Swim bladder problems!

[Paul]

My Altolamprologus Calvus appears to have swim bladder problems. In all the years I've kept fish I have never ran into this problem. He eat good and looks normal with the exception that he has a hard time getting off the bottom. He is active, but often lays on the bottom in a kind of curved position. It's not fish TB I've ruled that out and nothing else seems to fit the discription except swim bladder problems. Any body have any ideas as to what to treat with.

 

[SoulFish]

i wouldnt neccesarily say he has a swim bladder problem, fish will often do this when stressed or sick, water parameters? tankmates? are there other calvus with him?

 

[Paul]

Nope he's definately struggling to get half way up the tank. He was in my Tanganyikan tank then I noticed he was having trouble swiming and I moved him into my dwarf cichlid tank. He's been in the tank for around 4 weeks now and he has showed improvement as far a eating and activity goes but, still can't get off the bottom very well. He can't stay up eather. When he dose get off the bottom it takes everything he's got to get 8 or so inches up then straight to the bottom like a rock.

 

[SoulFish]

what do you feed? can be caused by an improper diet, lay back on the pellets and flakes and try feeding veggies

 

[Paul]

Yeah thats what I was thinking. Some veggie flakes instead of the usual frozen brine shrimp or color flakes.

 

[SoulFish]

try not feeding flakes at all or cuttiing back on them, try doing more real veggies for a while

 

[Paul]

I had a friend look at the fish today and he says it's not a swim bladder problem. He seems to think that it's more along the lines of a parasite infection. I have started treating for it but i'ts too soon to see any effects.