Swim Bladder Disease - 12" Oscar

[BostonMike]

I've had an Oscar for the last 5 years. ABout 12" now in a 75gal tank with a 5" Convict as a tankmate (no issues between them)

ABout a month ago, the Oscar came down with SBD. He's stuck floating at the top of the tank with about 1" of his back above water. He can swim around, but any attempt to go down results in him bobbing up.

Checked water params, have done extensive water changes, espom salts, peas, etc. Nothing seems to help. He does still eat, and bloodworms seems to be the only thing I can get him to chomp on. I mix some bloodworms with some peas and do get green poop. But he's still bobbing.

Like to exhaust all options before resorting to euthanizing. While he can still eat, I can tell floating at the top is a bit distressing to him.

Convict tankmate has been unaffected.

 

[Aquanero]

Try a bath using 1 teaspoon of Methylene blue per five gallons of water combined with a 1 quarter teaspoon of epsom salt per gallon of water. Use tank water for the bath. Bath the fish for 30 mins. Don't worry about being accurate with the MB a little more won't hurt. See if this helps. Bath can be repeated daily for up to ten days.

 

[BostonMike]

Thanks. Got some ordered and will give it a try.

 

[RD.]

If that doesn't work, another option is to treat main tank with Kanamycin. (Seachem Kanaplex) Very effective for internal bacterial infections of organs (kidneys) which is often associated with SBD. Most effective in hard water.

 

[05spurky]

Any luck, my aro recently starting floating on top of tank as well. Please let me know. Thanks.....

 

[BostonMike]

Unfortunately no improvement on condition. I've tried Epsom, peas, meth blue, kanalplex. I'm stuck as to what to do now.

 

[convict360]

Unfortunately no improvement on condition. I've tried Epsom, peas, meth blue, kanalplex. I'm stuck as to what to do now.

I wouldn't euthanise just yet, if he's made it this far; good chance he can be brought back; though I'm personally unsure of what direction I'd take

 

[05spurky]

Hmm, I'm not sure what to do either. My aro just floats on the surface. It has been a week. On occasion, he will try to swim around but tires and resorts back to floating. It is not a pleasant site with a 12 inch plus fish. I am running out of options; I was hoping you found a reliable/hopeful cure.

 

[BostonMike]

I wouldn't euthanise just yet, if he's made it this far; good chance he can be brought back; though I'm personally unsure of what direction I'd take

I don't know either. He feeds and is alert and active enough that I don't feel I need to rush to euthanize, but at the same time what quality of life is there to Bob at the top of the tank most of the day? Sometimes on his side

It's been about 2 months. No signs of deterioration in health...other than floating

 

[05spurky]

Mine floats on his side or upside down........