JDMCD0525

I just walked in to my back room that has my 55g tank that I am still stocking. Right now it only has a Pictus Cat and a Swordtail. When I looked in the tank, my swordtail was wrapped around the intake to the filter. I assumed he was dead. I popped him loose and he swam away. He is now sitting at the bottom of the tank and not looking too good. His Dorsal fin is bent over and the only things moving are his pectoral fins and his mouth. Is there anything I can do for him?

JD

Dozey

So sorry to hear that. Some Stress Coat might help get him back on his feet (fins).

JDMCD0525

So I guess Stress Coat would be a good thing to keep around. LFS is closed now. I'm guessing Prime won't help.

shadowavenger

Prime might help. it contains slime coat substitute. But really stress coat is kinda like putting a bandaid on a puncture wound. It won't hurt at all but only the fish can heal itself. you should try to isolate the fish in a breeder box so it can recover without being subjected to currents or other fish bothering it.

JDMCD0525

OK, lets see. I don't have a breeder box, but do have 3 tanks. My 26g is pretty much fully stocked (5 tetras, 6 ottos, 2 mollies and a guppy). My 10g is currently filled with a pictus cat, a platy, a molly and a guppy. I've been quarantining them for a little under a week as I just got them at the fish store. The 10g also doesn't have an air pump where my other two tanks do. I'm a little concerned that the pictus in the 55g could get aggressive, although I have owned him for about 3 months and he hasn't shown any aggression yet even though he has been in the 26g tank before with lots of other kinds. It doesn't help for the currents, but would isolate him if I temporarily put the Pictus in the 26g. That would give the Swordtail the entire 55g tank to himself.

Thoughts?

JD

MeGustaUnaPez926

I think that sounds good. You may want to wrap a peice of filter media around the intake so that this doesn't happen again. Sorry to hear about this...

Dozey

Fish can become aggressive when with an injured or ill fish so anything you can do to isolate him will help. In a clinch you can use a Tupperware container, drill it full of holes for water circulation and keep him there over night until you can find a more suitable solution.

It’s a tough call as to moving the pictus as the fact that the sword tail got stuck to the intake to begin with might indicate that he was weak from illness which could also mean your pictus could be ill too.

MeGustaUnaPez926

Ooh, good point Dozey, didn't think of that...

JDMCD0525

I think I can rule out the introduction of something foreign to make him ill. The two of them have been the only two fish in there since I finished cycling it a little over a month ago. Besides water changes, I haven't introduced anything new to the tank since I set it up. Both fish have been very active and healthy looking up until tonight. I have been a little aggressive with the water changes as I don't think I soaked the wood that I put in there long enough. I have a large piece of wood that I bought at the fish store that stains the water, so I do about 20 gallons or so (30-40%) water changes each week.

He just moved a bit. I was working on something else away from the tank, and when I went back he had moved. I went to find him and he had moved away from the rock he was leaning against and pretty much fell to his side. He struggled a bit and was able to lean himself up against another plant so that he is right side up. I'm guessing he'll be lucky to make it till morning. For now I think I'll get that tupperware and start drilling holes.

JDMCD0525

So if he does live past morning, how do I make sure he is fed. The way fish food floats around and with his inability to really move much...

shadowavenger

I wouldn't worry about feeding him. he probably wouldn't eat anyways and it would just make the water messy. when you go to put him the tupper ware try to put it down into the water and gently push him into it if you can, that way it will spare him the stress of being netted. when you have him in the iso-box pour some stress coat or a very small amount of prime on him to give him some slime coating. other than that, there isn't much more you could do other than wait and hope for the best.

JDMCD0525

I thought the idea was to drill holes in the tupperware, then weight it down and put it upside down over the top of where he was sitting, thus leaving him in the same tank, but isolating him from the other fish.

shadowavenger

Well, you can do that but it would involve having to stick your hand down the tank everytime to check on him. if you put him in it and secure it to the top of the tank with the rim just above the water line you can manage him much easier.

agabr123

i'm sorry to hear about your swordtail

i'd definitely keep him up at the top in the tupperware, it will be a lot easier for you to check on him

Dozey

Securing the container to the top is certainly the best idea but if that doesn’t work gently (if possible) get him in the container and put the top on (more holes). Let the container rest on the bottom, and then you can gently raise the container and remove the top to check on him.

