Frontosa "issues"-PLEASE HELP :(

[Orthopod]

Fronts are awesome. I have a large colony. Float is a common problem, seems to be more common in females and Mpimbwe locality. Occurs for many reasons, but stress seems to be one of the major ones.

Several treatments including epsom salt and placing needle in the air bladder to extract the trapped air.

Here's a link to the technique.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K3nvuNYNt8A

Regards,
Josh

Hope it is helpful for next time.

 

[Orthopod]

I have done the puncture method, keeps them deflated for a while, but some fish will blow right back up after several weeks. Annoying problem. How to: place them in a hospital tank to avoid the stress of other fish beating on them, catch the fish, hold and feel for air pocket, place sterile surgical needle and extract the air with mild pressure at air pocket. If you hit the right spot, air bubbles will be evacuated and after you remove needle, the fish will sink to the bottom. Do not feed for at least 3 days. I have never seen float in a dominant fish (have heard of it), but it is much less common - most stories of dominant fish float may be related to injury to swim bladder during depressurization given the depth they have to collect these guys at (my theory no real evidence purely anecdotal).

 

[mcayla cierra]

i have a colony of burundi frontosa and it seems like everytime i feed frozen krill they tear it up but then i find fish bobbing with FLOAT epsom salt cures it with no time they say if you catch it before your fish is stuck at the surface the salt treatment will most likely solve your problem so just pay attention to feeding and stressful enviroments and catch it early and you should be good in the future (hint:i never switch back and fourth from floating and sinking food)