom.

Well it finally got up and it is alive and eating.. shocked me.

 

[edsbeaker]

Methylene blue dip (I probably wouldn't bother now but for next time if something happens) and lots of aeration.

I had a wrasse arrive that I thought for sure was dead, laid on its back in a C shape for 20 hours looking like death. It didn't even attempt to move. Was that way during acclimation too.. just upside down on the bottom.

Well it finally got up and it is alive and eating.. shocked me.

That’s amazing!!!

 

[edsbeaker]

A video under white light intensity would be helpful.
How did you acclimate fish and for how long?
Sponge filter will help with oxygen but video will provide best assessment

I can’t get a video to work, but I have a power head now oxygenating the water instead of my sponge filter. It’s much more powerful, but hopefully not causing too much current. He was close to death in the bag so I just floated to match temp and stuck him into water of the same temp and salinity. I was afraid a slower acclimation would be more detrimental than helpful since he was in such poor shape at delivery.

 

[Tamberav]

If salinity and temp match, there is no reason to go slow, you did the right thing.

 

[vetteguy53081]

I can’t get a video to work, but I have a power head now oxygenating the water instead of my sponge filter. It’s much more powerful, but hopefully not causing too much current. He was close to death in the bag so I just floated to match temp and stuck him into water of the same temp and salinity. I was afraid a slower acclimation would be more detrimental than helpful since he was in such poor shape at delivery.

Air stone is best and will provide water movement and oxygen. If current is strong, point it up towards surface

 

[edsbeaker]

If salinity and temp match, there is no reason to go slow, you did the right thing.

Thank you for that. I wasn’t sure which way to go.

 

[edsbeaker]

Air stone is best and will provide water movement and oxygen. If current is strong, point it up towards surface

Got it! Thanks

 

[Uncle99]

Lower the salinity if not already done.
That should help him function with less work.

If he recovers, you’ll have to bring him back to par but no more than .001 per day.

Best wishes…

 

[edsbeaker]

Lower the salinity if not already done.
That should help him function with less work.

If he recovers, you’ll have to bring him back to par but no more than .001 per day.

Best wishes…

Salinity is at only 1.023, same as shipment water. Should I lower it more? Does that help with his oxygen?

 

[Uncle99]

Salinity is at only 1.023, same as shipment water. Should I lower it more? Does that help with his oxygen?

Yup, can aid respiration. RODI it down.
1.020, all at once, but no change in temp.

Depends on what damage has occurred in the shipping, some things can’t repair.