Fast advice needed re: our goldfish please

[allie&mattsmom]

Our golfish has been floating to the top upside down today. When we walk up to the aquarium, he gets himself flipped over but then a minute later he's back up on top. We're going to clean his aquarium to see if that helps. I put him in a big bowl of drinking water so I could clean it and he's upside down in it too. What should I do? I'm amazed I've become so attached to him but I have and I'm sitting here nearly in tears. TIA.

 

[L107ANGEL]

I would tell you he is sleeping but I am sorry it may be more

 

[ChrisnSteph]

I'm sorry.

 

[sajetto]

I'm so sorry, wish I could tell you something positive

 

[allie&mattsmom]

He's very active still so it's not like he's dying. It's like he can't keep himself from floating to the top. He still moves his fins like crazy and if something startles him he flips over and swims like crazy until he gets tired and floats to the top.

 

[Toby'sFriend]

it sounds like a swim bladder problem. There is a bunch of stuff they sell in pet stores that supposedly help, but they have never worked for our tanks.

 

[LauraR]

The following is the advice of my husband, our family fish expert:

The reason your goldfish is floating upside down is because its air bladder if overfilled (don't know why that happens). You could try gently squeezing it to release a little air (although frankly the thought of doing that scares me). But the air problem has nothing to do with a dirty tank, and you definitely shouldn't put the fish in tap water, because it contains too much chlorine. You need to put in chlorine remover (which they sell at most pet stores) before transferring a fish into it.

Anyway, good luck from both of us! Hope your little guy survives!

 

[allie&mattsmom]

The following is the advice of my husband, our family fish expert:

The reason your goldfish is floating upside down is because its air bladder if overfilled (don't know why that happens). You could try gently squeezing it to release a little air (although frankly the thought of doing that scares me). But the air problem has nothing to do with a dirty tank, and you definitely shouldn't put the fish in tap water, because it contains too much chlorine. You need to put in chlorine remover (which they sell at most pet stores) before transferring a fish into it.

Anyway, good luck from both of us! Hope your little guy survives!

Thanks LauraR & tell your hubby thanks as well. Oh, and I didn't put him in tap water, we always use drinking water. The PetSmart people told my hubby that this is common w/gold fish (don't know if I buy that or not) and to feed him a couple of peas. Sounds weird huh? I checked some internet sites and they said the same thing. I'm supposed to be cleaning my house for a baby shower I'm having for my niece tomorrow and instead we're dealing with this. I think it's gonna be a long night .

 

[mrsgus06]

The reason your goldfish is floating upside down is because its air bladder if overfilled (don't know why that happens). You could try gently squeezing it to release a little air (although frankly the thought of doing that scares me).

Wasn't there a movie with the line, "It's so quiet in here you can hear a fish fart?" I'm sorry to hear about the fish, we just lost our last two last month. I just have to ask, do you know why peas?

 

[allie&mattsmom]

I'm sorry to hear about the fish, we just lost our last two last month. I just have to ask, do you know why peas?

Ya know I have no idea why peas. Doesn't make sense to me but thought we'd give it a shot. I just feel bad for him b/c you can tell he's just worn out trying to keep from floating on top. I don't want him to suffer so I don't know what we'll do. I read a thread awhil back about the freezing method which is supposed to be a humane way to euthanize a fish but I certainly can't imagine I'd be able to do it. Thanks everyone.

 

[Abbie]

We have a tank full of goldfish won from our local firehouse carnival each summer (my kids are very good at the ping pong throw! ) and for some reason they seem to thrive. But when one of mine is doing what yours is doing, I always isolate it from the others in a large tupperware container and add a bit of salt. There is a large aquarium store nearby and they told me this years ago. For some reason, the salt seems to help the fish regain its equilibrium. Then I clean the tank, replace the filter if needed, and always add some more salt to the tank before replacing the fish that was having troubles. This usually is all it takes. Hope that helps and your fish is soon swimming right!

 

[epcotfan]

The peas help with constipation. Don't feed the shells. Only the interior of the pea.
Try these links:
http://www.geocities.com/swimbladderhelp/water_pressure_effects.html
http://www.fishdoc.co.uk/FAQ.htm#equillibrium
Don't freeze the fish. Goldfish are cold water fish and the freezing will make for a long and painful death.

 

[allie&mattsmom]

The peas help with constipation. Don't feed the shells. Only the interior of the pea.
Try these links:
http://www.geocities.com/swimbladderhelp/water_pressure_effects.html
http://www.fishdoc.co.uk/FAQ.htm#equillibrium
Don't freeze the fish. Goldfish are cold water fish and the freezing will make for a long and painful death.

Last night I researched on the internet and read about freezing NOT being a good way to euthanize a fish. I actually found a very interesting (yet heartbreaking) site on the best way to euthanize fish. My kids grandma bought this fish a couple of years ago for the kids and at the time I was not thrilled about it but I've come to love it. This morning he's at the top but has been right side up most of the time. One site I found said to not feed the fish for a day or so and that this helps. I'm just going to play it by ear and see how he does the rest of the day. Thanks everyone for all of your fish help!

 

[epcotfan]

I sure hope your little guy makes it

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

Uh-oh. That sounds like my One-Eyed Mom. He floated like that for awhile, but took forever to pass on.

Looks like you're going to be dealing with the same thing I dealt with. I hated to see him suffer, but couldn't bring myself to put him out of his misery, because there was always that "what if".

Mine finally passed away two days before we left for Disney.

Sorry...

ETA: Here is the link to my thread when my Betta was dying. Lots of good info: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1026989&highlight=betta

 

[allie&mattsmom]

Uh-oh. That sounds like my One-Eyed Mom. He floated like that for awhile, but took forever to pass on.

Looks like you're going to be dealing with the same thing I dealt with. I hated to see him suffer, but couldn't bring myself to put him out of his misery, because there was always that "what if".

Mine finally passed away two days before we left for Disney.

Sorry...

ETA: Here is the link to my thread when my Betta was dying. Lots of good info: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1026989&highlight=betta

Oh you know what? I remember your thread. I'm just like you. I don't want to see the little guy suffer but I know I couldn't be the one to put him out of his misery. Afterall, this is the fish that two times now I've had to perform what I like to call "gravelectomies" (tee hee) on him. We used to have smaller gravel type rocks in the bottom of his tank and two different times I found him head down almost dead on the bottom with a piece of gravel stuck in his mouth. The first time I totally freaked out! It was just me & my dd at home and I got the net, grabbed the fish and took the tweezers to get the rock out. Same thing the second time only I was a tiny bit calmer (maybe ). It may have happened 3 times, can't recall for sure but finally we went and got big rocks to solve the problem. I thought for sure I killed him or at least hurt him with the tweezers b/c I was shaking so bad! I don't have a career as a surgeon that's for sure!

So anyway, I've saved this guys life a couple of times and I'm hoping I can do it again.

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

So anyway, I've saved this guys life a couple of times and I'm hoping I can do it again.

I remember you! I remember the word gravelectomy!

I understand what you're going through.