Pintail wrasse swimmbladder issues

JoannaLola · Jan 16, 2019

Guys please help me!
My beloved Pintail is swimming vertical “hanging” in water and always on top

He eat like a machine from beginning and always was catching huge pieces of PE mysis or any kind of food and I think I overfeed him

He started looking like a eel, huge stomach... My ph is always around 8.1 pretty stable, nitrate 0, phosphate 0, ammonia 0, Calcium 440, all other parameters great and stable. Im using Red Sea tests. Im dosing kalkwasser only and pro bio bacteria plus np from AF. Coral is doing fantastic as well as 2 clowns... He still looks gorgeous just very bloated to the point that he just really float like a fat guy on top and can’t really go down to the rocks, or to the bottom of the tank. He still go down to sleep in the rocks and is creating cocoon...I can’t feed him pea, he also last 2 days can’t catch any food... I can’t imagine do the needle decompression and concidering taking him to vet, like really!!

I just love him to much

Any ideas? Will add video tomorrow...

JoannaLola · Jan 16, 2019

@evolved please help! Is the any hope? Do you think epsom salt would help? Thank you for your time!

JoannaLola · Jan 16, 2019

JoannaLola · Jan 16, 2019

ngoodermuth · Jan 16, 2019

You can try some epsom salt... but unfortunately only time will tell if it will resolve or not

ngoodermuth · Jan 16, 2019

It does sound like a swim bladder issue, unfortunately fairly common in fairy wrasses due to collection practices. I highly doubt you over fed him... these guys appreciate multiple daily feedings.

Another possibility for him appearing “bloated” could be intestinal worms, also very common in these wrasses. Is he still eating at all? Breathing heavy? Any white-stringy poop?

JoannaLola · Jan 16, 2019

ngoodermuth said:
It does sound like a swim bladder issue, unfortunately fairly common in fairy wrasses due to collection practices. I highly doubt you over fed him... these guys appreciate multiple daily feedings.

Another possibility for him appearing “bloated” could be intestinal worms, also very common in these wrasses. Is he still eating at all? Breathing heavy? Any white-stringy poop?

I can’t find him anymore...

What a shame... They needs to be properly collect...Such a beautiful boy he was, eating from my hand;Sorry Now I need to find him so the ammonia will not show up...

JoannaLola · Jan 16, 2019

His poop was always normal, didn’t breath heavy until yesterday night he just couldn’t swim anymore and I was helping him to move at all as the overflow was sucking him in... I hope he doesn’t struggle anymore but boy I hope he show up soon as I don’t want to move rocks!

JoannaLola · Jan 16, 2019

Update: He is still alive, just come out from rocks.. He also just poop! Lol I attached pictures of the poop lol Its white but not stringy...

JoannaLola · Jan 16, 2019

@eatbreakfast Can you please help me?? I know you are expert on wrasses as well!
Thank you for your time!

ngoodermuth · Jan 16, 2019

That poop looks normal... here is an example of a fish suffering intestinal parasites:

https://www.reef2reef.com/ams/fish-disease-index-pictorial-guide.199/

JoannaLola · Jan 16, 2019

If swim bladder is raptured, I assume there is no hope but if its only infected what kind of antibiotics should I use??

JoannaLola · Jan 16, 2019

ngoodermuth said:
That poop looks normal... here is an example of a fish suffering intestinal parasites:

https://www.reef2reef.com/ams/fish-disease-index-pictorial-guide.199/

Thanks girl! Yes, thats poop is not normal...

JoannaLola · Jan 16, 2019

Which antibiotic should I get??

ngoodermuth · Jan 16, 2019

Any antibiotics would need to be administered in a hospital tank/QT. I’m going to be honest though...the recovery rates of swim bladder issues are not so good.

Personally, I usually use kanaplex/furan-2/metroplex for bacterial issues. You can use all three together. For a less aggressive approach, either kanaplex or Furan-2 could be tried alone.

Methylene Blue is an antiseptic that also has some anecdotal evidence of reversing effects of cyanide poisoning...and can be administered as a bath in a 5g bucket...so no QT needed. I’d probably start there in this case and see how it responds.

Epsom salt is reef safe and might alleviate swelling.

Honestly, the only real thing that will say if he will recover...is time.

JoannaLola · Jan 16, 2019

ngoodermuth said:
Any antibiotics would need to be administered in a hospital tank/QT. I’m going to be honest though...the recovery rates of swim bladder issues are not so good.

Personally, I usually use kanaplex/furan-2/metroplex for bacterial issues. You can use all three together. For a less aggressive approach, either kanaplex or Furan-2 could be tried alone.

Methylene Blue is an antiseptic that also has some anecdotal evidence of reversing effects of cyanide poisoning...and can be administered as a bath in a 5g bucket...so no QT needed. I’d probably start there in this case and see how it responds.

Epsom salt is reef safe and might alleviate swelling.

Honestly, the only real thing that will say if he will recover...is time.

I know....Honestly I think he will not make it without antibiotics or needle decompression. I just call vet as I need the prescription for any antibiotics in Canada... The only problem is they need to see the patient:mad:
Thank you very much for your help!

eatbreakfast · Jan 16, 2019

The videos were unavailable. But in the first pic the tail is dropped. If this is the case, then it is more likely a spinal injury rather than swim bladder issue. Some fish heal, some don't.

JoannaLola · Jan 16, 2019

eatbreakfast said:
The videos were unavailable. But in the first pic the tail is dropped. If this is the case, then it is more likely a spinal injury rather than swim bladder issue. Some fish heal, some don't.