Jawfish can’t stop floating!

[Tnops]

I got this new jawfish 2 days ago and it has eaten food yesterday. I woke up to it floating up to the surface but cant go back down although it wants to. It’s been like this for a few hours now. Please give some advice!

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(Note I have experienced this issue with salamander larvae when they can’t digest food properly)

 

[vetteguy53081]

Buoyancy issue.
How did you acclimate the fish and how long ?
How did it look at the LFS ?

 

[Tnops]

Buoyancy issue.
How did you acclimate the fish and how long ?
How did it look at the LFS ?

I acclimated it by pouring some tank water into the bag for 10 minutes since the salinity was matching. It was in a corner in the LFS but was eating

 

[MnFish1]

Hi - one interesting thing -most (all?) Jawfish do not have swim bladders - so the usual cause an infected or damaged swim bladder shouldn't be playing a role. Do you know exactly which variety you have?

Do you know the parameters (salinity) in your tank - vs the LFS? I suppose one issue could be that somehow it swallowed air - or ate something thats causing 'gas' in its intestines

A neurologic problem ?damage with transport? could also be an issue.

EDIT - SORRY - I did not see your other post that the salinity matched (you posted it while I was typing)

 

[Tnops]

Hi - one interesting thing -most (all?) Jawfish do not have swim bladders - so the usual cause an infected or damaged swim bladder shouldn't be playing a role. Do you know exactly which variety you have?

Do you know the parameters (salinity) in your tank - vs the LFS? I suppose one issue could be that somehow it swallowed air - or ate something thats causing 'gas' in its intestines

A neurologic problem ?damage with transport? could also be an issue.

EDIT - SORRY - I did not see your other post that the salinity matched (you posted it while I was typing)

It is a black cap jawfish, also I never knew the bladder thing, cool!

 

[MnFish1]

It is a black cap jawfish, also I never knew the bladder thing, cool!

Curious were you feeding floating foods?

 

[Tnops]

Curious were you feeding floating foods?

It seemed to have stopped floating actually, of course it stops floating just right after I post this post. I fed it thawed brine shrimp so no

 

[vetteguy53081]

I acclimated it by pouring some tank water into the bag for 10 minutes since the salinity was matching. It was in a corner in the LFS but was eating

This may be part of the issue (acclimation) and fish could resume normal swimming.
For acclimation, , , , , ,
Float for 20-30 minutes
Transfer fish and water into a clean bucket

Then . . . .

Add a cup of tank water to bucket every 15 mins 6-8 times (almost 2 hours)
Then check salinity in bucket and compare to tank. If no match or very close, add a cup of water every few mins until youve reached salinity and trap fish in same cup and pour off water and release into display. Release under LOW light before lights out.

Regarding buoyancy, Fish is in great distress making recovery 50/50.
Struggling to maintain a normal swimming position is relevant to swim bladder infection or similar internal issue/symptom.
If severe buoyancy problems exist, the fish may not be able to feed normally or even reach the surface of the water. This disorder is sometimes caused by compression of the swim bladder, which may involve a distended stomach from rapidly eating, overeating, constipation, or gulping air (in fish bag), Exposure to air which is thought to occur with floating foods. Eating freeze-dried or dry flake food that expands when it becomes wet can also lead to an enlarged stomach or intestinal tract.
Other causes are :

• Trauma/Injury
• Bacterial infection
• Parasitic infection
• Stress/rapidly changing water parameters
• Poor water quality
• Poor acclimation