Vet Q&A-Fish

I have a wolf fish that seems to be sick. He is upside down in the tank now for 24 hrs. He is still breathing but seems to bee struggling. I have increased the temp in the tank and added aquarium salt. I have added a bacterial and fungal treatment today into the tank. I have used some moss to prop him up correctly in hopes this will help him. What would u suggest? Please help.

Thanks for reaching out about Wolfy. Floating upside down is a serious concern, possibly involving the swim bladder or intestinal tract. Typically additives to the water are not absorbed systemically but the salt might help decrease osmotic imbalances in the body. A radiograph could help determine if fluid is filling the swim bladder, and then systemic antibiotics could be administered, probably vi injections. Good luck.

My fish tank got infested with pink algae and green algae and the fish are acting lethargic and dying.

Check the water chemistry using a home test kit or submit a water sample for testing. The local Petco may do this for free or for a small fee. Aim for an absence (0 ppm) of ammonia and nitrites with nitrates at 20ppm or less. Perform partial water changes to stabilize chemistry and/or to improve water quality. Rinse the filter media in tank water, not tap water, and replace it. Use only conditioned water that is temperature matched to prevent stress or shock. To limit algae growth, maintain pristine water quality via filtration and regular water changes. If possible, turn up filter flow to keep water moving. If this stresses the fish though, do not do it. Do not overfeed and remove any uneaten food promptly. Limit lighting to 8 hours daily and closely monitor water temperature as well. All these can promote algae overgrowth.

My fish has fin rot and seems lethargic. He will just sit at the bottom of his tank or in his flower. He might also have a swim bladder issue. What can I do to fix him?

Check the water chemistry and quality first. Poor quality can predispose him to infection. Use a home test kit or submit a water sample for testing. Your local Petco may do this for free or for a small fee. If ammonia and/or nitrite levels are elevated, perform partial water changes until both read 0 ppm and nitrates are 20 ppm or less. Use only conditioned water that is temperature matched to prevent further stress or shock. Providing pristine water quality is the foundation for treatment and healing. Check the water temperature since low temps can affect appetite and activity in fish. If the water is too warm, it can also affect activity since warm water does not hold as much oxygen as cooler waters. Fast the fish for 2-3 days then feed tiny bits of cooked and shelled green peas. This will aid in defecation if there is constipation. Plain aquarium salt (not table salt or Epsom salt) can be used for most fish as a general tonic to reduce stress, improve gill function, treat minor infection and aid in recovery. Dissolve 1 teaspoon of salt per gallon of water in a cup or two of tank water and gently pour it into the tank. Treat for no more than 14 days then reassess fin condition. If necessary, a broad spectrum antibiotic can be used concurrently or after salt treatment. Find one in the aquarium section of the local Petco. Follow label directions carefully and remove the carbon filter insert during treatment if indicated.

I have three glo fishes in my tank. Two of them appear to be very bloated. Not only is one of them more bloated than the other, but it is also losing some of its color in the lower part of its body and it has a rough look as if its scales were starting to shed. Last week the fish appeared to be excluding itself from the others, but I noticed now that it has been starting to eat and play around more. I read it online that this may be a fatal bloating bacteria but I just wanted to be sure. Thanks!

The bloating could be infection. It may also be parasitic infection, constipation or swim bladder disease. You cannot discount them being gravid (pregnant). Glo fish are egg layers, so they could be females readying to spawn (release eggs). First check water chemistry and quality. Clean water is critical to having healthy fish or to having fish recover from illness or injury. Use a home test kit or submit a water sample for testing. Most pet stores will do this for free or for a small fee. An established tank will have 0 ppm ammonia and nitrites with a nitrate level of 20 ppm or less. If your tank shows any level of ammonia or nitrites, perform a partial water change (no more than 30% total volume at a time) using conditioned water. Makebsurebit is temperature matched as well to prevent stress or shock. Glofish do best between 72 F and 80 F. Once water quality is squared away, fast the fish for 2-3 days, then feed tiny bits of cooked and shelled green peas. This will help with constipation and bloating. Feed peas until they are swimming normally and the bloating is resolved. If the peas don't help, try broad spectrum antibiotic, such as erythromycin or ampicillin. You can find either in the aquarium section of the local Petco. Follow label directions carefully and remove the carbon filter insert during treatment if indicated. An "all in one" product, such as Lifeguard (by Tetra) can also be used. This will treat multiple types of infection with one medication.

