Illness/Sickness: Help! Hector is getting worse again and is very stressed out!

Skudo09

Skudo09

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Hi Everyone

I posted here and it seemed Hector returned to his normal self. However tonight I went to feed them and he was at it again :(. Except this time much worse. His gills are much more far forward than they were and he is flat on the bottom. He tries to swim but twirls upside down and almost like he spirals around in a ball shape. He opens his mouth as well and if I go near him he freaks out.

I am getting really worried that there is something really wrong :-/

The parameters are pretty much the same as in my last post.


Any help would be greatly appreciated.
 
I would say isolate him so you can monitor him a bit better. Your theory that it might be sand impaction is possible - axies sometimes put their belly on the ground and lift their back legs akimbo when in need of a poop. And you'll be able to monitor his poop that way too.

Certainly sounds like constipation or gas if he's corkscrewing.

Is he eating?
 
Thanks Auntiejude, I am waiting for a tub of dechlorinated water to reach the same temperature of the tank before I put him in.

He started eating again when he improved before but he starts freaking out as soon as I go near him and is not at all interested with food at the moment :(
 
I just had another look at Hector after checking on the temperature of the tub I am going to place him in. He is opening his mouth like he is trying to vomit? His chin bulges as well sometimes. He looks very uncomfortable.
 
Hector is in a tub. I will check on him again in the morning and see how he is doing.
 
Hope it's nothing too serious :)
 
Quick update, Hector has perked up a little and is looking much less stressed :) his gills are back to normal and he seems more his normal self.

He has pooped and there is some sand in the tub that he must have passed through his system. It does not look like a lot but considering Hector's size it probably is a lot of sand to be passing through his digestive tract. I have just transferred him to new dechlorinated water so I will keep monitoring him and seeing what else passes. I will offer him an earthworm too shortly and see if he takes it :)
 
Ok, no more sand has passed from Hector and he ate an earthworm last night :)

I have removed the sand from the main tank. As much as I like the sand, it is not worth the risk so I have removed it completely. Hector is back in the main tank with Jack now and he seems much more himself :)
 
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