HELP!-Air-filled Mbu

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Since this board has been up, we have found there are several questions that routinely get asked in order to help diagnose problems. If you can have that information to begin with in your post, we'll be able to help right away (if we can!) without having to wait for you to post the info we need.

1) Your water parameters - pH, Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrates and salinity (if appropriate). This is by far the most important information you can provide! Do not answer this with "Fine" "Perfect" "ok", that tells us nothing. We need hard numbers.

2) Tank size and a list of ALL inhabitants. Include algae eaters, plecos, everything. We need to know what you have and how big the tank is.

3) Feeding, water change schedule and a list of all products you are using or have added to the tank (examples: Cycle, Amquel, salt, etc)

4) What changes you've made in the tank in the last week or so. Sometimes its the little things that make all the difference.

5) How long the aquarium has been set up, and how did you cycle it? If you don't know what cycling is read this: Fishless Cycling Article and familiarize yourself with all the information. Yes. All of it.

We want to help, and providing this information will go a LONG way to getting a diagnosis and hopeful cure that much faster.

While you wait for assistance:
One of the easiest and best ways to help your fish feel better is clean water! If you are already on a regular water change schedule (50% weekly is recommended) a good step to making your fish more comfortable while waiting for diagnosis/suggestions is to do a large water change immediately. Feel free to repeat daily or as often as you can, clean water is always a good thing! Use of Amquel or Prime as a dechlor may help with any ammonia or nitrite issues, and is highly recommended.

Note - if you do not normally do large water changes, doing a sudden, large water change could shock your fish by suddenly changing their established water chemistry. Clean water is still your first goal, so in this case, do several smaller (10%) water changes over the next day or two before starting any large ones.
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AlLpUfFeDuP
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HELP!-Air-filled Mbu

Post by AlLpUfFeDuP »

I have a Mbu that is partially inflated with air. Have tried technique described in library with no success. He doesn't make any attempt to fill with water. Currently being held underwater with a net. Please help urgently - he is going to die and I love him!!!!
Last edited by AlLpUfFeDuP on Sun Mar 18, 2007 10:03 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Hilly
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Post by Hilly »

Please read th thread at the top of the hospital forum and anser as many questions as you can.

Does he have trouble staying upright, floats to the top awkwardly swims?
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AlLpUfFeDuP
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Post by AlLpUfFeDuP »

He is trying to swim - fins are going but he is stuck upside down at the top of the tank - breathing heavily
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Post by Hilly »

Water paramters? when was the last time you did a water change and how much. Tank size etc... Any noticeable lumps in the belly?

As much info as you can.
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AlLpUfFeDuP
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Post by AlLpUfFeDuP »

parameters - ammonia 0 nitrite 0 nitrate 10 ph 7.4 last water change 2 days ago - 30%. no noticeable lumps or bumps. Tank size 6ftx18inx18in. Mbu is 6-7 inches
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Post by bosshogg »

Keep trying to burp him
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Post by Pandora114 »

:spank2:

I just wanted to use that emoticon...
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Post by Hilly »

Hmmm, I wonder if its possibly a swim bladder problem, you could try adding some epsom salts, If his swim bladder is inflamed that might reduce the swelling.
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AlLpUfFeDuP
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Post by AlLpUfFeDuP »

Thank you so much for all your replies :D
Glad to report that he has now deflated and is swimming around quite happily. I've been trying to 'burp' him every few hours and that didn't work. He was very weak this morning when I found him and after the first attempt at burping I left him wedged under a net to stop him floating to the surface and drying out. After a few hours he seemed much 'stronger' and was trying to fight me when I held him. Again burping didn't produce any results. A 3rd attempt saw him inflate a little with water but he remained like that and didn't deflate any. I really thought it was a no win situation and as a last ditch effort lifted him out of the water. He inflated fully with air and on placing him back in the water expelled it all in one go.
I realise they aren't supposed to inflate with air but thought I'd share the story in case it helps anyone else. I had tried lifting him out of the water when I first found him but he seemed too weak to do much then.
Again thanks for all your help!
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Post by Hilly »

Nice one a little unorhodox but as long as it worked.
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Post by Troender »

I am glad it turned out OK. I like happy endings :-D
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Post by Pufferpunk »

Whew! Whatever it takes to get him back on his fins.
You are getting sleepy... you only hear the sound of my voice... you must do water changes... water changes... water changes... water changes...

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Post by bosshogg »

Nice one, I am pleased all worked out in the end, any idea what caused it?
AlLpUfFeDuP
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Post by AlLpUfFeDuP »

I really don't know what may have caused it. The temperature had risen a couple of degrees higher than I normally have it so maybe that was to blame? I fed him cockles early pm the day before as usual and he was fine at lights out.
It's the first time I've had to deal with an air inflated puffer, thankfully I'd done my research when I first started out and read the library articles so I didn't panic when I first found him (well, not too much....... :wink: )
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