HELP! Mandarin Goby with Swim Bladder Disease?

[rhouse24]

I have an Mandarin Goby that I bought recently, eating mysis like a champ. A few days ago I noticed he was having trouble swimming and for the past three days he has been exhibiting signs of swim bladder disease. His tail is pointed upward with his head bobbing along the sand I had one store tell me to QT with copper and another told me to add Seachem Focus to his food. Unfortunately, his swimming is getting bad enough that he is having trouble finding the mysis. What is probably wrong with him and what should I do?

Thank you so much for your help!

 

[rhouse24]

Bump for some help.

 

[rhouse24]

Last try.... the fish has stopped eating and can't really move around the tank

 

[TylerHaworth]

I was under the impression that Mandarins don't even have swim bladders...

 

[rhouse24]

I was under the impression that Mandarins don't even have swim bladders...

I have heard that too. I'm not sure what's going on, here is a video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x67mTl5Q-bw&feature=plcp

Any help you can offer is appreciated!

 

[b0bab0ey]

I've had some luck treating swim bladder like conditions by feeding boiled peas. Peel the skin off and only feed the inside mushy part. Crush it with your fingers.

I realize getting a Mandarin to eat a pea is going to be next to impossible. But if this is truly swim bladder disease, this is the only known treatment that works sometimes.

Your other option would be to QT and treatment with an antibiotic. But that would only help if this were, say, an intestinal issue or something. Which has very similar symptoms as swim bladder disease.

 

[EllieSuz]

I think your only option is the "wait and see" cure. She'll either get better or she won't, sad to say. I had a Mandarin that got a pop eye infection, but he fought it off, even though I was pretty sure he was blind in that eye. He continued to hunt and thrive. A few months later he wedged himself between a rock and the back glass for three or four days and when he emerged, that eye socket was empty. Once again, he made a full recovery. The point is, you can never tell with these things.