My golden dojo loach started to have swimbladder problems last year. He was floating like a cork for awhile. I treated him with Melafix, but it didn't really help the buoyancy. Either way, he still eats like a pig!
Since then, I've kept my tank much cleaner (and healthier), and his buoyancy is much better. Sometimes he still floats a little, but not nearly as bad as it used to be. I'd say he's about 90% better. Like I said, he still eats great and has a will to live.
But one strange thing is that his barbels (whiskers around his mouth) have shrunk. They used to be long so that his snout looked like a mole's. Now they're just little nubs. They haven't grown back. A fish physiologist told me it sounds like a neurological problem. That makes sense to me, as that would explain the barbels (part of his sensory system) being affected.
Has anyone else heard of such a thing? I don't know if I'll do anything about it, as he is pretty happy otherwise. He's just my "special" fish
This is the same fish that seeks out my hand when I do water changes, and curls up in my palm. I do love him so.
Since then, I've kept my tank much cleaner (and healthier), and his buoyancy is much better. Sometimes he still floats a little, but not nearly as bad as it used to be. I'd say he's about 90% better. Like I said, he still eats great and has a will to live.
But one strange thing is that his barbels (whiskers around his mouth) have shrunk. They used to be long so that his snout looked like a mole's. Now they're just little nubs. They haven't grown back. A fish physiologist told me it sounds like a neurological problem. That makes sense to me, as that would explain the barbels (part of his sensory system) being affected.
Has anyone else heard of such a thing? I don't know if I'll do anything about it, as he is pretty happy otherwise. He's just my "special" fish
This is the same fish that seeks out my hand when I do water changes, and curls up in my palm. I do love him so.
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