Why is my cichlid fish lying on its side and struggling to swim?

Thanks for reaching out about your fish. Antibiotics rarely help these conditions if placed in the water, as fish don't absorb antibiotics through the skin, gills or drink it. Systemic antibiotic (injections) could help. A veterinary visit is highly recommended to assess, determine a cause, and plan a diagnostic/treatment protocol. Acetazolamide in the water can occasionally help. Good luck.

Thanks for reaching out about Wolfy. Floating upside down is a serious concern, possibly involving the swim bladder or intestinal tract. Typically additives to the water are not absorbed systemically but the salt might help decrease osmotic imbalances in the body. A radiograph could help determine if fluid is filling the swim bladder, and then systemic antibiotics could be administered, probably vi injections. Good luck.

Thanks for reaching out about Tunky. Laying on the bottom of the tank is often associated with swim bladder disease, where the bladder is filled with fluid or infection, and not air, leading to difficulty with buoyancy. As always with fish, test the water quality for pH, ammonia, nitrites and nitrates- correcting any abnormalities. If those appear within normal limits, a visit to a veterinarian with experience in fish, is recommended. Systemic antibiotics should probably be started, which usually mean injections. good luck.

Thanks for reaching out about Lenny and including a photo. By the description it sounds as if he has a swim bladder, hyper-inflation, spinal problem, or possible gas in the intestinal tract. A veterinary visit is recommended as radiographs are probably needed to assess the condition. Antibiotics might be needed, requiring injections and not additives in the water. Good luck.

Check water chemistry first. Use a home test kit or submit a water sample for testing. Aim for an absence (0 ppm) of ammonia and nitrites with nitrates at 20 ppm or less. Perform a partial water change to stabilize water chemistry and/or to improve water quality. Use only conditioned water that is temperature matched to prevent further stress or shock. Bettas do best between 78 F and 80 F. By your description, the issue may be swim bladder disease. This can be caused by infection (bacterial or parasites) or constipation. Maintain water quality as described above. Fast the fish for 3 days then resume feeding bits of cooked and shelled green peas. This will help with constipation. If this doesn't help. you can get a broad spectrum antibiotic from the local pet store. Look in the aquarium section. Follow label directions carefully and remove the carbon filter insert during treatment.

Thanks for reaching out about Bacon. If a swim bladder infection and over-distention (causing the floating), systemic antibiotics are needed. Melafix will do little to solve this problem as the medication is not absorbed into the body. Systemic antibiotics are recommended, as in injections. A veterinary visit would be necessary for the prescribing. Check and correct water quality, as this is required for health. Good luck.

Separate her out into a hospital or quarantine tank. Bump the water temperature up to about 80 F. Examine her for signs of illness or injury including damaged fins, parasites, dark or red spots or bloating. Add an air stone to increase oxygenation. Without a specific cause, general treatment with salt would be recommended. You can add 1 teaspoon of plain aquarium salt (NOT table salt) per gallon of water to the hospital tank. The easiest way is to dissolve it in some tank water then gently pour it in. Salt aids healing, reduces stress, promotes a healthy slime coat, improves gill function and can treat several parasites. Treat for 10-14 days then perform partial water changes to decrease salinity. If this does not help, consider a broad spectrum antibiotic or antifungal medication based on symptoms. You can purchase either online or in the aquarium section of most pet stores. Read package directions carefully before use.