Illness/Sickness: Please Help little Lottie

[unlucky17]

Hi Guys! Sorry for my first post to be on a bit of a downer.. I have LOTS of questions to ask eventually, but need some advice first as I'm really worried about my Lottie.

He's been behaving a bit strangely recently, floating (first bum up but also completely), and thrashing about (out of character) and so I transfered him into a bucket of treated tap water so I could more easily feed him and see what (if anything) came out the other end. Firstly, I hope this was the correct thing to do. Also, I have noticed for a while that he had a dark red 'bobble' under one of his gills - it had been there since I got him, and I had assumed that it was from a previous injury or something.

He seemed ok in the new bucket, so I covered it up and left him for a bit. When I got back he was floating very still, so I waved my finger in front of his face and he snapped at it, as he normally does - this time, to my horror he bled an amount of fresh (bright red) blood. It came from behind his head. Such a shock!

The bleeding stopped fairly fast, and I couldn't see an obvious would, but noticed that the red bobble has gone. Could It be a blister or something that burst? I moved him straight away to another bocket of clean water and he doesn't seem to be bleeding now. In fact he seems fairly chilled out.

Does anyone have any advice on what to do now?

Thanks in advance for any help! I'm going to be all over the forums in the next couple of days with more questions

 

[FX1C]

Wow that would've freaked me out too

I'm guessing that the bobble on the gill was like a blood blister (like we get when we pinch our skin.. Ouchie!) & perhaps it has been close to popping - the agitation of snapping at you might be all it took to pop.

Keeping it in a large tub would be better size than a bucket - but you're doing the right thing keeping in 100% fresh clean water & changing it daily

Keep us updated & if possible post some pics of Lottie.



<3 >o_o< <3

 

[unlucky17]

Thanks so much for the reply! This morning there is no blood in the water so I dont think it can have been an open wound - must have been some kind of blister as you suggest. I felt so bad for him!

He is however still floating. I fed him yesterday, and overnight he has pooped which is cool. I was worried that he may have eaten gravel from his tank (I now realise that the gravel was a bad bad idea). If he is eating and pooping ok, is there any need to keep him out of the tank, or can he go back in?

I'm off to the pet shop now to get some sand and a water testing kit. I'll get some pics of him this afternoon, still got a ton of questions!

Thanks again

 

[FX1C]

My theory is...

If both ends are working -
eating = pooping =

Then it should be fine to put him back in as long as the water in the tank is tested & within healthy parameters & temperature then it should be fine to return Lottie to the tank... under close observation of course 0.0



<3 >o_o< <3

 

[unlucky17]

Thanks for your help Nikki

Lottie pooped out 2 stones whilst in his tub, and then seemed to become much more lively. I took out all the gravel from his tank, did a 40%(ish) water change and bought 2 large slates - so his tank now looks more like a rock garden.. I was worried about how stressed he might be in the tubs so I tested the water and popped him back in the tank.

He seems much better now, back on the bottom and no floating. I'm going to feed him today and see how that goes!

Thanks again for your help

 

[FX1C]

That's the best news

How sad are we all that we obsess & rejoice over poop

Great to hear about Lottie's tank too - would love to see some pics of Lottie in the new pad



<3 >o_o< <3