Eating Bubbles?

Consecration

New Member
My poor Oranda's world has been turned upside down. Hes been floating uncontrollably upside down for weeks now. whenever I go and flip his lights on or off he flips over and acts normal begging for food, but always ends up flipped over again. I've seen him swim through the bubble curtain eating the air, perhaps that's the cause? I've moved the curtain up along side the tank to try and keep him out of it. It's so weird, and I feel bad for him. I don't think hes dieing considering hes been like this for awhile. What can I do to help him? I've tried thawed peas with the skins removed, water changes and feeding very little. Ive checked the water and its looks to be normal. Any suggestions?
 

Madness

Well-Known Member
Staff member
I would guess swim bladder disease. And peas are the way to go. If say continue with the peas.
 

jettej

Well-Known Member
madness said:
I would guess swim bladder disease. And peas are the way to go. If say continue with the peas.
madness is exactly right. I had that very same problem few weeks ago until I bought a pack of frozen peas. First I tried just dumping them. But I figured the skin would take a while for them to digest, so now..... every night I grab some peas from the freezer run it through tap water. and start peeling them one by one. then I squeeze them a little to make sure its not frozen inside plus makes it easier for them to digest. Then once they start liking the peas just keep feeding them with that. Try to balance their diet thou. avoid mini pellets cuz they expand in their stomach. give some goldfish flakes if they still look hungry every now and then after feeding them with peas. Note: Be patient for them to like their peas.

Plus check your water. Nitrite and Nitrates gives them bladder problems. Well ammonia is bad too. so Check them regularly. On your first few days feeding with peas try to do like 20% water change every 24 hours for a week.

My Goldies now are happy and I can handfeed them with the peas. They are so adorable. They stare at me when i stare at them LOL :tongue:

Here is my post about my Goldies:

http://www.wafishbox.com/t6032-solved-new-1-female-orange-oranda-and-1-female-fantail-goldies
 

Consecration

New Member
I have been feeding him peas for the past week and doing water changes. A day after my original post he was better for the next 2 days, he honestly looked normal! Now Hes slowly declining again and looks worse than before. He is back to floating upside down, and his fins seem to be shredding. I don't see any fungus... hes in the tank with his girlfriend and even though I never see her picking at him, I'm assuming that's what is going on. Unless swim bladder disease makes the fins deteriorate? Any more advice? Thanks!
 

jettej

Well-Known Member
Check the water again. Did you do an accurate test lately?

Other thing is watch them for a while especially after feeding time check for aggression and if they are still hungry. The fins shredding happened to me once too when they were turning upside down. Its probably because they are trying too hard to control their movement while upside down so they get stressed more and just tear the fins.
 

Consecration

New Member
what do you suggest for the fins, melafix? Is this disease painful to them? I hate seeing him suffer through this, it sucks!
 

jettej

Well-Known Member
Yes treat it with melafix. The best thing you can do right now is give them a partial water changes to keep them out of stress. Dont try to over treat them because thats the most problem with us aquarist. We rush things out and harms them more. Do whatever is needed first. Do it one at a time. Feed them some goldfish flakes.
 
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