I have a 4yr old Blood Parrot cichlid, Karen, who has always swam weird (ie sideways, upside down). We are almost positive this is swim bladder disorder, and have made sure that Anti-Bacteria Medicated Fish Foodshe has always received peas and fresh/defrosted bloodworms/krill, fresh live redworms and tiny pieces of canteloupe/mango (my plecos love these and all my fish seem to as well) to help keep her buoyant. this past month, she has been completely upside down and at the top of the tank. I removed her from the main tank and placed her in her own 10 gal tall hospital tank.
This is what I have treated her with:
Tetracycline (performing partial water changes every 3 days with properly dosed water) along with Jungle Fungus Eliminator Crystals (treated according to directions on package, which states helps with swim bladder disease).
Raised tank temp to 82 degrees
Removed carbon from filter prior to beginning treatmentsWithheld food for 3 days.
Fed Jungle Anti-Bacteria Medicated Fish Food and Jungle Anti-Parasite Medicated Fish Food for 3 days each, with peas and live red wiggler worm (from my personal composting bin..so no pesticides or bad stuff in worms) between different medicated foods.
Fed defrosted bloodworms/krill and Emerald Mixture (has spinach and spirlina in it with brine shrimp)
All top off and tank water is conditioned with PRIME and/or NovAqua+
Just to add this, her hospital tank is a JEBO with a built in filter/light, we have the tank filled to the very top, submerging the filter outlet so that she is submerged at all times. Otherwise her abdomen and bottom fins would be exposed to air (which occurred when she was in the main tank, and she developed an open sore near her anus. The sore has since healed with all the treatments and being completely submerged in the water.)
The filter is going with just floss, and an airstone is also in her tank. I keep the tank lights off unless I am feeding her. I have a saltlamp nightlight on beside her tank,for subdued lighting during the day.
She has lost some weight, but still has an enlarged abdomen and floating on top of her tank. She will swim to catch food. her coloring is still very good (bright pink orange) and she gets excited when I come to check on her...looking for her food I am sure!
Has anybody had this problem with their Blood Parrot(s)?? Have you tried something I have not, which worked to resolve the problem??
Any help would be greatly appreciated! Karen is a very sweet fish, she is one of our favorite Blood Parrots. She comes to the glass whenever she sees us, she likes to rub up against my hand when I am cleaning the tank and will take food from my fingers.
She seems lost and sad in her hospital tank, all alone. But I can't control her buoyancy issue in the main tank, and my alpha Blood Parrot was always headbutting her now that she is floating upside down. So for her safety we have kept her in her little hospital tank.
This is what I have treated her with:
Tetracycline (performing partial water changes every 3 days with properly dosed water) along with Jungle Fungus Eliminator Crystals (treated according to directions on package, which states helps with swim bladder disease).
Raised tank temp to 82 degrees
Removed carbon from filter prior to beginning treatmentsWithheld food for 3 days.
Fed Jungle Anti-Bacteria Medicated Fish Food and Jungle Anti-Parasite Medicated Fish Food for 3 days each, with peas and live red wiggler worm (from my personal composting bin..so no pesticides or bad stuff in worms) between different medicated foods.
Fed defrosted bloodworms/krill and Emerald Mixture (has spinach and spirlina in it with brine shrimp)
All top off and tank water is conditioned with PRIME and/or NovAqua+
Just to add this, her hospital tank is a JEBO with a built in filter/light, we have the tank filled to the very top, submerging the filter outlet so that she is submerged at all times. Otherwise her abdomen and bottom fins would be exposed to air (which occurred when she was in the main tank, and she developed an open sore near her anus. The sore has since healed with all the treatments and being completely submerged in the water.)
The filter is going with just floss, and an airstone is also in her tank. I keep the tank lights off unless I am feeding her. I have a saltlamp nightlight on beside her tank,for subdued lighting during the day.
She has lost some weight, but still has an enlarged abdomen and floating on top of her tank. She will swim to catch food. her coloring is still very good (bright pink orange) and she gets excited when I come to check on her...looking for her food I am sure!
Has anybody had this problem with their Blood Parrot(s)?? Have you tried something I have not, which worked to resolve the problem??
Any help would be greatly appreciated! Karen is a very sweet fish, she is one of our favorite Blood Parrots. She comes to the glass whenever she sees us, she likes to rub up against my hand when I am cleaning the tank and will take food from my fingers.
She seems lost and sad in her hospital tank, all alone. But I can't control her buoyancy issue in the main tank, and my alpha Blood Parrot was always headbutting her now that she is floating upside down. So for her safety we have kept her in her little hospital tank.