Swim Bladder

wsboyette · 08/02/2020, 12:30 PM

One of the new Maroon Clownfish I just introduced to my tank seems to have a swim bladder problem. He has to sit on top of
something to avoid having to struggle to maintain his depth, poor fella. Does this kind of thing ever heal on its own, or is there
some treatment available for it ?

Sk8r · 08/02/2020, 07:40 PM

https://www.saltwateraquariumblog.co...adder-disease/

wsboyette · 08/02/2020, 08:20 PM

Thanks, Sk8r ! Will give it a while and see if the fish heals on its own.....

Sk8r · 08/02/2020, 11:00 PM

This happens sometimes in air shipping, too much sloshing about, feeding too close to shipping, breathing in bubbles, and then all the reasons they list. I did surgery on a freshwater angel once, case of it was dead if it didn't work, because its tankmates had chewed off most of its finnage: got an anatomy chart and pierced the side with a very sharp sewing needle. It did work, but for the sake of the fish, I wouldn't recommend it as a general practice: too risky on any fish that has a hope of any sort of recovery by other means. This was back in the 60's. I would rate the chances of success at 5%.

Healing the finnage was another challenge, but the fish did live.

wsboyette · 08/03/2020, 08:47 AM

Piercing this fish wouldn't do any good, as the problem is with the bladder not inflating; the fish has to struggle to keep from sinking to the bottom of the tank. I hope it gets better after a while; I'm thinking it must have happened at some point during the move from the LFS to my tank.....

Sk8r · 08/03/2020, 12:02 PM

I think not inflating would be a preferable problem. And might cure itself.

wsboyette · 08/03/2020, 07:05 PM

Hey Sk8r, how did the fish you pierced make out afterward ? Did it live very long ?

08/02/2020, 12:30 PM	#1
wsboyette Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: N.E.N.C. Posts: 140	Swim Bladder One of the new Maroon Clownfish I just introduced to my tank seems to have a swim bladder problem. He has to sit on top of something to avoid having to struggle to maintain his depth, poor fella. Does this kind of thing ever heal on its own, or is there some treatment available for it ? __________________ Oh..... Fishy Fishy Fishy FISH ! Current Tank Info: 60 Gallon Fish-Only With Dry Rock, Filtration: Aquamaxx HOB Filter/Skimmer & Aqua-Tech 30-60 300 GPH HOB Motor Filter, Livestock: Coral Beauty and Maroon Clown Last edited by wsboyette; 08/02/2020 at 01:36 PM.

08/02/2020, 07:40 PM	#2
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	https://www.saltwateraquariumblog.co...adder-disease/ __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

08/02/2020, 08:20 PM	#3
wsboyette Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: N.E.N.C. Posts: 140	Thanks, Sk8r ! Will give it a while and see if the fish heals on its own..... __________________ Oh..... Fishy Fishy Fishy FISH ! Current Tank Info: 60 Gallon Fish-Only With Dry Rock, Filtration: Aquamaxx HOB Filter/Skimmer & Aqua-Tech 30-60 300 GPH HOB Motor Filter, Livestock: Coral Beauty and Maroon Clown

08/02/2020, 11:00 PM	#4
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	This happens sometimes in air shipping, too much sloshing about, feeding too close to shipping, breathing in bubbles, and then all the reasons they list. I did surgery on a freshwater angel once, case of it was dead if it didn't work, because its tankmates had chewed off most of its finnage: got an anatomy chart and pierced the side with a very sharp sewing needle. It did work, but for the sake of the fish, I wouldn't recommend it as a general practice: too risky on any fish that has a hope of any sort of recovery by other means. This was back in the 60's. I would rate the chances of success at 5%. Healing the finnage was another challenge, but the fish did live. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

08/03/2020, 08:47 AM	#5
wsboyette Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: N.E.N.C. Posts: 140	Piercing this fish wouldn't do any good, as the problem is with the bladder not inflating; the fish has to struggle to keep from sinking to the bottom of the tank. I hope it gets better after a while; I'm thinking it must have happened at some point during the move from the LFS to my tank..... __________________ Oh..... Fishy Fishy Fishy FISH ! Current Tank Info: 60 Gallon Fish-Only With Dry Rock, Filtration: Aquamaxx HOB Filter/Skimmer & Aqua-Tech 30-60 300 GPH HOB Motor Filter, Livestock: Coral Beauty and Maroon Clown

08/03/2020, 12:02 PM	#6
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	I think not inflating would be a preferable problem. And might cure itself. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

08/03/2020, 07:05 PM	#7
wsboyette Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: N.E.N.C. Posts: 140	Hey Sk8r, how did the fish you pierced make out afterward ? Did it live very long ? __________________ Oh..... Fishy Fishy Fishy FISH ! Current Tank Info: 60 Gallon Fish-Only With Dry Rock, Filtration: Aquamaxx HOB Filter/Skimmer & Aqua-Tech 30-60 300 GPH HOB Motor Filter, Livestock: Coral Beauty and Maroon Clown