Post by rusalka on Jul 23, 2024 10:53:42 GMT -5
Hi.
My goldfish stays on the bottom and doesn't poop.
It had buoyancy issues on and off for long time, but about 3 weeks ago it suddenly got worse and permanent. Now the fish stays on the bottom. Just falling heavily on the bottom, like there is no air in the swim bladder.
I read a lot of materials online, the main cause mentioned is infection to the swim bladder and constipation. The fish is a chubby and short bodied Ranchu, so the intestines are very likely squeezed inside the body. I am giving Nitrofuracin Green just in case if there is an infection in the form of 30 minutes baths once a day 100mg per Gal. But I honestly don't think it's an infection, because the fins and skin are intact, the fish is trying to be active and wants to eat. I don't know if I should finish the full 14 days course of antibiotic, so far I did 7 days.
I am also giving him Epsom salt bath once a day, 1 table spoon per 1 gal for 10 minutes to release the constipation.
The first thing they recommend is starving a fish, he was starving naturally because he could'n eat as fast as his tank mate.
For the last couple of days I've been giving him one boiled pea without skin. No poop still.
I gave him a massage on his belly applying pressure from his throat along his belly to the anal opening. Two days ago I squeezed out a very thin piece of poop, like a hair. Tells me that the intestines have a very narrow opening if any. Yesterday a normal diameter piece of poop came out when massaging, but a very short piece, a quarter inch. Since then nothing comes out . May be he poops when I don't see it, but I think not, because when I give him a pea during the bath, no poop remains in the bucket, and they usually poop at the same time when eat. So I guess I squeezed out what was ready to go out, but nothing from freshly eaten food is passing.
I don't know what to do and how long I can have a non swimming fish lying on the bottom, looking healthy otherwise. After some time he will start having problems to his skin and fins from lying on the ground. Should I finish antibiotics course? Should I continue giving peas or stop?
At what point is it reasonable to give up.... and if he has to be euthanized, what is the best way, other than a hammer (I can't do it).
PS. I am using Replenish and regular Wonder Shells, Ammonia is 0, Ph is about 6.8-7, Kh is unfortunately very low in my tap water, may be 1, not more.
The tank is 30 Gal, well established for many years, with two hanging filters with Filter max pre filters. The water is clean, I substitute 1.5 gal daily (to use for the baths) and vacuuming with Eheim.
My goldfish stays on the bottom and doesn't poop.
It had buoyancy issues on and off for long time, but about 3 weeks ago it suddenly got worse and permanent. Now the fish stays on the bottom. Just falling heavily on the bottom, like there is no air in the swim bladder.
I read a lot of materials online, the main cause mentioned is infection to the swim bladder and constipation. The fish is a chubby and short bodied Ranchu, so the intestines are very likely squeezed inside the body. I am giving Nitrofuracin Green just in case if there is an infection in the form of 30 minutes baths once a day 100mg per Gal. But I honestly don't think it's an infection, because the fins and skin are intact, the fish is trying to be active and wants to eat. I don't know if I should finish the full 14 days course of antibiotic, so far I did 7 days.
I am also giving him Epsom salt bath once a day, 1 table spoon per 1 gal for 10 minutes to release the constipation.
The first thing they recommend is starving a fish, he was starving naturally because he could'n eat as fast as his tank mate.
For the last couple of days I've been giving him one boiled pea without skin. No poop still.
I gave him a massage on his belly applying pressure from his throat along his belly to the anal opening. Two days ago I squeezed out a very thin piece of poop, like a hair. Tells me that the intestines have a very narrow opening if any. Yesterday a normal diameter piece of poop came out when massaging, but a very short piece, a quarter inch. Since then nothing comes out . May be he poops when I don't see it, but I think not, because when I give him a pea during the bath, no poop remains in the bucket, and they usually poop at the same time when eat. So I guess I squeezed out what was ready to go out, but nothing from freshly eaten food is passing.
I don't know what to do and how long I can have a non swimming fish lying on the bottom, looking healthy otherwise. After some time he will start having problems to his skin and fins from lying on the ground. Should I finish antibiotics course? Should I continue giving peas or stop?
At what point is it reasonable to give up.... and if he has to be euthanized, what is the best way, other than a hammer (I can't do it).
PS. I am using Replenish and regular Wonder Shells, Ammonia is 0, Ph is about 6.8-7, Kh is unfortunately very low in my tap water, may be 1, not more.
The tank is 30 Gal, well established for many years, with two hanging filters with Filter max pre filters. The water is clean, I substitute 1.5 gal daily (to use for the baths) and vacuuming with Eheim.
