Basically came dead :( Could he pull through?

[Angler]

I posted this in the health forum, but it was suggested that I try here too.

I got a 7" Orino today via UPS. I thought he was dead at first - floating upside down and no movement. He had some black bruises on him. Then I saw a gill move, so I put him in a bucket and started to add warm water from the tank to the cold water he came in. I moved him around to try and get oxygen in the gills, and he started to breath.

I eventually put him in the tank. For a while, he just floated upside down at the top, not able to move, but breathing. I added salt to the tank, and it has pretty good water movement for oxygen.

Now, 5 hours later, he is still breathing hard. He is not floating at the top anymore. Now he is basically staying vertical with his tail touching the substrate, still unable to move his body. The only movement is from his gills, eyes, and pectoral fins.

Anyone have a similar experience? Did the fish pull through? Anything else I can do at this point?

 

[fallin49er]

I received a fish like that once. I put him in a net and floated it in front of a powerhead..it survived..took two days before I released it into the tank. It is the only fish out of the six that is still alive. So there is always a chance.

 

[Tripletail]

best to let him rest and don`t disturb him. don`t let any other fish bother or pick on him. hope he recovers

 

[gacericardo]

I would do the net thing and turn off all the lights. Salt is good and make sure there is plenty of oxygen. May even want to lower the water level to allow the water to make more of a splash when it comes out of the filter. Good luck. Hope he recovers. Also show some pics of his vertical position

 

[pwmin]

How's it doing now, Tyler? Good to hear it's made some progress. Guess I'll see it in a few hours.

 

[Angler]

I would do the net thing and turn off all the lights. Salt is good and make sure there is plenty of oxygen. May even want to lower the water level to allow the water to make more of a splash when it comes out of the filter. Good luck. Hope he recovers. Also show some pics of his vertical position

I'm afraid to do the net thing because if he improves a lot over night, I don't want him to freak out and become stressed if my makes an effort to swim out of the net.

How's it doing now, Tyler? Good to hear it's made some progress. Guess I'll see it in a few hours.

He is doing no better. Still just sitting vertically in the same spot.

 

[knifegill]

Well, my Oscar wasn't that bad, but he did float around tail-down for about three days after my brother-in-law scared him and he smacked his head. He pulled out of it suddenly, as if he instantly remembered which way was up. I hope your guy pulls through.

 

[fishy12]

The more movement in the water the more oxygen in the water.

 

[fallin49er]

I'm afraid to do the net thing because if he improves a lot over night, I don't want him to freak out and become stressed if my makes an effort to swim out of the net.




He is doing no better. Still just sitting vertically in the same spot.

Hopefully it pulls through. If it is in an upright horizontal position then that is good. Mine wasn't able to keep itself upright that was why I put it in the net.

 

[West1]

Well if hes not dead yet after being shipped, that could mean something good. As long as hes breathing and is not belly up, then I think every second is that much more progress.

Im going to say maybe raise the temp in the tank to 84*.
What do you guys think?
Pros and Cons about that

We are ruting for ya little buddy