Sick Red Cap

Question
Hi David. We have an outside pond which a pecan tree overhangs.  It has
began its annual dump of pecans in our backyard and beyond our control,
they are falling in the pond.  Our red cap has been missing for about a week
and tonight she reappeared.  She is moving very slowly, her fins and head
tend to poke out of the water a little and she will swim off.  She seems to be
tilting her head down, and her equilibrium seems off.  I read something about
taking her out of the pond and putting her in a separate fishbowl, which I will
do; however, do I put pond water in the bowl or fresh water?  Also, what do I
feed her to keep her alive?  Please help!  Sad in Dallas...thanks!

Answer
Hi RoxAnne:  I would put her in a separate bowl with 50 pond water and 50 new water.  Feed her a diet of tubi-worms, brine shrimp and flake food.  If you have been feeding pellets I would avoid those for about a week.  Pellets are very dry and even though fish live in water... they can lead to intestinal blockages... which would present as a symptom of swim-bladder-disorder.  So ... separate  her, feed her "wet foods" and change her water every other day.  I would also check the pond water for a change in pH.... leaves, etc in the pond can change the waters pH enough to make the fish sick.  I have a net with small webbing that I put over my pond this time of year.  It keeps most of the tree dander out of the water and makes my job a lot easier at clean up time.  If anything changes please let me know.... Keep me posted... dave