Rock fell on fish

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skald89

Gambusia
MFK Member
Jul 10, 2011
109
0
16
Fresh meadows - Queens, NY
Hi,

I woke up Sunday to my P. Acei on its side and stuck under a rock. I removed the rocks from the tank and will not be putting them back in.

Now the fish stuck under the rock swims upside down and mainly stays right under the surface. Is there anything I can do to help the fish?
 
Not much you can do. Fish probably sustained injuries when pinned under the rock. If fish doesn't improve, you should euthanize it.
 
There isn't much you can do. You can watch him to see how he does over a few days then go from there to decide what you will do. I had a fish who I suspect paralized himself, not sure how but one day he could not move the back half of its body (a little past his pec fins). I have no clue how he did it but he lived for a long time afterwards, I separated him and put him in his own tank. I am not sure what issues or injuries your fish migh have from the rock so the best you can do is just keep an eye on him see if he improves or make a decision on what to do if he seems to be suffering.
 
give it some time. They are living things like yourself. You wouldnt live or walk after a boulder multiple times your weight falls on you for a single second. The fish got slammed and stayed stuck hurting under it for a long time. You can't expect it to get up and go do a marathon after.
 
the animal guy said:
give it some time. They are living things like yourself. You wouldnt live or walk after a boulder multiple times your weight falls on you for a single second. The fish got slammed and stayed stuck hurting under it for a long time. You can't expect it to get up and go do a marathon after.
Click to expand...

Im not expecting it to recover in a day. I was asking how to help the fish.
 
I have been keeping an eye on the fish.

- He has developed brown coloring over parts of its face. ( kind of looks like how brown algae can develop on rocks in the tank )
- One of his eyes is starting to look similar to pop eye. The cornea ( for lack of better word ) for its eye has started to puff out. I think it might be due to floating upside down all day and night.
- A few times I have seen it dash straight down to the sand bed and then when its face is in the sand it will do a corkscrew spin.

I feel bad for this fish and don't know how to help it recover. I have kept it in tank as I do not have a filter for a second tank.
 
It sounds like the stress of being pinned caused him to break out with some disease. I would remove him immediately and begin treatment for those side effects. You could change the second tank water every day. Put the main tank water in his tank and put the replacement water into the big tank.
 
Another issue with a second tank right now is that I do not have a heater for the tank. Water can dip down 20 degrees in my house.

What should I treat him with?

I have
- API Cichlid Salt
- PimaFix
 
Might be time to get him in an ice bath.

If he is in pain, or getting picked on. Say your good-byes. If he seems content, and show signs of adapting to the injury, wait it out.

I had a fish that stopped being buoyant. Some sort of swim bladder disease, tried to treat it, but he really struggled and suffered longer than he should have. If I had an opportunity to do over, I would of ended it sooner.
 
No fish pick on him. I believe he is suffering but would like to if possible help it recover.
 
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