Fish Swimming Vertically - Update. Advice Needed

One of my lampeye killifish has started swimming vertically (head down) in the tank.

Does anyone know why this might be?

He is able to swim horizontally but when he stops actively swimming he return to the vertical position.

Ammonia and nitrites are 0.

I am very new to fishkeeping. The fish have only been in for 2 weeks (the tank was fully cycled first). Assume that I don't have any knowledge of fish disease.

Please also note that I don't have a quarantine tank (no space or money left). I also have shrimp in my tank so any suggestions need to be shrimp safe. Thanks.

 

It sounds like swim bladder to me, I'd fast for three days then feed a deshelled pea(blanched or thawed).

 

It sounds like swim bladder to me, I'd fast for three days then feed a deshelled pea(blanched or thawed).

Will that be ok for the other fish in the tank as I have no way of isolating him?

 

It'll be fine, I actually reccomend fasting one day out of the week and feeding a pea the next regularly. Kind of like a preventive measure for thinks like this.

 

Epsom Salt baths often help with swim bladder issues. It is done in a small tupperware type container. While he is in there, it would be a good opportunity to lightly feed the rest of the tank.

 

Epsom Salt baths often help with swim bladder issues. It is done in a small tupperware type container. While he is in there, it would be a good opportunity to lightly feed the rest of the tank.

Can you elaborate please? I have no idea how to do that.

 

IMO it's uneccessary for something like this and can cause extra stress when all that's needed is fasting. That's just my opinion though.

 

Sorry Kat. Epsom Salts draw out excess fluids. It can also act as a mild laxative. You dissolve 1/2 tablespoon of pure epsom (no added frangrances or anything) into 1/2 gallon of tank water. Once dissolved, you transfer the fish to the solution. I try to do it for 30 minutes.
As Platy stated, it can cause some fish distress which is why I never leave a fish in the bath unattended. Is it possible for you to get a pic of your fish when it goes vertical?

 

Thank you both.

As I don't have any Epsom salts my first option will be fasting. If there is no improvement by the weekend I will consider the Epsom salt bath.

Starting to think I should have got a hamster. Lol.




Not a great photo I'm afraid. It kept moving!

Is it possible for you to get a pic of your fish when it goes vertical?

 

It is a little bit puffy. Not as sleek as I would expect a lamp eye to be. Good Luck.

 

I had a fish due this due to a fungal infection. One fungal tab later and it was resolved.

 

Update. Been fasting my fish for 2 days and he has got worse instead of better.

He keeps getting stuck to my filter as he doesn't have the strength to swim away. I have currently turned the filter off to give him chance to swim away but this obviously isn't a long term solution.

Thinking I might have to pop out and get a really cheap kiddies tank just to keep him separated and away from the filter.

Any more ideas? I will try Epsom salts but am worried it will just stress him further.

 

The fish looks deformed in the pic are you sure he was 100% when you got him?

 

If you are taking him out and adding him to a small container, epsom can be added right into the container/tank. Not at bath strength, it is a minimum dosage.

 

Fish is now in a very hastily assembled hospital tank. He doesn't look well at all. Just floating upside down. If I couldn't see his gills moving I would think he was dead.

Filter is currently off so he doesn't get sucked in or pushed round.

I am not hopeful but at least he won't get picked on by the others in his own tank.

 

Sadly he died at some point in the last 20 minutes. I think the stress of moving him to the hospital tank finished him off. My first fish loss :-(

 

It is always hard to lose a fish, but the first one is especially difficult. I'm sorry for your loss.

 

It is always hard to lose a fish, but the first one is especially difficult. I'm sorry for your loss.

Thank you