he's breathing but he just lays there!

[fyremarble]

Howdy everyone. I haven't been to this forum in a long time. Anyway i'll just get to the point. I'm getting ready to leave the house and i see one of my fish just seems to be just laying on the bottom of the tank. I thought he was dead, but he started moving. His body is in an arch shape and it looks like his breathing is really shallow. At first i thought maybe it was a swim bladder problem but now i'm not sure. He just lays there, taking a gasp every now and then. Have i lost my buddy? I did some water tests and despite the water being a bit hard there was nothing unusual. The other fish are not affected. He won't eat and he doesn't struggle when i try to touch him. (I had to pick him up and move him so i could keep an eye on him) Any suggestions? (or hard truths)

 

[Rayneuki]

None of the other fish are having problems? I would say low water o2 but if the others are all fine that wouldn't be it. I'm sorry I can't help very much. It sounds like old age if anything...

 

[bunker_1]

I would seperate him for a while. If he is sick, you don't want him to effect the other fish. But it could be old age.

 

[MissFishy]

Doesn't sound promising, they usually don't come back once they are lying on the bottom of the tank. If water parameters are all good, I would just let him die peacefully with as little stress as possible.

P.S. For the record, I HAVE had a fish go from lying on the tank floor to up and swimming around again...but that's a rare occurence.

 

[bunker_1]

P.S. For the record, I HAVE had a fish go from lying on the tank floor to up and swimming around again...but that's a rare occurence.

I have had this happen with two of my fish at different times. I scooped them out and put them in an empty tank. After a couple of days they were both up and swimming. MissyFishy is right, outlook may not be great.