CichlidFish.com - Fish That Think.

I have an oscar that has been floating on the top of the water for about a week. It is not dead. My oscar is still moving and once in a while it will try to swimm but it can't stop from floating to the top it's tank.My oscars tummy has also bloated. To me it seems like it has a big belly full of air and cant get rid of it. What should I do???

Floating for about a week . . .well honestly it may be too late for any medication to help revive your Oscar. The most important factor in treating a sick fish is as soon as symptoms begin ou start treating.

Are his scales protruding more off his body?

Based on your symptoms Id have to say your fish probably dropsy (or bloat). Its an internal infection thats pretty hard to treat, even when symptoms and treatment begin on the same day.

Personally Ithink you should euthanize him. If you don't want to thogh, you can treat him with Maracyn-2 and Maracyn simutaneously.

Keep us posted.


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Candice
ccmso12@yahoo.com

FEEDER NAZI

Another possibility could be what you've already said: Due to a defect of the swimbladder there's some air trapped in it, and the fish is simply too light because of that.

A swimbladder defect can be caused by diseases, but can also be a physical effect, i.e. due to too much oxygen. Did this happen after a water change or after feeding pellets or flakes?

Unfortunately, I don't if it's possible to help him get rid of the trapped air, but found this on the web:

begin quote:

You can burp larger fish manually, though I'd avoid it unless fish is starting to fail. This can be done by applying gentle pressure to the underside of the fish, from just in front of the anal duct, and sliding finger forward torward to the mid section of the belly. This can often realease gas trapped in the swim bladder or gut. This should only be done in emergency and carefully. If successful, you will often hear an audible 'burp'. You should then use a little stress coat as your handling of the fish will effect its' slime coat.

end quote.

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Gisela
moppel@gismo.owl.de

[This message has been edited by gisela (edited 03-16-2002).]

I had one like that, it was a rescue job.
I peirced his swim bladder with a sterile hyperdermic needle and he came good for a few months. I dont reccommend this unless you are sure on how to do it.

I reccomend putting him down as hard as it may seem

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TONY
Australian and proud of it!!
My Cichlidfish.com Home page
No Feeder Nazi

What have you been feeding it? That happens if you feed them just pellets, it this happens to be the cause, you need to feed them fat/greasy meat, life fish/shrimp etc...beefheart etc....

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Joe
www.cichlidfish.com