one of my hippo's has been acting weird for about 2 months now...the top half of its body has become thinner...it swims with its entire body clamped(literally)...the best way to describe it is a less pronounced "S" shape.....it also keeps to itself almost the entire day, except for feedings..it has trouble swimming sometimes...it sometimes just hovers with its' mouth pointing straight down and its tail straight up in the air..i find it sleeping upside down sometimes....it also seems to have trouble staying upright at times..all other fish are fine and acting normal....water conditions are very good!!! nothing strange on its body except for it being a little thin.....any ideas???
Hippo acting very strange
- Thread starter ronj
- Start date
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Highest probability Ron, IMO is an internal condition. Since the swimming and orientation is affected, the swim bladder is may be partly involved. Whether the condition is parasite, microbe, or physiological is not easily determined from external observation. That is, these things are diagnosed through post mortem. 
On the living fish, exploratory surgery is performed to obtain additional clues and information.
Has the fish ever been through a de-worming? or treated for the removal of internal nematode and protozoan infections? Has this fish's tankmates been so treated?
What does this fish's fecal matter look like? Color? Texture? Shape?
Are there any signs of redness or irritation at the anal opening?
The description of the appearance of the fish points to an internal parasite or microbe. Such an infection takes time to slowly kill the fish. Most marine fishes can live with this infection. I de-worm all newly acquired fishes so I don't have to deal with this.
I trust your experience and knowledge to be providing the proper nutrition for this fish, yet the fish is showing signs of being undernourished. This is a symptom of an internal parasite or microbe drawing nutrients away from what the fish is eating. That is, the fish is unwillingly sharing its nutrient intake.
Depending upon the answers to the above questions, the :evil: may be discovered and the right medication applied. However, a gunshot approach would not be out of the question. The fish can be treated with medicated food(s) and doesn't need relocating. If a secondary bacterial infection has gotten to the weakened fish, however, it will be necessary to transfer the fish to a hospital tank for antibiotic treatment.
If the matter is physiological in nature, there isn't much to be done. Our hobby is not progressed enough to try to save such ornamental fishes, although aquarists have spent thousands $ having their pet fish helped through veterinarian aid.
On the living fish, exploratory surgery is performed to obtain additional clues and information.
Has the fish ever been through a de-worming? or treated for the removal of internal nematode and protozoan infections? Has this fish's tankmates been so treated?
What does this fish's fecal matter look like? Color? Texture? Shape?
Are there any signs of redness or irritation at the anal opening?
The description of the appearance of the fish points to an internal parasite or microbe. Such an infection takes time to slowly kill the fish. Most marine fishes can live with this infection. I de-worm all newly acquired fishes so I don't have to deal with this.
I trust your experience and knowledge to be providing the proper nutrition for this fish, yet the fish is showing signs of being undernourished. This is a symptom of an internal parasite or microbe drawing nutrients away from what the fish is eating. That is, the fish is unwillingly sharing its nutrient intake.
Depending upon the answers to the above questions, the :evil: may be discovered and the right medication applied. However, a gunshot approach would not be out of the question. The fish can be treated with medicated food(s) and doesn't need relocating. If a secondary bacterial infection has gotten to the weakened fish, however, it will be necessary to transfer the fish to a hospital tank for antibiotic treatment.
If the matter is physiological in nature, there isn't much to be done. Our hobby is not progressed enough to try to save such ornamental fishes, although aquarists have spent thousands $ having their pet fish helped through veterinarian aid.
i had thought that the swim bladder could be involved..the problem has been a very slow ongoing problem...the fish has never been dewormed, nor any of the others..i did think at one point that one of them may have worms..its stomach was shaped kinda funny..this was when i first got one of my hippo's( not the one in question)..i tried to use Prazi by Gel-tek, but the fish never would eat it..the problem went away without the meds...i haven't ever really seen the one in question poop, so i don't know...i add Zoe and Zoecon 2x daily to the food...i have wondered if it could be that there is alot of competition for food..i went ahead and added another seaweed clip to cut back on competion for food...i have thought about trying to catch it and put it in my qt tank....it will be very difficult ,if even possible....do you think i should try to treat with Prazi in my display???? is it reef safe...i have alot of sps corals
I've not had any reports regarding Praziquantel nor metrodinazol being a problem in reef aquariums. These medications are embedded or trapped/attached to the food the fish(es) are eating, and swallowed. The quantity of the Praziquantel is so small -- 23 mg per pound of fish -- that it will be nearly undetectable in the water. Of this medication, it is one treatment followed by a second treatment 6 days later.
