As much as I have NEVER seen a fish live that long after losing equilibrium, I'd start by feeding him Epsom salt soaked food...I honestly would not have a clue where else to begin with treatment for this...
somethings not right??
- Thread starter sandreynn
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Can you clarify once more--he has been upsidedown for a full six months? If he has only been upsidedown for a limited amount of time the answer could be Epsom salts like predator keeper suggests.
Ive never owned a short-body, but like doc said--it is a deformity. Deformed creatures often suffer from shorter lifespans and a wealth of other side-effects.
I have never owned a sb poly. I did; however, attend several lectures last semester on various mutations and deformities in humans.
In humans, it depends mostly upon the specific condition. Ie. those with campomelic syndrome suffer from dwarfism and experience shortened lifespans along with a wealth of other symptoms (respiratory difficulties deformities in cartilage etc.). In other scenarios dwarfism does not come packaged with other deformities and symptoms. My guess is that this is another difficulty associated with the genetic disorder.
There are many causes for dwarfism in mammals. They are not all the same. I see no reason why this would be different in Poly's.
Ive never owned a short-body, but like doc said--it is a deformity. Deformed creatures often suffer from shorter lifespans and a wealth of other side-effects.
I have never owned a sb poly. I did; however, attend several lectures last semester on various mutations and deformities in humans.
In humans, it depends mostly upon the specific condition. Ie. those with campomelic syndrome suffer from dwarfism and experience shortened lifespans along with a wealth of other symptoms (respiratory difficulties deformities in cartilage etc.). In other scenarios dwarfism does not come packaged with other deformities and symptoms. My guess is that this is another difficulty associated with the genetic disorder.
There are many causes for dwarfism in mammals. They are not all the same. I see no reason why this would be different in Poly's.
From what I've heard/seen/read on here, SB polys tend live semi-normal lives/lifespans. I agree that its almost a sure thing that any genetic mutation/deformity is coming with side effects, but this...Dr. B may have nailed it with him having a weird equilibrium from being an SB, but I'm getting a feeling there is something else at play here...swim bladder issues being my first assumption.
I'm not sure that the Epsom salts will help if this is a side effect of its genetic disorder. In such a scenario, this would not be a 'hiccup' in its system, but a permenant inperfection. Still worth a try.
oh no I know that haha, I meant if this was an issue in the swim bladder or intestinal blockage or something along those lines, I love using Epsom salts but I know they don't cure DNA issues haha. I'm interested to see updates for this...I've never seen a fish go belly up that long/often and last more than a week.
Sorry, I didn't see your reply before posting that second bit. It was meant as an afterthought to my first post. I'm using a phone with terrible reception at the moment. Completely agree that Epsom salts are the best choice for treatment. If it doesn't work, it is likely because the issue here is genetic in nature and there likely isn't a solution.
If it has been 6 months then I doubt this is blockage or swim bladder. A blockage would've built up too much and it would've died already. If it was a swim bladder problem I would assume that after being like that for a week it's intestines would've been messed up (however being upside down for 6 months should've had some serious damage done already). I don't think the salt can hurt, but if it's been like this for a while I'm not sure there's any medicine or treatments that can help. I think it's a genetic problem or even something caused him to be like this. Maybe he got scared and from being a SB he just hit a piece of decor or tank wall and he got messed up.
ya I thought about the time frame more after I had posted, and that's a good point being that its been so long anything else should have done him in by nowl.
you guys have been so helpfully 
thank you. i will try the salt thing and see if it does anything. my guess though is after reading all your posts is that he hit something and got messed up 
thank you. i will try the salt thing and see if it does anything. my guess though is after reading all your posts is that he hit something and got messed up 