Puffy, my fish here at work, has spent the last 4 hours swimming about on his back at the surface. Before anyone says the obvious he's not dead, he's flapping his little fins about and appears to be having quite a chilled time, even doing cool spins every now and then. My worry is that I am busy being impressed at his tricks whilst I should really be worrying he is trying to commit suicide or something..!
Is this normal behaviour?
2006-10-17 02:37:44 · 19 answers · asked by kezls_79 3 in Pets ➔ Fish
Thanks for all the answers, I got a bit worried with all the RIP Puffy comments, and started investigating online, and his symptoms are exactly like "Swimbladder" - not fatal but I have some ways to treat him. Puffy will live on! :-D
2006-10-17 03:03:40 · update #1
Sounds like he has a swim bladder infection. You can get some stuff to add to his water at the pet shop.
2006-10-17 02:46:06 · answer #1 · answered by Mr M 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
That is definitely not right. You need to test the water quality for nitrates and also ensure the water is well oxygenated and at the right temperature.
I suggest as a first step that you change 20% of the water. Fill a bucket with tap water, then leave it standing for three days. Then remove some of the tank water and replace it with the bucket of water.
It would also be worth phoning up an aquatic centre/fish shop and asking for their advice - they are usually very helpful.
2006-10-17 02:51:27 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I give my usual advice for this problem
CHANGE THE WATER, WASH ALL STONES, TANK, ORIMENTS ETC WITH PLAIN OLD WARM WATER
ADD TAP SAFE AND GOLD FISH SAFE TONIC TO WATER.
PUT PUFFY BACK INTO HIS TANK DONOT FEED HIM FOR 24 HOURS, IF HE TURNS THE WATER MILKY CHANGE HALF AGAIN, FEED A LITTLE KEEP CHANGING THE WATER, STARVING HIM ETC UNTIL HIS WATER IS CLEAR IF YOU CAN KEEP HIM IN A SMALL TANK OR BOWL WITHOUT ANY STONES OR ORIMENTS SO THAT YOU CAN SEE IF HE'S GOING TO THE LOO THE BETTER.
IF YOU CAN PUT UP WITH KEEPING HIM LIKE THIS FOR A FEW DAYS HE SHOULD BE OK
CUT DOWN ON THE AMOUNT YOU ARE FEEDING HIM.
2006-10-17 06:03:07 · answer #3 · answered by AARONLEE AND SASHA 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i like fishing! That`s why I deckhand offshore for a summer season activity, (which regrettably, is over). So it the two relaxes and stresses me on the comparable time. yet i like Fishing plenty that i truly don`t strategies because of the fact Fishing facilitates you meet new human beings and it teaches you to attend and spot and love. i like to fish!!
2016-12-26 21:26:38 · answer #4 · answered by guillotte 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Oh dear. Puffy seems to be exhibiting similar behaviour to my goldfish Albert, who took to swimming about on his back and also on his side for a while. He then started to lose his gold colour and turned a rather anaemic-looking yellowy-white. He died 2 weeks later. I'm sorry. RIP Puffy.
2006-10-17 02:50:31 · answer #5 · answered by drblonde 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Hell Yes !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
when the water is so deap, then after a few hours swimming, you are so tired, that you go on your back, where you can float and relax whilst you get more energy.
Normally, we can get out of the pond after a while, but fish cannot. So once he has his breath back, he will do handstands on the bottom again and all will be ok.
2006-10-17 07:33:59 · answer #6 · answered by The brainteaser 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
NO this is not normal & he is not just entertaining you, he's in trouble....get to the nearest tropical & fresh water fish outlet and get some instant reviver drops, can't remember the name but the shop will know what you mean. Get the stated dose in the tank before you leave work, else he not likely to be alive tomorrow
2006-10-17 02:46:56 · answer #7 · answered by Denise W 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
My daughter had a fish that spent it's last 2 years virtually constantly upside down. He seemed perfectly chilled at this alternate view of the world.
2006-10-17 02:45:41 · answer #8 · answered by mark_virgin 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Don't mean to worry you but my goldfish started doing that and the next day we found it dead. My fish did develop a black rash so unless your circus fish has this same killer disease then maybe he is afterall just relaxing. I am no expert by the way!
2006-10-17 02:48:53 · answer #9 · answered by name. 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I don't think hes trying to impress you!!- I think he might be ill!!!
i'm afraid little puffys days are numbered!!!
phone a fish shop they maybe able to help you
2006-10-17 02:48:22 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