swim bladder problems ??
I've had my little fish since Christmas and he has had a couple of bouts ofswim bladder problems, my water readings are all ok ,my nitrite is almost normal i have had problems getting it down to zero and i'm almost there with a reading of 0.25 but since yesterday he has looked a bit poorly with being unable to swim very well, i feel so helpless as i've tried everything to get the water good. can anyone help me further.??
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well fish get swim bladder theres not much you can do but hes a few things you can try ! feed them oranges good for vitamin c they can live with swim bladder for along time you can try an anibotic but it might not work try caned peas it might be gas or air they gulptry feeding sinking pelets food unstead of flakes
First, for the swim bladder. Fast the fish for 3 days, then feed boiled peas with the skins removed for 2 or 3 days. Sometimes swim bladder disease is congenital, so, with this many occurrences, I just have to mention this. Of course, it just could be new fish owner feeding curve. Another cause of swim bladder disease is overfeeding. Cut back on your feeding. Next, you mention testing your nitrites, and swim bladder shouldn't have anything to do with this, but it is something to pay attention to anyway. You don't mention testing ammonia. If you're not testing ammonia for some reason, since nitrites is the second group in the nitrogen cycle, you could have an ammonia spike and not know it. Do you 25% water changes and proper tank cleaning, test all your water parameters and get your feeding under control and, hopefully, you'll see improvement. Good luck!
The most likely cause of swim bladder infections returning is that it didn't quite clear up from the first treatments. Retreat the tank only this time treat for a full 2 weeks. Also be sure that you remove the carbon from the filter while you are treating as it will remove the medication from the water.
You can also consider medicated food that contains an antibiotic and feeding that during and for a week or so after treatment.
Edit: Please be very careful. Peas will not cure a swim bladder infection. Constipation does not cause a swim bladder infection and over feeding will not cause an infection.
MM
Sometimes swim bladder is misdianosed and is really constipation. Try adding a little of Doc's Aquarium salt to the water. Read the directions on the side of the box. If that is the case and it is constipation add some fiber to your fishes diet such as dried blood worm. Hope this helps.