Help for my clown after sump surfing

Glove

New member
I was looking for my clown all day and noticed he pulled a nemo and went sump surfing.
I am heart broken now that I see the little fish cant swim right now. he/she is stuck upside down- dorsal fin down, breathing heavy and struggling to get in proper position. It seems like too much air in the fish- its on the surface, not the bottom.
(I have it in a round 'QT' bowl in the sump)
The poor fish was stuck on the falling side of a baffle- water falling over the edge had it trapped in the LR rubble. I suspect swim bladder damage or possibly traped air because of the way it swims on the surface.

I am feeling real bad for the fish. It is swimming in circles, then stops and catches its breath only to struggle more. I have tried to help it, hold it, burp it (not real sure I was doing that right)... I will keep trying gently to help. I can see the belly is silver looking, swollen and looks more swollen on one side, just between the lower bottom fins.

Any advice?
This happened just about an hour ago- well I found the fish about an hour ago, not sure how long it was trapped there.
 
I know one thing to try involving a hypodermic needle that worked on goldfish, but the swim bladder is different. Hang on for better advice. If you hit the stomach it could be bad.
 
I am wondering if this could be the same condition that happens when catching/transfering wild fish- causing the fish to swim 'funny' for a little while because of the pressure changes and the swim bladder.

The little clown is swimming just like a clownfish should- just upside down.
 
Pictures are always helpful, just not sure how much in this case....



MVC-765F.jpg


Makes me sad.
 
He may come out of it. I had a little fish [highfin goby] that swallowed bubbles during transport and couldn't dive: I thought she was done for. SHe finally hiccuped up 3 large bubbles and went to the bottom. She then took a sump-surf, disappeared for 3 months, I even got a credit from Foster/Smith [which I shall have to return, in good conscience!] and I found her a week ago, hale and well, living in the dark under the return pump in the sump. I hope your little guy has similar resilience
 
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