help -- almost dead sterlet sturgeon ?

[new2natives]

i woke up this morning to find one of my sterlets floating upside down at the surface ...
it just seems like he cant move. every once and a while he will move a little, but he can't move himself through the water. and once i release him from my hand, he flips over onto his back and either falls to the bottom or floats to the top ...

all of my water parameters are in check, so thats not an issue, and my other sterlet is fine (as well as the other tankmates). there is nothing visibly wrong with him, other than he doesnt want to swim

i added some salt to the tank, and tried to hand feed him some bloodworms, but he would only eat a small amount??

does anyone have any advice?

i am at work until 6:30 tonight, and i dont know if he will still be alive when i get home, but i will try anything...

 

[synodontisjack]

I've had this problem before with a large ruthenus, i came down one morning and it was rolling over in the pond, parameters were fine but later in the day a heron put a hole in him as he was such an easy target. Sturgeon are a very sensetive fish and sometimes they just go belly up with no explanation, i'm not sure if its to do with not replicating natural migratory patterns as there seems to be less problems in the species which spend the majority of their time in freshwater.

 

[new2natives]

A fish that is floating upside-down ate bloodworms?
Something sounds fishy here.

In any case...can you provide more detail...age of fish, size tank...how long have you had them, what have you been feeding them, temp...etc.

I have no captive sturgeon experience but I feel comfortable enough to tell you that fish floating upside down is not good, that white floating belly is an easy target.

i rolled it over, and then fed it bloodworms, but yes it was eating a small amount

age - 10-11 months ive had him since 3"
size - 13"
tank - 150g, open water with sand substrate
eating only bloodworms
temp is 65-68

 

[Moontanman]

i rolled it over, and then fed it bloodworms, but yes it was eating a small amount

age - 10-11 months ive had him since 3"
size - 13"
tank - 150g, open water with sand substrate
eating only bloodworms
temp is 65-68

I'm not sure if it has any relevance here but I've had problems with internal bacterial infections feeding frozen blood worms. an internal infection could cause him to float from a gas bubble inside, in any case it doesn't sound good. By the time they float it's usually too late but salt just might help, sterlets enjoy brackish water and salt can help with some infections.

 

[blurock]

I had the same thing happen to my last two Sterlets who were eatting bloodworms, but it's the only thing I could get them to eat, and only had access to frozen bloodworms.
I would try adding some aeration, and salt
It's possible he has a sand impaction in his gut too... since they are bottom feeders.

 

[JIM]

Sounds like these things need a little X-Lax and Gas-X daily

 

[Moontanman]

I'm not sure how sand in their gut could be a problem but the blood worms could indeed be a big part fo the problem. I would indeed like an update on what is going on.

 

[new2natives]

... i dont know ...

he looked HORRIBLE yesterday, floating upside down, and laying upside down on the floor
but i just didnt have the heart to stick him in the freezer while he was still breathing.
i did a partial w/c (figured it couldnt hurt), put in a bunch of salt, and made sure there was some food on the floor if he was able to get to it


today he is looking a lot better he is swimming again about 40% of the time (although it doesnt appear 100% normal) and laying on the floor, but at least he is upright

i'm not getting my hopes up yet, but he does look a lot better

 

[KNH]

JUstin,
Sorry to hear the sterlet isn't doing well. I don't think I can offer you any helpful advice other than what you are already are doing but hope he pulls through for you.

 

[Mr.Kiet]

JUstin,
Sorry to hear the sterlet isn't doing well. I don't think I can offer you any helpful advice other than what you are already are doing but hope he pulls through for you.

Yes, x2 that please. GL man! And keep us updated.