Fish suddenly sick with buoyancy issues - anything I can do?

My small heckelii which I moved to the big cichlid tank the day before yesterday. I think it was a mistake to move him. All day yesterday he stayed at the back corner at the top, but otherwise looked normal and I thought he just needed to get used to the new situation. No signs of any aggression towards him by the other fish. But this morning he was at the bottom and had the beginnings of some buoyancy problems, he looked odd swimming and did swim to the surface but then floated down to the bottom again. During the course of the morning he changed position several times but got progressively worse. I set up a small hospital tank and put him in there, at first he just lay on his side breathing rapidly. Later he did right himself, but every time he tries to swim he lists to one side. No sign of any bloating or any kind of injury. This has happened so quickly, I don't really think there is much hope for him - but is there anything I could try? Would adding salt help? For additional information, the tank he was in before the move had 0 nitrates, the one I moved him to had under 5ppm, and the temperature is about 1.5C higher in the big tank than the one he was in before, but I acclimated him gradually in a bag before releasing him. All other fish are OK, except that I am somewhat concerned about an Apistogramma in the initial tank that has been hiding the last two days. I did see him once yesterday though, he came out and ate some food and looked OK.

 

My small heckelii which I moved to the big cichlid tank the day before yesterday. I think it was a mistake to move him. All day yesterday he stayed at the back corner at the top, but otherwise looked normal and I thought he just needed to get used to the new situation. No signs of any aggression towards him by the other fish. But this morning he was at the bottom and had the beginnings of some buoyancy problems, he looked odd swimming and did swim to the surface but then floated down to the bottom again. During the course of the morning he changed position several times but got progressively worse. I set up a small hospital tank and put him in there, at first he just lay on his side breathing rapidly. Later he did right himself, but every time he tries to swim he lists to one side. No sign of any bloating or any kind of injury. This has happened so quickly, I don't really think there is much hope for him - but is there anything I could try? Would adding salt help? For additional information, the tank he was in before the move had 0 nitrates, the one I moved him to had under 5ppm, and the temperature is about 1.5C higher in the big tank than the one he was in before, but I acclimated him gradually in a bag before releasing him. All other fish are OK, except that I am somewhat concerned about an Apistogramma in the initial tank that has been hiding the last two days. I did see him once yesterday though, he came out and ate some food and looked OK.

When I move fish I've made it a habit to 50% water change both tanks beforehand, and test and if one parameter is out of line between tanks it's likely ok, but if it's more than one, I don't make the move and wait a couple days, another water change on both and test again until they either match or just one parameter is slightly off.
Just I noticed a while ago, fish get stressed and have difficulty acclimating when more than one thing is off at a time. like they can adjust to a temp difference or a pH difference or a GH difference, but two of them at one time or more and it's a problem and I think it has to do with the redox (i'm not to well versed in it) and osmoregulation, differences in molecules and ion transfers that can cause stress and shock or give them dropsy like symptoms. Assuming it's things we don't really test for as far as the water quality goes but It never goes well for me if I just move fish, or even if I float them or try drip acclimation.

Anyways I've found this is a much smoother transition for all fish involved doing it this way and trying to get the tanks as close as possible to matching on parameters, and fresh, new water from a recent water change.
I've lost fish not doing it, and I've never lost a fish or even had a hiccup from it by doing it, smooth transitions from one tank to the other.
I've been able to move a fish from one tank to another for a month without any issue and think it's fine and they won't stress when I move them, but then when I went to put him back in his original tank he goes into shock gets balance issues or starts spinning and dies, just strange things. can't say as to the science to why it works, or why it happens, but bringing the two tanks close on parameters and giving the water in both a freshening up works for me to keep them shock free and adjusting quickly from tank to tank.

Salt might help if its osmoregulation related. if it's stress or other cause. it likely won't help.

 

You may be right, but I don't think anything other than temperature and nitrate levels were different. I didn't actually test for pH, GH or KH but they are usually the same in all my tanks.

Anyway, its too late he went down hill very rapidly and is almost dead now. I am sad.

 

You may be right, but I don't think anything other than temperature and nitrate levels were different. I didn't actually test for pH, GH or KH but they are usually the same in all my tanks.

Anyway, its too late he went down hill very rapidly and is almost dead now. I am sad.

I been there. sorry for your loss.

 

Thanks. I have moved fish between tanks before, never experienced anything like this. Normally I am not keen on albino fish, but I really liked him...

 

Sounds more like a stress related death rather than a difference in water parameters.
When I transfer fish over to another tank, it's lights off for a day or two.
Seems to help with acclimation.

 

Sounds more like a stress related death rather than a difference in water parameters.
When I transfer fish over to another tank, it's lights off for a day or two.
Seems to help with acclimation.

Yes, could be, I kept the lights off for a while but not that long.