mom2two

Hello everyone!

My toddler unplugged my 10 gallon freshwater tank that has 2 fantails living in it. I have a penguin mini filter..gravel (purple rock?) bottom and not much else inside. I did a water change in the middle of the week, my son must have unplugged it about a day afterwards. I dont imagine it was unplugged for more than 24 hrs. The older of the 2 fish (3 yrs old) was laying upside down on the bottom of the tank yesterday, and just barely surviving. The other fan tail was just starting to do the same when I got home from work. As soon as I realized, I did a 25 percent water change, changed the filter to brand new insert..put some ammo clear pellets in a nylon stocking and stuck it in the tank, and I held my breath. The younger fantail started to bounce back within hours and is now at baseline. The 3 yr old, is still laying on the bottom, his color is much better and he's more "with it" but still lays on the bottom, either on one side or upside down..it almost looks to me like he's had a stroke because he's always on the same side, and now his eyes are clouding up and even swollen on that one side. (both eyes are clouding though). Today, in between holiday dinner etc. I have held him in my hand and tried to hand feed him while I was holding him upright (in the water of course). I set him on his way after holding him (without a struggle by the way) and he just swims straight then goes head over and lays on his side again. Does anyone know what I am looking at here, and what I should be doing different? I know you all want water test results...unfortunately being Christmas my pet store that tests isnt open. I have test kits, however lost the insert as to how many drops of reagent to put in. I normally dont test water because it's been so regular for so long, therefore I kind of slacked off with the test kits. Any suggestions? At least I made it through Christmas, I would have hated to see my daughter's favorite fish die on Christmas, but still I feel as though he's suffering. Part of me wonders if we should put him down out of kindness...I was surprised to see how fast the other fantail came back after interventions of the filter being unplugged, but this one seems to have gone too far...
Thank you in advance!
Mom2Two

mom2two

Forgot to add...I added salt to the tank yesterday when I discovered the problem. I had stopped at pet store on the way home when hubby told me the fish wernt looking healthy and I bought the salt. (of course he never realized the darn tank was UNPLUGGED) but I thought adding the recommended amount of tank salt was appropriate also. Oh...and by the way sorry for the double post, my computer froze up!
Mom2Two

BJP

Any chance you have Fungus Eliminater by Jungle on hand or time to aquire it first thing in the morning? I've seen it in most of the Walmarts I've been in. If you can aquire some, follow the instructions through the second treatment if needed.

As for the test kits, you may find the information at the manufacturer web sites or if you list them here someone may have the same test kit and can relay the information to you from their instruction sheets.

mom2two

I dont have an antifungal here now, but I'll be going out in a few hours and can get it. Do you think the fungus overgrowth was from the filter being off? I wonder if the fungus isnt growing on his eyes because he's in contact with the bottom of the tank all the time. Will this help his bouyency?

Tommy Gun

Sniperelite8243

Not to go against either of you but it sounds like swim bladder to me. When a goldfish eats its brain doesnt give it the signal that its full and so it keeps eating, thats why goldfish get swim bladder so much.( over feeding ). but what i think happened is because the tank was unpluged all the extra food was not filtered out so he over ate leading to swim bladder. because he is laying on his side that could lead to him being swollen, from constant rubing on the substrate.

if this is swim bladder, fortunatly it is alot easier to cure, just feed him peas, or have him fast for1-3 days. dont worry fish can live for a couple of weeks without eating, and ther is proboly some leftover food in the tank substrate still.

Good luck!

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mom2two

Thank you all for your input! I am leaning towards the dropsy, only because now that I think about it he hasnt been that active for some time now, I mean he swam properly, but he would hang out in weird positions, but then swim normally to eat etc. I wonder if the poor tank quality just threw him over the edge. Where do I get flagyl? Do they have it at pet stores? I'm heading out the door so I'm going to the fish store to see what they have. Is it ok to treat in the tank or should I move him to a bowl? If I put him in a bowl should I put a air filter in it?
Mom2

Tommy Gun

BJP

I don't feel I have enough information to make an accurate diagnosis. Two of the three most prevelent symptoms, cloudy eye and the sideways/upside down thing I've treated many times with Fungus Eliminater. I've probably used it on goldfish hundreds of times over the years in combination with extra salt as a first step in treatment or a preventative when I expected problems with new batches of goldfish. In additon to my own experiences with the product and swim bladder problems, they market it for dropsy. I believe you'll find it an acceptible choice to satisfy Tommy's and Snipers concerns in addition to my own.

http://www.junglelabs.com/pages/details.asp?item=NJ117

Tommy Gun