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Need Immediate Help- Ryokin got stuck, alive but...

2K views 8 replies 5 participants last post by  beetlebz 
#1 ·

Larger: http://www.melorasworld.com/photoalbum/albums/userpics/10002/truffle.jpg

I went in to turn on my fish lights and feed just a few moments ago only to find the most clumsy of my Ryokins, but most loved, truffle, in a really bad way. He somehow got himself wedged, straight down, in the center of the one amazon sword plant in the tank, by the bubble wand. I thought he'd be dead when I saw a tiny bit of his tail fin sticking out of the plant- because he was probably stuck all night- but he's just REALLY bad off. He can't swim more than an inch off the bottom, his color is all screwed up, his fins are shredded, his gills and eyes look bloodshot. At least the first thing he did when I freed him was spot the food laying in front of him and sucked it up.

I really don't need to hear he's probably going to die, because I truly realize that- I just really really love this little guy. If anyone has ANY ideas on what I could do to help, I would die for them right now. I've seen remarkable recoveries, even if it's only the tiniest chance, I want to do what ever I can to try to save him

See the light orange scales on his back and by his tail- they didn't look like that before, they were bright red. D:
 
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#2 ·
hey! dont give up, those guys are troopers. I flushed one once, then like 15 years later i was swimming in the river. he jumped me from behind, knifed me, and took my wallet. ok that joke is getting old :D

as long as he is eating Im holding out hope for the lil guy. Maybe some melafix to help him heal up some would help. some of the more experienced guys might be able to suggest other options.. Im not sure if salt is goldfish friendly or not but id prolly use some salt too.

hang in there bro :)
 
#3 ·
The discoloration looks like nothing more than some scales have been rubbed off from him struggling to get out of the sword. The bloodshot eyes and everything else could be from the same thing. We all look like the incredible hulk sometimes when we really struggle and this could be nothing more than a fishes adrenalin going strong.

I agree with the Melafix or something else to make sure that the slime coat is in tact and that he doesn't get an infection but I would not worry too much if he went straight for food after you rescued him from the fish eating sword. Eating is a good sign and if he is starting to swim normally then I think the tropper should be just fine. He may be swimming on the bottom from being so tired and once he gets his energy back could be up and swimming like normal.
 
#4 ·
The best thing you can do is maintain pristine water quality.

Do you have a liquid test kit?
Have you tested your water parameters for ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate?
How big is the tank?
What other fish do you keep?

This came on so suddenly like that? No signs of shredded/torn fins yesterday? Any signs of other fish attacking/bullying this one?

Melafix, as already suggested, will help heal the fins, in addition to water changes.

It is good that he's eating...provide a variety of food to boost his immune system. What are you feeding him? It may be best to leave the lights off, this will help relax him reducing stress.
 
#5 ·
Thank you so much for the replies, I truly appreciate it!

He looked perfect yesterday. This one probably got stuck because he's had a swim bladder problem since I got him, maybe 2-3 years ago. It got a bit better when I started feeding him Hikari's Lion Head food- I was told the sinking food would help it, and it did. But he never fully recovered.

Do you have a liquid test kit? Yes
Have you tested your water parameters for ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate? 0 ammonia, 0 nitrates, 12 nitrates (nitrates have gotten to 25 in the past, I always test 0 for the others. It was cycled before I put them in) 6.8 ph
How big is the tank? 40 gallons
What other fish do you keep? 2 more ryokin, 4 cories, 1 bristle nosed pleco. A bit over crowded, I know, but I tend to have tanks that are a bit like that- and fish that live a long time. I just do a little more work to keep the conditions good.

This came on so suddenly like that? No signs of shredded/torn fins yesterday? Any signs of other fish attacking/bullying this one? Yes, he looked beautiful yesterday. No blood streaks, great fins, good color. He was fine when I turned the lights off. The fish have been together a long time and never bully each other. The big one, that I bought at the same time as this hurt one, actually kept going over and sitting on the bottom by him after I freed him. It was really cute, the big one held very still.

I moved the hurt one into a hospital tank though, because when the big one would sit by him, he would eventually have to move, and his tail would brush the hurt one off balance. (they're not terribly graceful) The hospice tank is 10 gallons, I used 7 gallons of water from his big tank, a overhanging filter from another tank, I have a heater in there (what temp should it be at? I have it at 72, his big tank was at 70 without a heater) a small amount of gravel- just so he has something to prop himself up with, a bubble wand, and a tsp of aquarium salt.

I want it to have good oxygen levels, but I'm afraid of the current being too strong because he really only seems to be able to prop himself up on the bottom. Any ideas besides the air stone?

About food and medication: I have some Medi-Gold koi and goldfish food from back when I first got them. His now big friend got really ill right after I brought them home, so I got this stuff. It's got good ingredients and vitamins plus sulfadimethoxine and ormetorprim sulfa. I don't know if it might be a bit too old though.. 2-3 years? It still looks fine ...humm...
 
#6 ·
72 seems fine for the hospital tank, just be sure the heater doesn't make it too warm. In addition to air-stones, which I think are the best way to increase O2 levels without perturbing current, small water changes help replenish O2 in the water, and I believe they sell O2 tablets that dissolve, but I have never tried those...I have always stuck with air-stones.

I'm not too sure about that food...is that all you ever feed them? 2-3 years seems like a long time to have the food, and it may be prone to being stale, which some evidence suggests that it loses its nutritional value. I'd pick up a nice variety of fresh food, such as... a credible brand flakes and/or sinking pellets for basic nutrients, freeze-dried/frozen brine shrimp, daphnia, blood worms, krill...there's many different choices...the key is to have variety for your fish, not just one kind of food. Also Goldfish benefit from (and mine go crazy for), sinking shrimp pellets, and algae wafers. Another kind of food that Goldfish benefit from is fresh greens: spinach, collard greens, even green beans and carrots. Also, I always feed my goldfish, as well as my loaches, cooked deshelled peas, which helps with their digestive system and also tends to aid in swim bladder problems.

I have a feeling your goldfish will recover nicely...as long as you maintain excellent water condition, and keep him eating a healthy, varied diet. Have you considered using melafix?
 
#7 ·
Thank you so much for such a nice reply!

Oh, the old food is not the food I feed them every day. It was just some special food I bought when one was ill and I only used it during that time. Yeah, the more I think about it, it seems like it would just be bad after so long.

The stuff I feed them is the sinking Hikari Lionhead food, they also get some sinking vegi tabs. I use to feed them organic sushi nori (kelp) every day, but I ran out and just kept forgetting to get more. The stuff you said you feed yours sounds awesome. I actually have frozen brine shrimp and bloodworms since I feed them to my bettas, and a lot of vegi's because I feed those to my bearded dragons. I can try some. He still gets excited when he sees his regular sinking food, but he doesn't seem to notice any other kinds of food at this point. Part of me thinks his little brain is just conditioned to grab at the stuff he knows ;p When/if he starts acting better I'll try the peas for his swim bladder problem.

The heater is one of those Visi-Therm Stealth Heaters, they have the temp on them and seem to be pretty reliable. But, yeah, I just didn't want it to be too warm for him. Yeah, I think I'll add another air stone. He doesn't seem able to swim well still, he's preferring to just sit, so O2 is still my biggest worry at this point... I know there will be more to worry about if he makes it past that, but yeah- he's just been sitting in one spot for an hour, looking around and propped up on his fins, but not trying to swim.
 
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