Help for Johanni

[ladyoutlaw50]

A good friend (who doesn't have a puter -- don't ask) anyway - she just called -- she has a 30gal tank with several johanni's and a couple of kenyi -- anyway -- 1 johanni has lost all it's color and is kinda hanging around the corner of the tank and is kinda vertical. She said he ate when she fed them -- no other fish is picking on him -- he isn't at the very top of the tank all the time -- he does occassionally swim a bit and every so often seems to go to the top to get a breath -- any ideas????

[Ryuu]

Sounds like a swim bladder problem....

[ladyoutlaw50]

Sounds like a swim bladder problem....

what should she do??

[Ryuu]

Well there are many ways to "cure" swim bladder, what swim bladder is, is air that gets trapped in the swim bladder, and it makes its balance off set, ill do some reasearch to find out a easy way, but the only way I currently know how to solve it is with surgerry or something liek that

[Ryuu]

mmk, It says to feed frozen peas, boil the peas, then feed them the insides, not the skins for three days, increase temperature to 78-82, while adding epsom salt, and eight of a teaspoon for every 5 gallons

[ladyoutlaw50]

just got off the phone with her -- he is vertical aboaut 4 inches from the top of the tank -- lost all color -- doesn't seem to be breathing hard -- she put in a small pea and he went for it and appeared to eat it

[ladyoutlaw50]

mmk, It says to feed frozen peas, boil the peas, then feed them the insides, not the skins for three days, increase temperature to 78-82, while adding epsom salt, and eight of a teaspoon for every 5 gallons


ok thanks -- have written down and will pass on to her with the next phone call!!

[Ryuu]

Welcome and dont worry bout it, hope hes ok

[ladyoutlaw50]

Thanks again for your help -- will keep you updated!!! I hopw he will be ok as well. I won't be able to chat with her until tomorrow after work -- so crossing my fingers!!!

[Ryuu]

Same here!

[kaybee]

Even though your friend has mentioned that the johanni isn't being picked on, the behavior you've described is a classic symptom of mbuna aggression.

Mbuna's will often seek refuge in the upper corners of the tank, and usually in a vertically position to minimize the possibility of them being located by the hyperdominants. Basically one can have a hyperdominant mbuna drive another fish to one of the upper corners. As long as that fish remains there it won't get picked on (giving the false impression that it isn't being picked on).

Metriaclima and melanochromis species are particularly aggressive. I personally wouldn't keep a kenyi in a tank smaller than 55-75gal. when the kenyi's get more matured (especially the males), there may be more tank mates driven to the upper corners.

Edit: It would be great to get a desciption of the behavior of the other mbuna's in the tank when the johanni does venture down from there.

[ladyoutlaw50]

Sad news -- Just got the call -- the Johanni just passed!! Thanks to all who gave their suggestions -- my friend said as soon as she gets a computer --this will be the first place she puts in her favorites.