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

[Complexity]

He's back to swimming around the 10g rightside up. I have the light turned on, but it's covered most of the way so there's only a dim light (so I can actually see him). I guess I'll need to add some stuff to the tank to give him a sense of protection, and this will be his home for a week or two.

Something that concerns me is that he may be an old fish. He is very large, and the previous owner said the fish were in their previous tank for 2+ to 3+ years. That means he was probably a wild caught fish because I don't think they were able to tank breed them back then. Since these fish are reported to live 5-7 years, I'm wondering if he could be close to that range, making it just that much harder for him to adjust to the move.

[OrandaMan]

I'm so sorry he's relapsed. Is there any way to relax a fish other than adding salt? If he did get a concussion (which is still possible even if there was also gulped air), he might need a long time of healing before he's ready to be added to the other tank.

What about changing the pH or some sort of additive to make his water a little closer to what he'd have in the wild? Is there perhaps a kind of plant with healing power? My betta water conditioner contains aloe vera and green tea extract. Would something like that help? I think I remember someone saying they put some sort of tea extract in their tank to encourage good health (I think).

I've probably said nothing useful, lol. But I hope you can think of something.

[Zulaab]

When moving him back catch him in a glass jar. Make sure the jar is under water. Make sure that he never sees air.. This way he should be okie I assume. He will not have the time to take a gulp of air. I would wait a two days before I would attempt the move.

[Complexity]

OrandaMan, you're being very helpful if for no other reason but for being supportive. I'll have to check to see if there is anything I can add to the H/T water that's calming. Given his stress levels, he's ripe for disease so I may add Melafix and/or Pimafix to his water to give him some extra support.

Jesper, I like your idea of transferring him in a jar next time. But I'm going to wait before even thinking about it. He's back to swimming around upright in the H/T so I think it's best to just leave him there for awhile. He's in the same room as the main tank so he can get adjusted to seeing me, eating the food I feed, and being in this general environment while in his own, calm H/T. Maybe he can adjust to all of that and then be able to handle the stress of being put in the main tank later. I still haven't ruled out a concussion or other physical injury, either. So he may need time to simply heal.

At least he's back to swimming rightside up again. It was pretty scary to see him laying upside down in the main tank with a bunch of amano shrimp all over him.

[OrandaMan]

If you like the idea of the aloe vera and green tea extract, I can give you my betta water conditioner. I no longer use it. The brand is API.

[Complexity]

Thanks, you are so nice! I don't know much about any of those products so I don't know if they'd be helpful or not. If I find that any of them are recommended, then I'll definitely take you up on your offer.

[Gene D]

How is the little guy holding up?

[Complexity]

He's hanging in there, but I honestly don't know how this is going to turn out.

He's remaining rightside up which is good, but he's swimming in an odd manner with the chest seeming to touch the bottom of the tank as he goes. I'm not seeing swimming above the tank floor so I'm not sure what the deal is.

His eyes are cloudy, and I don't even know if he can see correctly. He won't track my movements like I expect.

He has eaten a few frozen blood worms so that's something. But there are still 2 blood worms in the tank which furthers my concern as to whether he's seeing correctly.

For all I know, he may be brain damaged. I honestly can't tell. I don't know if he's going to recover or what.

All I know is that he appears to do better while in the 10g H/T than in the bucket or main tank so that's where he's going to stay for now. I'll just play it by ear from here. That's about all I can do.

[OrandaMan]

Tell him I rootin' for him.

[Complexity]

Unfortunately, Jumpy died during the night. He just could not recover. RIP Jumpy. :(

[Gene D]

Sorry to hear that, at least we know it wasn't for lack of effort. I would say that you did all that could be reasonably expected and more.

[mgarrido]

Dang !!! was almost 2 days of figth... Requiescat in pace

[lilmissruffcountry]

Poor guy...he tried hard!

[OrandaMan]

What a tough little guy he was. Give him a good sendoff.

[Mzungu]

:( Oh, that's too bad. But like everyone said, you did all you could and more.

R.I.P. Jumpy!