Fish jumped, now floats upside down -- NEED HELP NOW

[geoff_tropheus]

I really hope the best for you.

What I have experienced is unless the fish can "right" themselves....they are toast...

sorry for the doom & gloom..

[Complexity]

Looks like it could go either way. At times, I look in and find him laying upside down at the bottom. At other times, he's swimming around rightside up, struggling to keep it that way, but being successful nonetheless. Either way, he's breathing fast which bothers me.

I decided to help break the tension in the main tank with the two newbie fish by feeding some frozen daphnia. It's so funny to see a tank full of fish eating such tiny food! But it helps break put the momentary aggression since there's so much food everywhere (no need to fight over it) while still being small enough to not cause overfeeding problems.

The two new fish didn't quite know what to make of the daphnia. All the fish in the tank were going wild eating it while the two new guys swam around completely closed mouth. I guess they haven't been fed frozen daphnia before. At least it did break the tension with the old timer fish being more interested in the daphnia than the new guys in the tank.

I'm going to try to study for an upcoming exam. I'm having a hard time concentrating since I'm so worried about Jumpy. But I guess I've done all I can for him. Time will tell me his fate, I suppose.

[Complexity]

Yes, I know I just said I was going to start studying (but who can concentrate with a sick fish!).

Just thought I'd report that Jumpy appears to be doing better. The last couple of times I've checked on him, he's swimming around upright. He's still struggling a bit and is still breathing fast, but he seems to be more in control than before. Maybe he's going to be lucky and recover?

[Mzungu]

That's great news!

I think it's all up to him now. And I'm sure that the fast breathing is probably just from his stressful day, and the dark tank with no other fish to pester him is the best thing for him right now. :)

[Complexity]

I'm feeling much more positive now. I've been watching him the entire last 15 minutes, and he's kept himself upright the entire time. He's swimming around normally now. This is an excellent sign!

I wonder if he could have "burped" himself when he jumped out the second time?

He's looking much better now. Things could still go wrong, but for now, the signs are looking really good. I agree, the 10g H/T seems to be helping him the most. I'm feeling much more like he's going to make it.

[Darbex]

Glad to hear he is doing better hope it continues

[OrandaMan]

I just caught up with this. I'm really glad the little dude's doing better.

You know, I wonder if someone could come up with a pellet with some sort of medicine to cause the expelling of air, whether as a burp or...

Um... do fish fart?

Anyway, someone could probably make a lot of money with something like that.

[billansor]

Hi
couple of things come to mind... but first off.. when a fish jumps on a carpet... be sure to really quarrantine the fish as carpets are pretty grummy.. even if your a clean housekeeper...

The other thing of the fish going through the struggle to right itself... it can be considered as part of the shock... as one said.. a concussion and another said about the air.....

but shock is still a treatable thing in many cases.. by using some Epsom Salt which for may fish that are able to tolerate a salt base.... Epsom or Magnesium Sulfate is actually part of the relaxing regime used by many people...

Sooo hope that helps..... But am glad to hear that Ole Jumpppppy is kinda just getting his gummpppy back...

Bill

[TheOldMan]

Keep up the good work Nurse Complexity. Good luck with saving Jumpy.

[Complexity]

Wonderful news! Jumpy is doing well. He's no longer having balance problems, and he seems to be behaving normally now. He swims properly, holding his body at the correct angle, and he watches me appropriately when I'm close by.

I don't know if his recovery has anything to do with his second jump or with being in his own calm tank or if it was just a matter of time. But at this point, I think he's going to be alright.

I'll probably put him in the main tank sometime tomorrow if he continues to behave normally. I'll try to feed him tomorrow, and if he's eating and pooping okay, then I think he'll be in good shape to join the rest of his group.

Thanks to everyone for your help! It's really helpful to have people you can call on in times like these.

[mark razmandi]

glad to hear he's ok....you were a good fish doctor!

[Mzungu]

All right! Glad to hear he's pulling through.

[Complexity]

Update on Jumpy -- touch and go.

He made it through the night with no problems. No buoyancy problems at all that I could see. So I just moved him to the main tank. I was able to net him and move him over without any problems (double netted him so he could not jump out).

He's very pale which shows that he's stressed so I turned out the lights. Next thing I knew, he was laying at the bottom, upside down, with a bunch of amano shrimp on him. This is not good!

So I turned on the lights and have added more frozen daphnia with the hopes that it will distract the other fish and the shrimp.

Then I reached in, grabbed Jumpy's tail, and carefully pulled him back and forth in the water. I've heard that this can resuscitate a fish. It seems to have worked. He started swimming around in an upright position.

Spoke too soon. Now he's upside down again.

This is not looking good. :(

[Complexity]

Damn, I don't know what to do. He's so distressed. Breathing incredibly hard. Laying upside down in a plant.

I hate the idea of moving him back and forth, but I don't know what else to do. He recovered well in the 10g. I just didn't know he was still this bad off. I hate for him to be all by himself, but it may be his only chance.

I wish I had realized he was still this bad off before I moved him to the main tank. :(

[Complexity]

Another amano shrimp made the decision for me. Jumpy is back in his 10g H/T. Dark, covered, quiet. He's going to stay there for awhile before I try to move him back. That is, if he makes it.