Bent Fish?

[Rex740]

I have a golden killifish thats about 3 or 4 inches and I have had him for awhile. He always hangs out on the top of the tank as that is how the species is. But today I didnt see him on top. I noticed him near the bottom with his body in a curved shape, like a bommerang. The thing is, he has as much energy as he normaly does, he is trying to swim around, moving his fins wildly, but he just floats near bottom from doing that. Anyone know whats wrong? Is it possible he might have broke his back?

 

[Pleccy]

We need a few details about your tank, could you copy this and fill it in?

Water quality: (* essential)
*Ammonia:
*Nitrite:
Nitrate:
*pH:
KH:
GH:
*Temperature:

Tank details:
Size:
Tank Inhabitants (numbers, sizes ect):
How long the tank has been set up:
Frequency and amount of routine water changes:
What you feed, how much and how often:
Water conditioner used:
New fish or plants added to the tank? Were they quarantined:
Medications used:
Describe the problems you are seeing:

Filtration details:
Type of filter (external, internal, under gravel):
Maintenance details:
Media used:

Finally, a photo would be great.

 

[Rex740]

Cant check right now, but I checked last week and all specs were normal. The tank is 48 gallon with skirt tetras, dojo loaches, farlowella, and cherrybarbs. It has nothing to do with the tank as he has been in it a long time and if it changed it just got less fish. I usually feed him flakes once a day or once every two days. Two days ago I gave him freeze dried blood worms. Its just like I said before, Imagine a golden killifish, but in a curve shape from the middle of its body, the tail and head are curved to make a boomerang like shape. Because of that he cant swim efficiently and falls to bottom.

 

[Pleccy]

Tanks can change from week to week, and almost 85% of fish problems are related to poor water quality, so I would check.

 

[Rex740]

Ammonia and Nitrites are normal, but PH rised. It went all the way up to 7.6

 

[Rex740]

I got pictures. I think its more of a physical problem then chemical. Sometimes he moves fast and I also have a breeder box floating around. What am I suppose to do? He tries to swim back upright, but he cant...

 

[WILDER]

If it looks like he's suffering I Would end his misery.
Bent spines mean injury, old age, fish tb, internal parasites, lack of vitamins being fed.

 

[Pleccy]

I agree with Wilder, it would be best to end it's suffering.

 

[Rex740]

Anyone have an idea of what it is though? He wasnt like this last night... He is one of my favorite fish that mean a lot to me and has A LOT of personality, I would just like to know... Im afraid the breeder box might have hit him against the glass, he usually jolts away when this happens though...

 

[Rex740]

Wilder, Pleccy, How would I end his suffering?

 

[WILDER]

Jug or bucket depends on the size of fish add ice cubes till the water freezing cold, add the fish should take about 30 seconds.
Leave the fish in the freezing water awhile to make sure its passed away.
So sorry bless him.

 

[Rex740]

I put him in a container of freezing cold water half an hour ago and he is still alive...

 

[Corleone]

Was it actually freezing or just really cold? The water should be actually turning to ice, so its temperature is 0C/32F. Coming from a tropical tank, the change will send them into hypothermia very quickly. If it was just cold water with ice cubes, it might not have been cold enough.

 

[WILDER]

The water must be freezing cold or it dosn't work as fast.
Has he passed on now.

 

[Rex740]

Im getting annoyed now. The water was icy cold. I woke up this morning for school and noticed he was still alive, thats about 9 hours in there and still not dead. Didnt know what to do so I put 7 ice cubes in and left for school. Just came back and he's still alive! Thats 18 hours in there! What do I do? I feel like he is suffering more in the container with cold water than in the normal fish tank...