Swim bladder issue in firefish?

[Radiofox05]

View attachment 1790036324
Just noticed today my firefish is swimming weirdly, with his back tilted up unnaturally. I can’t tell if it’s a swim bladder issue, or possibly if he hurt his spine? I just wanna be able to treat him!
edit: some information
Mixed reef tank
15 gallons
AIO filtration system

parameters: last tested 9/15
salinity: ~32 ppt
pH: 8.0
Nitrate: 0ppm
phosphorus: 0.25 ppm (working on this)

only thing i can think of that would affect things is i’ve been dealing with a consistent red cyanobacteria problem, so a couple days ago i took as much of it out as i could. this could have caused an ammonia spike, which i will test for shortly. could it be possible that he ate too much/is constipated?

 

[Radiofox05]

 

[vetteguy53081]

View attachment 1790036324
Just noticed today my firefish is swimming weirdly, with his back tilted up unnaturally. I can’t tell if it’s a swim bladder issue, or possibly if he hurt his spine? I just wanna be able to treat him!
edit: some information
Mixed reef tank
15 gallons
AIO filtration system

parameters: last tested 9/15
salinity: ~32 ppt
pH: 8.0
Nitrate: 0ppm
phosphorus: 0.25 ppm (working on this)

only thing i can think of that would affect things is i’ve been dealing with a consistent red cyanobacteria problem, so a couple days ago i took as much of it out as i could. this could have caused an ammonia spike, which i will test for shortly. could it be possible that he ate too much/is constipated?

Can be spinal or a bouyancy issue. If you drop food at the top, is it able to swim up and get it?
It can also be gas buildup within the stomach as well as changes in temperature, salinity, or water chemistry can disrupt buoyancy

 

[Radiofox05]

View attachment 1790036324
Just noticed today my firefish is swimming weirdly, with his back tilted up unnaturally. I can’t tell if it’s a swim bladder issue, or possibly if he hurt his spine? I just wanna be able to treat him!
edit: some information
Mixed reef tank
15 gallons
AIO filtration system

parameters: last tested 9/15
salinity: ~32 ppt
pH: 8.0
Nitrate: 0ppm
phosphorus: 0.25 ppm (working on this)

only thing i can think of that would affect things is i’ve been dealing with a consistent red cyanobacteria problem, so a couple days ago i took as much of it out as i could. this could have caused an ammonia spike, which i will test for shortly. could it be possible that he ate too much/is constipated?

Can be spinal or a bouyancy issue. If you drop food at the top, is it able to swim up and get it?
It can also be gas buildup within the stomach as well as changes in temperature, salinity, or water chemistry can disrupt buoyancy

thank you for the response! i’m thinking buoyancy issue based on the fact that he’s now put himself in his cave but is resting against the top of it. i haven’t had any major changes in salinity or temperature, but like i said my fiddling around with the cyanobacteria may have caused an ammonia spike or something similar. if it is a buoyancy issue, what are my treatment options, if any?

 

[vetteguy53081]

thank you for the response! i’m thinking buoyancy issue based on the fact that he’s now put himself in his cave but is resting against the top of it. i haven’t had any major changes in salinity or temperature, but like i said my fiddling around with the cyanobacteria may have caused an ammonia spike or something similar. if it is a buoyancy issue, what are my treatment options, if any?

cyano can also release low level toxins which can have impact on swim behavior

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

thank you for the response! i’m thinking buoyancy issue based on the fact that he’s now put himself in his cave but is resting against the top of it. i haven’t had any major changes in salinity or temperature, but like i said my fiddling around with the cyanobacteria may have caused an ammonia spike or something similar. if it is a buoyancy issue, what are my treatment options, if any?

How long have you had the fish?

There are lots of “swim bladder treatments” on the internet, but they all either don’t work, or only work on freshwater fish.

 

[Radiofox05]

thank you for the response! i’m thinking buoyancy issue based on the fact that he’s now put himself in his cave but is resting against the top of it. i haven’t had any major changes in salinity or temperature, but like i said my fiddling around with the cyanobacteria may have caused an ammonia spike or something similar. if it is a buoyancy issue, what are my treatment options, if any?

cyano can also release low level toxins which can have impact on swim behavior

crap, well that might explain it then. what can i do?

 

[Radiofox05]

thank you for the response! i’m thinking buoyancy issue based on the fact that he’s now put himself in his cave but is resting against the top of it. i haven’t had any major changes in salinity or temperature, but like i said my fiddling around with the cyanobacteria may have caused an ammonia spike or something similar. if it is a buoyancy issue, what are my treatment options, if any?

How long have you had the fish?

There are lots of “swim bladder treatments” on the internet, but they all either don’t work, or only work on freshwater fish.

I’ve had him for around 1.5 months, and he’s the only fish in my tank right now

 

[vetteguy53081]

crap, well that might explain it then. what can i do?

Do small water changes and maintain good water quality. Post a pic of your tank with cyano using white lights, no blue

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

I’ve had him for around 1.5 months, and he’s the only fish in my tank right now

It’s rare for a swim bladder problem to show up in longer term captives like this - it’s usually associated with collection trauma from deeper water.

It may have swallowed some air - they can often expel that in time.

Is it still eating ok?

 

[Radiofox05]

I’ve had him for around 1.5 months, and he’s the only fish in my tank right now

It’s rare for a swim bladder problem to show up in longer term captives like this - it’s usually associated with collection trauma from deeper water.

It may have swallowed some air - they can often expel that in time.

Is it still eating ok?

yes he is eating okay! i normally feed frozen food (spirulina mysis shrimp from hikari) but just watched him chase some pellets just fine.

 

[Radiofox05]

pics of the cyano in my tank. it used to be much worse, i took out a bunch of caulerpa a couple days ago as well and did a water change to remove as much of it as i could.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

yes he is eating okay! i normally feed frozen food (spirulina mysis shrimp from hikari) but just watched him chase some pellets just fine.

Personally - as long as it’s eating, I’d just try to wait this out.

 

[Radiofox05]

yes he is eating okay! i normally feed frozen food (spirulina mysis shrimp from hikari) but just watched him chase some pellets just fine.

Personally - as long as it’s eating, I’d just try to wait this out.

okay, thank you so much for your advice! i’ll keep an eye on him and update this post if anything severely changes.

 

[vetteguy53081]

pics of the cyano in my tank. it used to be much worse, i took out a bunch of caulerpa a couple days ago as well and did a water change to remove as much of it as i could.

On the cyano, assure you have sufficient water flow and not overfeeding which can raise nitrates and phosphate levels. In addition, avoid use of tap water if this applies and consider use of protein skimmer