Goldfish

[clairewilk]

Our lion fish is looking ill. It swims on its back and stays near the top of the tank curled on its side? Help!!!

[Dancing quee]

I think that you should go to the vets as people can go to the vets with fish.

[b13thy]

if you look at it from above are its scales sticking out in a 'pine cone' fashion? if so go to the vet pronto. My fishy was poorly and the vet very kindly said it wouldn't live -she put it down for me (think she thought i was a biot mad when i asked if she would but she did it)

Also if things get desparate you could try a thimble of whiskey and a half a crushed up paracetamol - this method has revived fish of mine!

[irisred]

Clean the poor thing out, sometimes helps and add a few spots of brandy to the water.

Fish food flakes sometimes cause this - the granule type is sometimes better.

[andyjevs]

I can't believe the answers above. I have kept both marine aquariums and koi for more years than i can remember and never have i ever heard of flake causing problems or putting brandy, whiskey or paracetomol in the tank.....DON'T DO IT !!! Quite frankly, if the fish is doing as said, there probably won't be a lot of help you can give it apart from euthanasing the fish. A vet will only do the same and it'll cost you money. Not many vets specialise in fish. A short hard blow to the top of the fishes head with a blunt object has always worked for me. Failing that, putting the fish in a jug of water and add clove oil to the water. The "pine cone" effect described above is a bacterial disease called dropsey. 99% of cases are fatal. Of course, the fish may have a simple swim bladder problem which should cure itself after a few hours

[maggie01]

I had an oranda which stayed on its back near the top of the tank. This was swim bladder. I isolated it and lowered the water and stopped feeding it flaked food. It was fed on blood worms which I hand fed  It seemed quite happy It lived for about 3 months and it was sad to lose it. I don't know anything about lion fish but possibly that is what it has. If it is swimbladder you can get some medicine to put in the water.

[maggie01]

forgot to add. I was given the advice of hitting on the head which with all the will in the world I could not do.Our vet said that they would put something in the water for me if I fealt it was suffering. Also the pet store where I buy my food from offered to take it from me. Hope you get it sorted

[Dancing quee]

I just read that if a goldfish swims near the top of the tank on it's back/side it may have a swim bladder diseas (can not spell it)