Concerned about my comet

[Tish]

Happy Spring everyone! It has finally arrived in Canada also. I have a 5 in. comet who overwintered in the pond, 85 gal stock tank. About 10 days ago I took the tarp off and put the pump in. As the water warmed up above 50 degrees he emerged from the fish cave and started eating ( and pooping ) all good. What concerns me is when he is at rest he appears to tilt or lean a little to one side. Not a lot and once he begins swimming he wiggles and straightens out and appears perfectly normal. I did a partial water change when I set the pump up and tested ( liquid test kit ) again yesterday. PH -6.5 to 7 Ammonia - 0 to .01 Nitrite - 0 Nitrate 5 . So all good. Its bare bottom tank so no decaying plant matter or other contaminates that I can see. He has been eating mostly algae tabs and a pellet or 2 of wheat germ food. He's not too comfortable coming to the surface and still spending a lot of time in the fish cave. Until I can get some floating plants that's his only cover though. It has cooled off again and that will last for a few days. The pond was only 58 degrees this morning. May get colder. I am thinking about turning up the fountain pressure and adding an airstone. I just didn't want to hammer him with a bunch of turbulance right away. I also filled some water buckets so I could do another partial water change tomorrow. Those are the only ideas I have and maybe he's just fine??? Its my first experience with a hibernation fish. Right now he is alone in there but I have 2 more that I kept in an aquarium all winter. I want to repatriate them to the pond ASAP but want to be sure the comet is strong and healthy first. Comments and advise much appreciated.

 

[GBBUDD]

start right and stress coat in the aquarium trades is great to help a fish build up it's immune system. I WOULDN'T WORRY ABOUT TURBULANCE. i kinda doubt your thinking of putting a 5000 gph pump into a compound bucket or small preform. fish most anyways find some water movement as a game a water park.

 

[Laaf]

I had a fish that was too vertical and or tilted. She did recover. I wouldn't change anything too drastically and see if yours recovers and gets its balance as it warms up to full activity and metabolism.

 

[Tish]

start right and stress coat in the aquarium trades is great to help a fish build up it's immune system. I WOULDN'T WORRY ABOUT TURBULANCE. i kinda doubt your thinking of putting a 5000 gph pump into a compound bucket or small preform. fish most anyways find some water movement as a game a water park.

LOL That's true. Even in the aquarium they body surf off the current from the Hob.

 

[Tish]

LOL That's true. Even in the aquarium they body surf off the current from the Hob.

I also ordered some stress coat. Can't hurt and may help. Thanx.

 

[Mgessert]

You might stop feeding for a few days too, especially if the water is still cold. Sometimes they eat but can’t properly digest the food because of the cold.