Reverting Bent Spine

[tdileo]

As some of you may know, extremely poor water quality can cause bent spines in fish. One of 4 fish I recently rescued was a chromis and he is in horrible shape. His spine is extremely bent and to the point he can't swim or even really move from the surface. By keeping him in pristine water and feeding him a good diet filled with vitamins and minerals, does anybody know if his spine will go back to normal over time? I feel terrible for this poor fish and as much as it bothers me I am thinking of euthanizing him if he can't really do anything on his own.

 

[Tahoe61]

I am more inclined to think this is a congenital defect and improved water quality will do little to resolve the issue. Put up an image if able.

 

[tdileo]

I am more inclined to think this is a congenital defect and improved water quality will do little to resolve the issue. Put up an image if able.

She said when she bought him he wasn't like this so my only conclusions were TB or the horrible water quality. The other fish weren't like this so I am thinking water quality. Both tangs had lateral line disease and the yellow has it quite badly so I can tell the water quality was horrible and the fish were all malnourished

 

[Tahoe61]

It could be nutritional. All you can do is improve the water quality and feed appropriately, try some selcon. Fish looks really rough, poor thing.

 

[melypr1985]

I agree. What I see in the picture isn't a bent spine, but a severely sunken in stomach. Have you seen him poop at all? Was it white and stringy?

 

[tdileo]

I agree. What I see in the picture isn't a bent spine, but a severely sunken in stomach. Have you seen him poop at all? Was it white and stringy?

I do know that the fish had a terrible diet. I haven't seen him poop or eat and he seems to be getting weaker. Found him stuck to a powerhead this morning so I moved him to my fuge and am hoping the low flow, zero equipment and pod population will make it easier for him to eat and swim. I have a huge assortment of foods for him to eat and am hoping it will make a difference. When I get home I'll get the breeder basket from my dads car and put him in that so there is zero flow and he can get food without trying much. Thanks for the advice everyone

 

[tdileo]

He seems much better off in the breeder basket. He can actually go up and down now, but still won't eat anything I put in. What could I try other than live food? Soaking mysis in garlic? My other fish love that.

 

[Humblefish]

He seems much better off in the breeder basket. He can actually go up and down now, but still won't eat anything I put in. What could I try other than live food? Soaking mysis in garlic? My other fish love that.

Nutramar ova, and the three products below are all worth a shot: