Can a fish lose it's swim bladder?

[MindyN]

Hi guys,
Long story short - everyone in the tank almost died (death related poisoning, then ick, then quarantine, then stress = 1/3 death )
Anyhow the clown fish did survive but now he's sitting on the bottom!! He's been there for over 2 weeks! He swims in a small radius, ALWAYS on the bottom and has cleared the sand from where he sits. Sometimes he sits a little on his side, but not upside down or anything. He eats but doesn't venture out of his 4 inch pothole. What happened? Can a fish lose their swim bladder or why doesn't he surface or swim?

Mindy

[JY13131]

OH! that is so sad!

[dobejazz]

Sorry for your losses I have no idea on the clown

[Twitterbait]

Fish can get swim bladder diseases sometimes. they can blow up or shrink down. You should start by leaving him where he is at for now. try to get some garlic in his food and get him to eat. it will increase his immune response and he may kick the problem himself.

beyond that you need QT with formalin and copper.

[MindyN]

Originally Posted by Twitterbait

Fish can get swim bladder diseases sometimes. they can blow up or shrink down. You should start by leaving him where he is at for now. try to get some garlic in his food and get him to eat. it will increase his immune response and he may kick the problem himself.

beyond that you need QT with formalin and copper.

I did put him in a copper QT for 2 weeks and then put the carbon filters back on after the treatment period. I'll have to check the formalin part - I don't know if my med had that too...or is that separate?
I'll probably try the garlic next - I almost think he may be brain damaged from the low immune system/ich/stress/near death experience. Does that sound possible?

(PS - I LOVE squirrels! I had one as a pet - I'll send you a pic sometime)