Here is a picture of the fish with the acupuncture needles in place. The doctor emailed it to me this week. He took the photo in his office during the third and final treatment after the fish had returned to normal size. http://us.f2.yahoofs.com/bc/40dca510_1f2b/bc/acupuncture.jpg?BC3K0CBB6w4bd1rj

My Microglanis iheringi lived almost exclusively on frozen brine shrimp for over 19 yrs. I also kept a few platies in the tank; their fry periodically provided an additional food source. I always fed in the evening. Being a night owl myself, this worked well with my schedule. The tank is heavily ...

dag, Itâ??s so good to hear from kindred spirits, thankyou. Two nights after the fish died, I was quite surprised by a dream I had in which I was standing beside a deep stream gazing into the water. The stream began to overflow its banks and as it became more clear and shallow, I could easily see ...

Lucy, thankyou so much for your kind words. They are very much appreciated.

Well, I am sad to say, that my little fish has finally died. Yesterday, she had actually begun to look much better; respiration and body size were returning to normal. I knew that the chances for a second recovery were slim; but I was still hoping. Late in the evening, I noticed the same weak ...

Eleven days ago, after two months of normal, healthy behavior, appetite and appearance, my fish's abdomen started to become distended again. Within three days it was blown up like a water-filled balloon. Breathing has been rapid and I have not seen her eat since this latest problem began. The ...

For the last two days the fish has actually eaten. The first night it ate a small amount of brine shrimp and then the following evening it ate enough to make the stomach area become rounded out again. It had been looking shriveled after not having eaten for a month. I am so amazed! I have always ...

Each evening I have been offering two types of food: frozen brine shrimp and a wafer for bottom feeders. The brine shrimp sort of stick together in a ball when they first thaw. Last night was the first time I have seen the fish move directly toward the food and actually take the clump of brine ...

That is exactly what I have decided to do - just leave her alone. This fish has been through so much, I am marvelling that it is still alive.

The catfish has been back in her regular tank for two days and has returned to the little rock cave she has lived in all her life. Behavior and movement are normal, but still, no eating. I have frequently hand fed this fish. When I offer food now, she approaches but doesn't take it.

I have just returned from the doctor's office. I brought the fish to him this time for the third, and last, acupuncture treatment. After speaking with him yesterday over the phone, he felt it was worth trying. After this, there is nothing left to do. This time he put three needles in between the ...

Sunday night the second set of needles fell out on their own. Monday the fish did not look that much different. By Tuesday morning, however, the fish had returned almost completely to it's original size and her breathing had returned to normal. By today, Wednesday, the fish is back to it's regular ...

I remembered an article from the LA Times and checked their archives. I found it in the 1.14.89 edition, "Getting the Point Acupuncturists Give the Needle to Ailing Fish." I decided to give it a try. Since both of the doctors mentioned in the article are no longer available, with the help of my ...

That's a good question. I've been wondering if there is some sort of obstruction; however, nothing is visible externally. The condition appears to be growing worse. I've written to the fish pathologist at UC Davis in northern California to see if he has any ideas.

The fish is also breathing more rapidly than normal, which looks like a sign of stress and discomfort. So should I offer any food at all? How long can I withhold food?

I have been feeding just the usual frozen brine shrimp; however, there has been more food available since I moved a couple of other fish into a different tank. Is it possible that a fish could get so fat that it would look as inflated as a puffer? In the past she had eaten several cardinal tetras ...

After searching this site for more info, I think I may have incorrectly ID'd my fish. It looks like Microglanis iheringi. It is exactly 3" long, though, which is larger than the descriptions I've found. Since it is still in the same condition, I considered euthanizing it; however, when I lifted it ...

I checked ph and hardness again. It has been consistently about 7.2 and the water is hard.

The tank is 20 gallons. There is an angel fish, 3 loaches, and an African frog. A penguin filter w/ bio wheel, extra aeration which forms a little current, lots of plants - nothing has changed. I feed frozen brine shrimp.

My 19 yr old Bumble bee akysis has suddenly blown up like a balloon. She's still alive and upright but not hanging out in her cave. Any ideas what happened? Just old age? Any ideas what to try for treatment? I have never seen anything like this before. Thanks for any help!