Once again, I have been given a very beautiful fish that is upside down. He is a very large oranda.

In the past, every time I am given a fish such as this, I end up putting the fish down after I have exhausted everything I know to do. So.....once again I am hoping that I can find some minut detail of info in someone's brain that might give me something new to try.

Stats: I expect the fish was kept in less that quality water. Thus the original upside down problem developed.

I have had him for 4 weeks now. He has had Kanycyn antibiotic and a fungal cure for the fungus he had. His scapings are clean for paracites. He has been kept in water that is zero, zero, and as low as I can on the nitrates (I aim for 5 but probably average at about 10). The temperature is at 78 degrees. (He is in a 30 gallon tank by himself, with an Emperor 400 on it. It is cycled)

I have fasted him for 3 days, fed peas for 4 days, fasted for 3 days, fed peas for 4 days. Since the original fasting, he has had peas, peas with epsom salt, and spirilina flakes occasionally.

I have not given him a salt dip to purge him, yet.

At first he was very active but evenly upside down. Since I have been working with him, he is even more active. He eats his food eagarly from my fingers. He eats well.

Now one side has"deflated" and one side remains bloated - so that now he floats with one side up and the other down. He is no longer symetrically upside down - he is floating on his side.

Is this good? Am I making progress? Should I keep it up? I REALLY want to save this fish. He is a huge, solid black oranda.

I cannot get him surgery until the spring for the vet that does it is in Florida until warmer weather.

Suggestions????????

This webpage might be worth a look:

http://users.megapathdsl.net/~solo/puregol...ting%20problems

I sure hope you can save this one. Let me know how things go.

Ok, they actually have some slightly different info here. THANK YOU! I am going to pop him (her?) into the 10 gallon iso tank and take the water level down. I am going to add heat and epsom salts and start walking. I definately have the time right now, and for the next few months. I would really really like to save this fish.

He/she is contorted with one side up and the other curled over, just as they describe. This is either egg problems or bowel problems. Amybe egg, for he/she has had many rounds of fasting and peas.

Epsom salts and antibiotics they say....... I will start with the epsom salts and walking and heat and lower water.

Thanks.

Anyone else?

Has anyone EVER saved a fish like this?

Oh daryl!!! I wish you so much luck with this fish! I hope you can save it! And post pictures = D

Thanks! I have to admit that I am definately falling in love with this guy. He is soooo cute. When I walked him the first time, he thought he was getting fed and was sucking on my fingers the whole time. Big smacking kisses! He wiggles his tail and fins so happily when I put him upright and drive him around the tank. He certainly has a great personality and is not ready to quit yet.

I need to walk him at least 2 more times tonight before bed.

Such a cutie. I will try to take a picture but black fish are sooooo tough to photograph.

I have been fasting this fish for the past 2 days. He is none too happy about that. It is amazing - he seems to have gone downhill dramatically in the last 24 hours. His/her belly has one spot that is extremely bulged and sticking out - the rest seems normal. He/she is floating with that point of bulge out of the water. I put in a plastic grid to hold him under the water to prevent it from getting any sorer. Poor thing.

Perhaps this is egg impaction. Other than surgery - what else can I do? I added Melefix to the water to help a little with the sore spot that was out of the water. It had not yet developed an ulcer, but is on the border.

Would Medigold help? I have an entire spectrum of antibiotics. Would any of them help?

Poooooor fishy.

If anyone can save him/her you can. I have never been able to bring back a sick fish. Good luck and don't give up.

It wouldn't hurt to try Medigold, especially if you have it on hand.

here are a few sites on egg impaction:
http://www.fishdoc.net/faq/faq_details.php?faqId=74
http://www.ponddoc.com/Store/FishHealthPro...tm#EggImpaction

I feel so bad for this poor fish.

The description at these sites do seem to match here. She (I am assuming) has one super distended place on her belly. It is like my finger was poking from her inside out - it sticks out in the shape of my finger for about 3/8 of an inch. This is also the place that is the highest point on the fish - bobbing out of the water.

I will try some more antibiotics. I am getting no where with heat and other things.

Sigh. I can not even count the number of beautiful fishes people have given to me to "cure" of being upside down, and I have NEVER saved one.

At least you are willing to try. The fish doesn't have any chance otherwise.

I'm still hoping.