If you think the fish is not getting enough nutrition, then that would be a concern different (or in addition) to possible internal parasites. I got the impression that since it came out for feedings that it was eating properly. I'm not sure what size this fish is, but it should be getting about 7% of its body weight in foods every day, or more.
If you think the fish is not getting enough nutrition, then that would be a concern different (or in addition) to possible internal parasites. I got the impression that since it came out for feedings that it was eating properly. I'm not sure what size this fish is, but it should be getting about 7% of its body weight in foods every day, or more.
it is a 5-6" yellowbelly hippo...its' body size is pretty large..it is the largest tang in the tank....it only comes out for feedings...i may try one of the meds in the tank...the problem will be getting the right fish to eat it!! thanks for your thoughts and help Lee!!
i am beginning to think that the entire problem is its swim bladder...it would explain why it looks malnourished..it is having problems just trying to swim....i caught it today...i put the net in and pushed the fish out from under a rock..it didn't even struggle..i scooped it right up..it is in a qt tank right now, still having alot of trouble swimming...there isn't really anything that i can do if it is the swim bladder, is there???
Sorry to hear the problem persists and seems to be getting worse.
The only thing to do regarding a swim bladder is an operation or to treat it as if infected. As I mentioned previously, if this is a physiological problem, there isn't much to be done.
However, if the problem is a swim bladder infection then you can do something.
The best antibiotic that targets the swim bladder is TETRACYCLINE. It is used orally to treat an infected swim bladder. However, you need to find it formulated for saltwater fish. Tetracycline is pH sensitive and at the higher pH of saltwater, it doesn't work unless it is protected/buffered against the pH. So when looking at the product, make sure it says it can be used on marine fishes.
The next best thing to the above is another strong antibiotic known to penetrate through the fish's skin. This is Nitrofurazone found in the products Furacyn (by Aquatronics) and Spectrogram.
You'd follow dosage and treatment recommendations that come with the medications.
That's about all, short of an operation, that will help a bladder problem that I am aware of.
The only thing to do regarding a swim bladder is an operation or to treat it as if infected. As I mentioned previously, if this is a physiological problem, there isn't much to be done.
However, if the problem is a swim bladder infection then you can do something.
The best antibiotic that targets the swim bladder is TETRACYCLINE. It is used orally to treat an infected swim bladder. However, you need to find it formulated for saltwater fish. Tetracycline is pH sensitive and at the higher pH of saltwater, it doesn't work unless it is protected/buffered against the pH. So when looking at the product, make sure it says it can be used on marine fishes.
The next best thing to the above is another strong antibiotic known to penetrate through the fish's skin. This is Nitrofurazone found in the products Furacyn (by Aquatronics) and Spectrogram.
You'd follow dosage and treatment recommendations that come with the medications.
That's about all, short of an operation, that will help a bladder problem that I am aware of.
well i haven't treated with anything...the fish is still having some problems...i was thinking of removing him and putting him to sleep, but i am not sure if this would be more cruel than leaving it alone...it is stil eating, but still having swimming problems
Damsel13
Well-known member
I am so sorry to hear about your fishes problems. Sounds like Lee has some great suggestions but for me a sick fish is way stressful. Good luck.
I love tangs too.
I love tangs too.
Some very recent studies indicate that fish feel pain. This is something humans always thought didn't happen. The studies, once published may very well 'shake' the 'catch and release' foundation of sport fishing.
Anyway, the fish doesn't seem to be healing and no telling how much stress it is under. I'd still give it a chance by treating with antibiotic.
Anyway, the fish doesn't seem to be healing and no telling how much stress it is under. I'd still give it a chance by treating with antibiotic.
Scooterman
Well-known member
Have you tried putting him in a separate tank? I see these fish of the same species will attach each other, maybe your not seeing that but they may be taking their toll on him, maybe why he can't get enough food nutrition, just a thought, in time when they get bigger I think you will have to deal with the fact that they will chase each other even in a large tank as yours. JMO
