He is still alive but he has been like this for 7 days. He still is eating and tries to swim but he just floats back up. His stomache is not anymore bloated then ussual. What is this and can I fix it? We have had this fish for 3 years now. And my daughter has grown attached to him. He is a fancytail goldfish.
2006-06-18 05:47:14 · 18 answers · asked by butterfly 4 in Pets ➔ Fish
He is not dead he his still breathing and swimming. I would never just flush him that would be murder. I don't even think he would fit down the toilet he is huge.
2006-06-18 06:12:15 · update #1
He has Swim Bladder Disorder. Try fasting him for a couple days and feed him a couple deshelled peas. What kind of food do you normally give him? If he has to suck them from the top of the tank trying holding it under the water so he doesn't suck in the air. And if its pellets let them soak a bit so the air comes out.
Also test your water. Some times high nitrAte can cause a fish to float if they are sensitive to it and make sure the ammonia and nitrIte are always 0.
OMG I cant believe some told you to flush him, that is so wrong to do even if he is dead but when he is still alive that is horrible. He may or may not die but its not gonna be because of his swim bladder. Please check out this site, http://www.kokosgoldfish.com/ , theres lots of people who had a fish with the same problem and found help. It may not always work but at least you will have tried and didn't murder him. I dont know how old your daughter is but goldfish do have different personalities and if my mom flushed my fish whether it was dead or alive I would know and be pissed.
2006-06-18 05:55:08 · answer #1 · answered by Nunya Biznis 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Fish have what's called a "swim bladder". When their swim bladder becomes blocked or no longer functioning, they are no longer able to maintain their "balance" sort-to-speak & so will float upside down or sometimes stuck floating on one side because one of the bladders is either blocked & over full or one has stopped working & so is empty, there for, throwing the poor fishy off balance.
Anyway, there is no cure for this & nothing that a vet can do. It just happens. I'm sorry to say, but your poor Goldy is gonna die, eventually.
*hugs* to your little girl
I suggest finding an identical fish, catching the old one & flushing him & telling her that he got better, if you aren't up to dealing w/the possibility of breaking her heart.
Good luck!
PS- As for the last person's answer, they were on to something, however, usually it's impossible to correct a bad swim bladder (Have tried it several times & the fish just ends up dying anyway) & also, it's IMPOSSIBLE to keep your nitrates & ammonia at 0. Fish are gonna poo & urinate, sorry lol. It's especially more impossible if you have several fish in one tank.
However, if you get a good bacteria starter, it can help control & balance out the PH in the water & help keep down the nitrates & ammonia. Regular water cycling (where you remove 1/4 of the tank water every month or so & replace it w/new water) can help curb your nitrate & ammonia levels.
2006-06-18 05:57:47 · answer #2 · answered by Wild Rose 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your fish is obviously having a problem with his swim bladder. He most likely will not survive. There is an alternate way of putting a fish to sleep, it won't cause them any pain and they'll be in "Fish Heaven" within ten seconds. It is simple: just find a small container, fill it with some cold, cold water, with ice and drop your suffering fish in. The chill will quickly kill your fish. Trust me, I 've had to do this many times to some of my own fish that have had either this disorder or another miserable disorder, and it is much better than taking them out of the water or flushing them.
2006-06-19 09:03:26 · answer #3 · answered by candycanechild_meg 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
He most likely has swim bladder disease, look it up fancies are especially prone to it. If it's that advanced i would suggest euthanasia. Do NOT flush. This is one of the cruelest ways of death possible for obvious reasons. The fish gets exposed to chlorine, is stressed futher by the flushing action, and is dumped into a sewer where he slowly and painfully dies. If you can do it decaptation or just whacking the head is the best way, or clove oil or vodka work. Try here for more info http://www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=143007&hl=euthanasia or here http://www.kokosgoldfish.com/Swim%20Bladder%20Disorder.html
2006-06-19 14:35:44 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You have enough answers on the technical issues.
The odds of him surviving aren't good, and finding an matching replacement are even less. Kids aren't dumb, most will pick up on the swap.
Depending on your daughter's age, it might be time for her to learn about death. Prepare her ahead of time, let her know he is ill and might not live much longer.
When the guy does die, you might want to have a little burial service. If you don't have a yard to bury him in, place him in a nice shoe box, and take to the vet. The vet will most likely be more than happy to dispose of the body, and your daughter won't see him being disposed of like a piece of trash.
You might also want to rent the movie "All Good Dogs Go to Heaven!"
When it's time to add a new family member, let her pick him out.
2006-06-18 06:24:45 · answer #5 · answered by Robin 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
He has a broken swim bladder. I saw one of those kinds of fish at a Chinese resturant. It was so interesting to see it go to the bottom and then float bakc up with his belly up! He WAS alive though.
2006-06-18 06:11:50 · answer #6 · answered by lauren H 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
He could be close to dying or as the others have stated swim bladder.
Fancy goldfish are prone to swim bladder problems.
2006-06-18 06:49:50 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
i think that goldfish can get a problem with there what is it/?? um its the bubble they have inside that keeps them a float, he may have to much air inside of it. my roommates fish was doing that, and she found that i think too much oxygen in the tank and feeding the fish from the top was doing it, so she started getting sinking food, but call the pet store just to ask.
2006-06-18 06:05:50 · answer #8 · answered by irishgirl 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Why maximum of solutions approximately death? that's swim bladder that is cured. First, for day after in the present day do no longer feed your fish. Then feed it peas after that day. sure, it did swallow air. So any further soak your food so your fish do no longer ought to flow to the precise and gulp air. sturdy success!
2016-10-31 02:16:54 · answer #9 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
its called the swim of death. RIP for him flush the little guy
then
get another one that looks just like him and tell your daughter he's better now. If you don't you will break your daughter heart and she will never forgive you. be a super mom and lie through your teeth.
What she does not know will not hurt her.
2006-06-18 06:00:37 · answer #10 · answered by zqx357 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