Aquarist: I have a fish that's feigning death

[Archie F. Swin]

So I have this albino cory that has come within seconds of being netted and flushed three separate times over the last 10 days. I read on some aquarium fish sites that these fish will occasionally surface to draw in big chunks of air. What I have not seen any mention of is this fish's habit of seemingly passing out and becoming completely still, upside down with his mouth touching the surface for up to 5-10 second. If that wasn't freaky enough, at times I'll find him literally resting on his side at the bottom of the aquarium. This has been the "death knell" for any fish we've had previously, but just when I think its about to give up the ghost...life becomes him, and he becomes a vigorous swimmer and does all that can be expected from a lively, young bottom-feeder. Of course, my fear is he's sick, but he's kept be scratchin my head for a while now. This thread could be the ultimate jinx. I've had my aquarium for about six months now.

[JBucc]

Just flick him. I had a fish that looked half dead floating around at the top like dead fish do so I game him a good thump. Lived about a year and a half longer.

[boogblaster]

My "ole lady" has a dead fish...

[Bwana]

Give him extra chow. He will either pull out of his death dive, or he will be a fat little bugger for a shake and bake feast. ;)

[chagrin]

Are you mentioning this on your newscast as well?

[Archie F. Swin]

Are you mentioning this on your newscast as well?

yep, as part of the fishing report

[Phobia]

Put out a bowl of antifreeze.

[Skyy God]

I'm speculating, but it could be a swim bladder problem. See the last post on this link. http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20061231153847AAQUR68

Before I gave it up, I kept a ton of African cichlids. At my high point, I had 4 tanks ranging from 29-75 gallons and have kept species from all three lakes. Can't recall seeing this behavior (at least for very long).

[Skyy God]

Put out a bowl of antifreeze.

Wouldn't that be put it in a bowl of antifreeze?

[ChiTown]

Put it in a bowl of antifreeze.

fixed your quote........

[DMAC]

The Japanese use Paris Hilton to revive dead fish...

[Skyy God]

fixed your quote........

Better luck next time on the draw, partner.

[kepp]

Just flick him. I had a fish that looked half dead floating around at the top like dead fish do so I game him a good thump. Lived about a year and a half longer.
"Please do not tap on glass"
http://static.flickr.com/51/117269207_37f8a43ff4_m.jpg

[dollar1]

Cory's need buddy's. I just lost 2 albino's last week in my 10 gal hospital tank. I'm going to get the normal cory's(2-3) later this week.

~back under rock~

[Archie F. Swin]

Cory's need buddy's. I just lost 2 albino's last week in my 10 gal hospital tank. I'm going to get the normal cory's(2-3) later this week.

~back under rock~

he does have a partner...whom does not put on the same show

[Lord Bestyle]

My albino corys (cories?) do that all the time. Early on, I started to scoop one and he jumped out of the net back into the water. It's reassuring to hear someone else observing this behavior.

[Archie F. Swin]

It's reassuring to hear someone else observing this behavior.

agreed

[Archie F. Swin]

Holy Crap! I just found a very small snail in the tank. Its about a third of the size of a pinky fingernail. We have a black mystery (apple) snail, but I was under the impression you had to have a male and female of this species in order to have offspring. I wonder if it was scooped up at the store when we recently added fish? Crazy

[Fish]

Cory cats are very odd little fishes..... they still have a little airsack(dummy lungs) that never evolved away, which is why they will do the little freakout dance and swim up to the top for air every now and then.

I've seen the exact kind of behavior before as well, and I don't think it's a sure sign that somethings wrong with the fish, but that's just an observative opinion... If it is a swim bladder issue, the fish will probably die whether you do anything or not, so I'd just let him go and see what happens. You could do a water test, but if the other fish aren't showing signs of anything, it's probably just that cory.

[dollar1]

Cory's are called the "Clown's" of a tank. That being said, I think I'll get 3 more for my upstairs 30.

~back under rock~