Albino Rainbow Shark Has Suddenly Lost His Equilibrium, What Can I Do?

Request Help

Tank size: 2ft, I think it's about 16 gallons
pH: I have no testing equipment at this stage at all
ammonia:
nitrite:
nitrate:
kH:
gH:
tank temp: 25 degrees celsius

Fish Symptoms (include full description including lesion, color, location, fish behavior): no visible change at all. It's an albino rainbow shark, I've had him in that tank for well over a year. His colour is still great, no lesions, no changes in his skin, fin or gills at all. The only change is that he can't swim properly. He's been fine up until this morning - when suddenly I noticed he was lying upside down in the top corner of the tank. If he swims around, he keeps floating to the surface or ended up upside down - or both. I've noticed in the past that it is quite normal for him to position himself in the corner of the tank wedged between the wall of the tank and the heater facing downwards, but he has always done this. He is usually fairly timid, but in the past few months he has finally been beginning to swim around away from his driftwood home during the day a little.

Volume and Frequency of water changes: Usually 25% once a week, sometimes a little less often.

Chemical Additives or Media in your tank: none

Tank inhabitants: the shark, one lemon tetra (has been there as long as the shark) and 5 neon tetras (two are even older then the shark and lemon, 3 have been in there about 6 months)

Recent additions to your tank (living or decoration): Nothing for like 6 months, the only change is that I have been feeding them a new brand of bloodworms, but even that has been happening for over a month. They are fed flake food once or twice a day and I give them a cube of bloodworms every now and then instead.

Exposure to chemicals: none that I can think of

There has been a slight increase in algae in the past few months - I've spotted and taken out a few little clumps of hairy algae that I found at the bottom of the tank. The tank is currently due for a clean, but isn't overdue by any means. I don't have a hospital tank - I have a smaller tank, but no filter/heater to fit in it as I can't find one at the petstore to fit in. Is this just a swimbladder problem and what do I need to do to help him out? Thanks for any help!

I've attached an image of the shark when he was swimming around trying to find a spot to make himself stable. You can also see the other fish in the bg, who are all quite happy and healthy. The plant looks kind of ragged, but it always has and has been in there for quite some time now - I have just recently been looking into getting the correct lighting for a planted tank.

It sounds like swim bladder problems to me, which can be caused by constipation or bacterial problems. You can try antibiotics and feeding peas, but since he is laying on his back on the bottom, it really doesn't sound good.

I'll try feeding peas, although I don't know if that will be successful as I never saw him feed anyway - he always must've at night. And he's not generally on the bottom - he's floating right up the top and I've just been watching him and he's now spending his whole time at the top and he's struggling around less. If it is caused by bacteria, what steps do I need to take to prevent my other fish getting it? At this point, they still seem perfectly fine.

Right now, I've put a plastic tupperware container in the tank which is floating in one corner with him inside it. This is just preventing him from floating his way around the tank and the hitting the spot where the filter spits water back in. He kept ending up getting pushed back down by the water and getting caught up on the plant and things like that, so I figured isolating him to the container will mean he at least doesn't have to deal with the stress of being flung around the tank. He does seem to be going downhill and I'm aware that it is most likely that I will have to euthanize him.

With the peas, do I just pop a few frozen ones into the tank or do I need to mush them or anything? Also if it is just caused by constipation, will this clear up or is it still incurable? I also read that swimbladder issues can just be because of swalled air bubbles in which case it clears up by the next day or so - is that right and should I just wait and see how he goes by tomorrow morning??

Sorry for the many questions, he's just my fav fishy

as with any sick fish, the best prevention you can do to keep it from spreading is isolate the sick fish. This will also protect the sick fish from getting bullied. A water change can never hurt either.

With the peas, you need to remove them from their outter shell, then break them into bite size bits. From what you have said, i would really try to treat with antibiotics.

I'll do a water change this evening. I'd isolate him into another tank, but I don't have a heater to fit either of my smaller tanks The tetras always avoided him anyway, so even though he's sick they've still be leaving him alone thankfully. What antibiotics do I need to get and do I just get them at the LFS?

Unfortunately my little sharky has passed away tonight Thank you tttnjfttt for giving me some advice when I was panicking, it's greatly appreciated. I'm about to do a water change to help reduce the risk of any of the others getting anything. Is it normal for him to have passed away so quickly - he only started to have any problems at all at about 10am this morning and he's passed away within 12 hours. I had a good look and I still can't see any lesions or any other signs of disease at all.

i'm sorry.

Honestly, it sounds like he has been sick for a little bit. Not eating is often one of the first signs, and atleast my RTBS (similar fish) would never miss out on meal time. He also looked a little bloated in the picture... Also, just noticed this, were his eyes bulging out a little?

If you are looking for a cheap hospital tank, walmart has 10 gallon kits, which will give you a filter (you can keep the filter media in your tank until needed), heater, lid, and a light (not needed for a hospital) for around $30. Its a pretty good investment to keep on hand.