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

[Complexity]

Are there any suggestions on what I can do to help this fish?

I just received 3 torpedo barbs (aka roseline sharks) from another member here on the box. Just after the fish were transferred to my bucket, one of them jumped out. I was able to quickly put it back into the bucket, but I think it may have hurt itself when it hit the floor.

He's still in the bucket (less water now) with the other 2 torpedo barbs. I have a dark towel covering the bucket with a drip acclimation running from the tank to the bucket. While the fish has shown some attempt at turning himself back over, I think he may be starting to give up. He's laying upside down in the bucket. Still breathing.

Is there anything I can do to help him?

[Somefishguy]

if he wasnt out of the water then he must have hurt himself. The only think i would have done is possibly tired to run water through the gills but if he want out long not sure it would have helped.


cant think of anything else

[Complexity]

He was out of the water for only a few seconds. I picked him up carefully (cupped both hands around him and cradled him) and put him back in the water immediately.

Does anyone know if it would be helpful or unhelpful to add an air bubbler to the bucket? I have emergency air pumps on hand.

[Somefishguy]

bubbles would not hurt him so ide put it in.

[Complexity]

Okay, thanks. I'll do that.

[lilmissruffcountry]

He was out of the water for only a few seconds. I picked him up carefully (cupped both hands around him and cradled him) and put him back in the water immediately.

Does anyone know if it would be helpful or unhelpful to add an air bubbler to the bucket? I have emergency air pumps on hand.

sometimes an airbubbler can help, other times it will only create more issues, he may need to just stay still....either way. I have had some that did this, an lived, while others did not.

[Complexity]

Well, I have their air bubbler on so I guess I'll see how he responds to it. I'll remove the other two fish in a little bit so he can be alone. I don't think putting him in a new tank with a bunch of other fish is a good idea so I'll just keep him in the bucket until I get some sign of how he'll do.

So far, he is giving a struggle. He can turn himself the right way, but it seems to take a lot of work so he flips back over. I'm really scared he's not going to make it. :(

[lilmissruffcountry]

Well, I have their air bubbler on so I guess I'll see how he responds to it. I'll remove the other two fish in a little bit so he can be alone. I don't think putting him in a new tank with a bunch of other fish is a good idea so I'll just keep him in the bucket until I get some sign of how he'll do.

So far, he is giving a struggle. He can turn himself the right way, but it seems to take a lot of work so he flips back over. I'm really scared he's not going to make it. :(

I am sure you are doing everything that could be done for him....the rest is up to him an how much of a fighter he is.....But I sure hope he pulls through, it is a lot rougher on the heart to help a fish fight an lose it, then if you wake up to a mysterious death. Time will tell, Good luck with him!

[Complexity]

The other two fish are in the tank, and I've stopped the drip so I won't have to worry about the bucket overflowing. So now he's by himself with the bubbler. I have a dark towel covering it all.

I think the air bubbler might be helping because he's not just lying upside down at the bottom, but is along the side of the bucket, nose up, moving. He seems to be able to hold himself in that position.

So either the bubbler is helping him get extra oxygen or it's disturbing him to the point he's using his last ounce of strength to fight. I guess I'll find out soon enough which it is. I'll leave him be for awhile and see how he is in a few minutes.

[Complexity]

It's been 30 minutes, and he's swimming around a lot in the bucket, but he can't seem to hold himself upright.

Could have he damaged his air bladder? If so, is there anything I can do to help?

[Zulaab]

Either he had a concussion and still disoriented. I have had a fish that did this and took a hit on the gills.. I was doing a transfer into a small height bucket so I was holding the small fish at my chest as he jumped and hit stone floor.. It took nearly 2 hours of recovery before he became normal again swimming and it would not be until the next day until I could not see which one it was among the crowd that was the one who had jumped..

[Complexity]

Okay, thanks. I think I'll set up a 10g hospital tank for him so he can have a calming environment to heal. He can't stay in the bucket forever, and I really don't think it's good to put him in a new tank full of so many fish. That would just stress him out even more, making everything worse.

[Mzungu]

I think the 10g's a good idea. The bubbles may not be the best for him right now, and like you said, a clam environment is probably best.

I was thinking the same thing you were, that maybe he pulled in some air the few seconds he was on the floor and can't seem to expel it. Or what Z said, that he bumped his head pretty badly and just needs to get oriented again.

Good luck, and let us know!

[Oldsgirl]

When I was doing my internship at Moody Gardens Aquarium, we had to move that big 8 ft Sand Tiger shark from quarantine to the main exhibit. She was sedated, and coaxed into a sling that was lifted with a crane pulley thing, put her into a holding tank on a flatbed for the drive to the main building, then lifted again, and put into the tank. When she was put in there, she was still pretty out of it, but kept floating upside down (looked like she was dead/dying). It turned out she has gulped down air while she was out of the water. We actuallly had to send two divers down to burp her ) like literally one got behind her, and with a big bear hug squeezed, and bubbles came out of her mouth or gills (somewhere up there!)

Not sure if you fish could have done the same, but I guess it's possible. If it seems to be getting better, they I'd leave it. Especially if it's going around with its nose up now, since that would help work the air out. I guess you could try a light "mini-burp" if you think you could do it without hurting the fish?

Anyway, just thought I'd throw that out there

[Complexity]

I don't feel confident in trying to burp it since all I'd really be doing is squeezing the fish, and who knows what part I'd actually be putting pressure on.

It's in the 10g now. Of course, it took yet another jump as soon as it was put in the tank. Dang, this one can jump high! There was only about 3" of water in the tank (the water from the bucket), but he jumped completely out of the tank. This time, he landed on carpet so at least I'm not as worried that he hurt himself. He's in the tank now WITH A LID. No bubbler. I have an HOB on the tank. This particular tank has a background and a bottom (background put on the bottom), and I've put a towel over the tank. It's in a dark, quiet spot in my bedroom so he won't be disturbed. I may add a small light so I can see him from a distance, but otherwise, I want him to just be calm.

I know torpedo barbs jump, but this has to be the jumpiest one I have ever seen.

The other two are working out their hierarchy in the tank with my other torpedo barbs. Seems my largest torpedo barb isn't too happy that an even larger newcomer has joined the shoal. I'm glad I didn't put "Jumpy" in there. I think the fish would have stressed him to death.