My prayers are with you and you injured little guy.

JDMCD0525

OK, so here's what we have. He looks much healthier just putting him in here. He is staying vertical by himself and his dorsal fin is no longer bent over although it is pretty beaten up. His pectoral and ventral fins are a little torn up as well, especially on the left side. His tail has a few nicks, but is not too bad. His gills and scales all seem to be intact. Hopefully he'll be just fine. I guess all I can do now is wait 'til morning. Thanks again for all of the advice.

JD

Attached Images

IMG_0796b.jpg (452.7 KB, 66 views)

Dozey

He’s looking not too bad. Stress Coat will help him along and keep an eye on the water in his container. A lot more holes would be best, including on the bottom to allow waste to flow out. But he should be ok over night.

I respect all your efforts to save a life.

JDMCD0525

Yeah, it's hard to see from the picture but there are 9 holes drilled into the bottom of the container. 8 more around the sides. I poured a capful of prime into the tank shortly after the whole thing happened. I put another ml or so directly into the tupperware after I had it set up. I guess I'll get some stress coat tomorrow to help along.

Dozey

Yeah I couldn’t see that in the picture… Job well done.

shih-tzu mom

Hi: I don't know whether swords can take salt or not -but if they can a little aquarium salt will help him relax and start to heal lol and you will have to check for your other fish as well Hope this helps your little guy until you can get the stress-coat, i just noticed that you had a catfish-salt no good for him please disregard unless you remove him from the tank bella

agabr123

from the picture he's not looking too out of shape your little guy looks like he should be able to recover pretty well

JDMCD0525

I poured a cup full of water in the top to make sure the water was circulating and he moved around much more than he was last night. I expected to wake up this morning and find him floating, but he seems to be doing much better. Although I don't expect that he is fully recovered, my next issue is going to be to try to figure out when I can let him out. I think I'll let him stay in there for another day or so.

Someone mentioned wrapping filter material around the filter intake to make sure this doesn't happen again. I have an Aqueon 55 filter. Actually all of my tanks came with Aqueon filters and they seem to be working fine. Is this a common problem with these filters? Is there really something I need to do or was this just a fluke?

JD

agabr123

it's something that should be considered with all filters. for some of mine i wrap a piece of nylon hose around it with a rubber band to keep my bettas fins from being caught in there. you can use hose or just a piece of sponge or filter media.

Dozey

Firstly, it’s great to hear he’s recovering. He has you and your efforts to thank for that.

When to move him? When you feel he can swim well enough to avoid any possible attack from your pictus he should be ok to return home.

This occurrence really shouldn’t be an issue with any filter with the exception of fry and very young/small fish. Your guy looks large enough that he should have been able to avoid this from happening which again makes me think he might not be feeling 100%.

The filter floss is a possibility but I don’t know if it would be a good long term solution. My concern would be restricting flow to the filter and possibly overheating the impeller. If you choose to do so I would suggest cleaning/replacing it daily. It might not be a bad ideal until your sword regains his strength.

My canister filter has a very strong suction at the intake and even my very young and small neon tetras don’t have an issue avoiding it.

Was this a fluke accident? Very well may be. He might have got a fin caught in the grate and simply could pull himself away from it.

shih-tzu mom

Also- when a fish is weak-they are more inclined to get sucked up to the filter- i agree with Dozey and glad he is doing better and don't rush him let him let you know-bella

JDMCD; i have the same type of filter on one of my tanks and they can be sucked into it, if weak or small or sick-Dozey has a very good idea to block the filter as i have done. bella

MeGustaUnaPez926

I'm glad to hear he's recovering!

DE88ROX

Glad to hear he is doing ok!

shadowavenger

How is he doing now?

JDMCD0525

I thought he looked like he was doing much better. I let him out of his tupperware and he swam around a little then started floating on his side. I've put him back in the tupperware and he from time to time swims around, then floats back to the bottom onto his side. I feel like I'm watching his last minutes right now and don't know if I can help him.

JDMCD0525

I just tested the water then did my weekly water change. All of the chemicals were balanced, and I added the stress coat to the water before adding to the tank. I'm really baffled as he looked like he was doing just fine. Not sure if maybe letting him out stressed him out a little too much or what.