My platy fish have been having white/clear poops. I did 4 treatments of API General Cure (about 3 weeks long) and there is no difference. Now one of my platy fish looks thin and his fins seem off. I'm just not sure where to go from here. I've taken them off of the treatment now as advised by a friend. First attached photo is of questionable fish. Second is of the poop (and a picture of a different healthy platy).

Thanks for reaching out about your fish. Most of the water additives don't get absorbed systemically since fresh water fish do not drink water. A veterinary visit with a fecal sample is recommended to identify possible parasites and then prescribe a treatment. Most likely the medications needs to be top-coated on food and then eaten. Dosage depends on number of fish and estimated biomass (cumulative weight of fish). Good luck.

I bought a betta 5 days ago and I have him in a medium fish bowl and I want to know what type of fish I can put in their with him Can I ad a little fresh water crab ? What type of fish can I put in the fish bowl ?

To safely mix fish species together, there are a few considerations to keep in mind. First, you want to choose fish that have similar temperature requirements as your betta. Otherwise the fish can be stressed. Second, you want to get species that have similar oxygen requirements - bettas don’t need a lot of bubblers in their tanks, but not all species are like that, so unless you want to do some adjustments to you betta tank, it is a good idea to get other species that don’t need a lot of oxygen. Third, it depends on how many gallons your tank is. Overcrowding is a common problem for many fish owners, and it can make it very difficult to keep up on the water quality. The general rule of thumb you can use is one square inch of fish per gallon. When using this rule, go based on the adult size of fish, because often people get fish that are young and small and don’t anticipate that they will get bigger! I would advise getting your thoughts together about the parameters above, and then visiting your local pet store to see what options are available within those parameters, because species availability can vary by area. Good luck!

I just purchased imagitarium aquarium salt for my betta. I have never used aquarium salt before and It says on the label that I can combine it with sprinkling in a little bit of food once a day. Does this mean it is safe to add the salt in with my fish in the tank? What process should I take so he doesn't become overwhelmed? Also does this help prevent/get rid of fin rot? Thank you!

Aquarium salt can be used as a general tonic to reduce stress, improve gill function, treat minor infection and aid in any recovery. Dissolve up to 1 teaspoon per gallon of water in a cup of tank water and gently pour it into the tank. You don't want to use it for more than 14 days in a row. You will need to perform partial water changes to decrease salinity. Use only aged or conditioned water that is temperature matched to prevent stress or shock. Pristine water quality is critical in treating or preventing fin rot and other infections.

My fish can't swim correctly, he can't swim. And at first I thought his fin was missing but she has all his fins. So why could she be swimming like this. Is it hurt please help. He is just a fish but he has been around for 1yr and 1/2 so the Thought of him dying terrifies me. Thanks P.s. he is not dead.

Check water chemistry and temperature. Use a home test kit or submit a water sample for testing. The local Petco may do this for free or for a small fee. Aim for an absence, 0 ppm, of ammonia and nitrites with nitrates at 20 ppm or less. Perform partial water changes if necessary to stabilize chemistry and/or to improve water quality. Use only conditioned water that is temperature matched to prevent stress or shock. Goldfish are cold water fish and do best between 65 F and 72 F. Goldfish can also become constipated which may affect swimming. Fast him/her for 3 days then resume feeding bits of cooked and shelled green peas until swimming is normal. If this doesn't help, consider an "all in one" treatment, such as Lifeguard (by Tetra). Find it in the aquarium section of the local Petco. Follow label directions carefully and remove the carbon filter insert during treatment if indicated.

My Betta fish has developed a lump under his chin. I got him in February and clean his 5 gallon tank regularly. I was wondering what I can do to fix it

Maintain pristine water quality via filtration and regular partial water changes. This is the cornerstone for treatment and recovery. Plain aquarium salt (NOT table or Epsom salt) can be used as a general tonic to reduce stress, improve gill function, treat minor infection and aid in recovery. Dissolve 1 teaspoon of salt per gallon of water in a cup or two of tank water and gently pour it into the tank. Treat for 14 days then reassess the condition. If necessary, a broad spectrum antibiotic can be used concurrently. Find one in the aquarium section of the local Petco. Follow label directions carefully and remove the carbon filter insert during treatment if indicated.