New Cardinal cannot swim (floats)

[hvacman250]

Just got 3 of these in fro LiveAquaria : Ochrestriped Cardinalfish (Ostorhinchus compressus)

2 look good, but one acts like it cannot stay submerged. Body does not appear to be swollen (looks like the other 2) If I gently push him he tries to swim down and away, but he quickly rises back to the top and floats on his right side (left side pointing out of tank).

He has been in the QT tank since 11 am and still has a lot of heart left. Most fish I can tell if they probably aren't gonna make it, but his guy seems like he wants to live real bad.

Should I try Furan 2 or Erythromycin? I have a lot of medication on hand.

 

[HumbleFish]

I have a tang that used to do this (although probably not for the same reason as your cardinal). It happened anytime after she would eat red nori. I finally made the connection; I figured red nori was probably either bloating or blocking her intestines. Feeding her a boiled peeled pea fixed the problem every time.

Your cardinal may be having the same symptoms for a variety of reasons: intestinal blockage (or even parasites), swim bladder disorder, internal bacterial infection. If the "pea trick" doesn't work, I guess I would move on to one of the two antibiotics you listed next. You also might try soaking his food in Metro.

 

[hvacman250]

He seems to have corrected himself overnight and is swimming fine today.
Definitely weird!

 

[HumbleFish]

He seems to have corrected himself overnight and is swimming fine today.
Definitely weird!

Probably just something he ate.