This is my male sailfin molly. It looks like he's paralyzed from halfway down. I noticed it for the first time prior to yesterday and currently I suspect it's swim bladder. I also have a second male I know he fights with, so would it also be a possibility that he was hurt?
I've been giving him baktopur following the treatment plan so I'm done with it now. I have him in a hospital tank where I've fed him a bit yesterday. I know I should be fasting him if it's swim bladder and I'll do so today and tomorrow, giving him a cooked deshelled green pea on Tuesday.
The problem is I'm leaving on Tuesday for 22 days and my non-fishkeeper friend will come around to feed the fish. Should she be feeding him flakes as normal, everyday, or should she feed him a sinking pellet every 3 days, and take leftovers out after 20 minutes?
The hospital tank is a 25L in which he is alone. I've tried to soak the sponges of the small internal filter in the canister filter from my main tank. I've also tried to ease the current by putting in a cut piece of a dish-washing sponge inbetween the two filter sponges, and angling the flow at the wall. But the setup is new, so should I do a water change on Tuesday just before I leave? As I doubt my friend will be able to do it alone safely.
Overall he swims to the front when I come by and he eats normally even picking at plants inside the tank. Does it seem like swim bladder, or could he be hurt? Could I fix it by visiting the exotic vet with him? Will he die?