swallow tail help

[hogpark7430]

Maybe I am worrying over nothing but I have a new swallow tail angel that I put in my tank this morning. It is swimming hard with head down at about a 30 degree angle and seems to float up when not swimming.
-125g 1.2 years old nothing new added for 3 months but some corals.
-acclimated 3 hours using drip
-fish came in by air freight with a small leak in the bag
-never have lost a fish in this tank

Is this anything to worry about if so is there anything I can do?

thanks

[dougc]

Some of the genicanthus angels are collected from deeper water and often suffer from swim bladder damage from improper decompression. To my knowledge, the swallowtail is not one of the really deepwater species, but it sounds to me like yours might be suffering from a swim bladder problem. I don't think there is anything that can be done about this except to wait.

[hogpark7430]

Thanks,
She seems a little better but that might be from less stress or my wishing. I would assume that swim bladder problems are mostly terminal right?

[oama]

hogpark7430

Add to this your altitude in Colorado and air shipping. It will be a waiting game.

And, no, swim bladder problems are not always fatal. I have on many occations used hyperdermic needles to bleed off excessive airbladder inflation. But, I would not recommend this for a novice (ie in doing that specific treatment)(i'm not trying to imply that you are a novice hobbists).

Given time, your angel should be able to absorb the excess gasses and swim normal again. It does not sound like it's too badly inflated.

[hogpark7430]

Interesting thanks for the info; I was thinking she was just well fed. My home is @ 6200'.
Thanks again

[oama]

up date: I'm here in Colorado and I can't breath! Up here for my sister's son graduation from HS. It has been awhile since i've been in these altititudes! Phew!

[hogpark7430]

thanks for the info here she is a week later eating well and swiming fine
thanks

http://img32.photobucket.com/albums/v97/hogpark7430/angel2.jpg

http://img32.photobucket.com/albums/v97/hogpark7430/adbf65.jpg

[dougc]

That's great news. Nice pictures.

[Gerard Alba]

Great.

[hogpark7430]

thanks, she is doing great we are thinking of adding a male