Prized fish isn't looking to good

cu455 · Aug 29, 2015

what the heck happened to my prized fish? I noticed this coming out a little yesterday and I thought it was popping out some eggs. The fish wasn't swimming properly so I moved it into a critter keeper. The fish isn't looking to good now, here as some pictures. Will he survive? I also don't think that they are eggs.

twilliard · Aug 29, 2015

I'm sorry recovery is unlikely.
My guess is internal infection but by the looks it is severe

cu455 · Aug 29, 2015

Should I pop it? I was thinking of using a toothpick. I would let the toothpick sit in antibiotics and absorb it. This should help prevent an infection. I could use thread and a needle and stitch the wound. The thread will eventually disolve.

cu455 · Aug 29, 2015

It's a prolapse. Should I try and push it back in or pop it? What dose of clove oil to I use to knock it out while I work on the fish?

Humblefish · Aug 29, 2015

Not a whole lot you can do about a vent prolapse. Sometimes they will just reduce on their own. You could attempt a purse-string suture (see below.) I swear in that last pic it almost looks like an isopod, with two eyes and a mouth.

cu455 · Aug 29, 2015

Thanks for the video. This is my favorite fish and a one of a kind. I will do anything to keep it alive. I am thinking of sedating the fish with clove oil. Then prop the fish upside down on my disectting with pins. Cover the fishes head with a cloth soaked in clove oil.

Any other ideas on how I can keep the fish in a good position to perform the surgery? Maybe my girlfriend will hold the fish anus up while I perform the surgery.

Cleo642 · Aug 30, 2015

What kind of fish is that? A freshwater fish?

Humblefish · Aug 30, 2015

cu455 said:
Thanks for the video. This is my favorite fish and a one of a kind. I will do anything to keep it alive. I am thinking of sedating the fish with clove oil. Then prop the fish upside down on my disectting with pins. Cover the fishes head with a cloth soaked in clove oil.

Any other ideas on how I can keep the fish in a good position to perform the surgery? Maybe my girlfriend will hold the fish anus up while I perform the surgery.

You'd be better off using Finquel MS-222 (Tricaine mesylate) for the sedation. Dose @ 25 ppm.

And if your gf will touch a fish's anus for you, I say you go ahead & marry her.

iloveswfish · Aug 30, 2015

Use fetenal

cu455 · Aug 30, 2015

Cleo642 said:
What kind of fish is that? A freshwater fish?

No it's a saltwater fish. I think they can live and breed in freshwater too. It is a very interesting fish.

Humblefish said:
You'd be better off using Finquel MS-222 (Tricaine mesylate) for the sedation. Dose @ 25 ppm.

And if your gf will touch a fish's anus for you, I say you go ahead & marry her.

iloveswfish said:
Use fetenal

Is there anyplace that will sell this stuff locally? The fish is suffering and every minute that goes by it's chances of survival decreases. I am headed to a restaurant to meet my friends for football, 10 cent wings and 4 dollar yards off any beer they have. They have over 50 drafts so lots of good options. My friend is bringing me magnifying glasses. Once I have them and get home I will do the surgery. I will be sure to keep this thread updated.

melypr1985 · Aug 30, 2015

inebriated fish surgery... this could be interesting

Humblefish · Aug 30, 2015

cu455 said:
Is there anyplace that will sell this stuff locally?

A vet would have it, especially one that specializes in exotic animals. Finquel is also used to sedate amphibians, and other aquatic, cold-blooded animals.

Cleo642 · Aug 31, 2015

cu455 said:
No it's a saltwater fish. I think they can live and breed in freshwater too. It is a very interesting fish.
What kind of fish is it?

Is there anyplace that will sell this stuff locally? The fish is suffering and every minute that goes by it's chances of survival decreases. I am headed to a restaurant to meet my friends for football, 10 cent wings and 4 dollar yards off any beer they have. They have over 50 drafts so lots of good options. My friend is bringing me magnifying glasses. Once I have them and get home I will do the surgery. I will be sure to keep this thread updated.

What the name of the fish?

ReefMadScientist · Aug 31, 2015

Cleo642 said:
What the name of the fish?

Looks like a Molly.

Cleo642 · Aug 31, 2015

ReefMadScientist said:
Looks like a Molly.

Yeah it kinda looks it, but when the guy said it was saltwater I got confused.

ReefMadScientist · Aug 31, 2015

Cleo642 said:
Yeah it kinda looks it, but when the guy said it was saltwater I got confused.

Molly's are somewhat a hybrid fish. You can have them in saltwater tanks. They are good algae cleaners.

Cleo642 · Aug 31, 2015

ReefMadScientist said:
Molly's are somewhat a hybrid fish. You can have them in saltwater tanks. They are good algae cleaners.

They are freshwater, but can be in brackish water. People must try assimilate them to saltwater. I think I read somewhere it messes them up sometimes with their swim bladder or something. Maybe that's what happened here. Idk....

Humblefish · Aug 31, 2015

There are many aspects of this thread I find dubious, but one never knows.

It does look like a molly to me as well. FWIW; if you convert a molly over from full FW to SW, you don't have to worry about QT. This is because any FW diseases they are carrying will be killed off once exposed to SW. However, once converted over they become just as susceptible to any SW disease the same as any other SW fish.