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![]() | Swim Bladder |
garyroland![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ---Prime Fish--- Posts: 7878 Kudos: 4010 Votes: 103 Registered: 31-Dec-2001 ![]() ![]() | Unless you have a magic wand to wave over the fish, there's not much you can do... He'll continue to spin and dive until he runs out of gas, at which time he'll take his final flight. --garyroland. |
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smantzer![]() Big Fish Posts: 378 Kudos: 347 Votes: 10 Registered: 02-Nov-2004 ![]() ![]() | Actually! There is hope, if it's caused by constipation (which commonly happens). Quarantine it, don't feed him for 2 days, then start feeding him de-shelled peas (remember to clean the water very well every day when treating him!). ![]() |
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Cory_Di![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() *Ultimate Fish Guru* Posts: 7953 Kudos: 2917 Votes: 25 Registered: 19-Dec-2002 ![]() ![]() | Swim bladder disorder can be caused by any number of things. We start with the least invasive things and progressively work our way down through more invasive treatements or actions. Much of it is trial and error. Environmental cause: High Nitrates. Check your nitrates or have a fish store check them. They should be less than 40ppm. If they are really high, like over 100 or 200, then I would encourage you to do daily water changes of 20-25%, until the nitrates come down to about 10ppm. It is critical that the water temp not be altered more than 1-2F during such a change. This is how ich is brought on when temp dips too quickly. It won't hurt if you miss a day as nitrates rise slowly. High nitrates cause dilation of the blood vessels and some fish show improvement when they get into lower nitrate waters. In nature, the nitrates are not that high at all. Also, check your nitrItes and ammonia too. These should read zero. If not, do a partial water change of 25% and add New and Improved Cycle or Stress Zyme. It can be caused by diet. In this case, adding more roughage would be good and mixing up the diet. For example, try fasting the tank for one day. Then, if you have frozen peas, thaw a few, then pop the outer round shell off break the halves until you get small enough pieces to feed your fish. I find even my cories will snack on the peas. Its important that each pea be deshelled. Another cause is physiological, like that in fancy goldfish. Many have been genetically altered to have compressed spines which gives them that fancy appearance. This compresses the inners and ultimately the swim bladder. Feeding such fish is better done with tiny meals several times a day rather than one big meal. Nothing much can be done here and it will get progressively worse with time and development. I have a goldfish that fits in this category. His diet has to be carefully watched or he floats for hours on end. One day, I feed him algae in the form of sheets, the next he gets a pellet or two of regular feed. Soaking dry food can help, but only for a minute or two. Damage is also possible. If a fish is rammed by another fish or even aggressive mating the swim bladder can be damaged. Transport of fish is a common time for them to sustain swim bladder damage. Infection - Bacterial or viral. Viruses can come and go on their own and there really are no meds for them. Either the fish survives or it doesn't. Howevever, if it is bacterial, meds can help. One way is with a waterborne antibiotic. The problem with this is that it fouls the water and can cause ammonia/nitrite problems. Also, antibiotics in the water are never as effective as those ingested or injected. Jungle has come out with a new medicated feed. If you alter the diet and you see no change, consider crushing these pellets to size and feeding for 7-10 days. Its only available at PetSmart at this time but can be purchased at the online store. [link=http://www.petsmart.com/global/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524441806679&ASSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=2534374302023693&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302030134&bmUID=1099966231895]http://www.petsmart.com/global/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524441806679&ASSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=2534374302023693&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302030134&bmUID=1099966231895" style="COLOR: #C000C0[/link] One other cause is a parasite that invades the swim bladder, or parasites that are filling out the intestine to press on the swim bladder. I don't know that swim bladder parasites can be killed effectively, but intestinal parasites can. Jungle makes an anti-parasite medicated feed too that is new. Here is a link to that med at PetSmart. [link=http://www.petsmart.com/global/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524441806678&ASSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=2534374302023693&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302030134&bmUID=1099966616806]http://www.petsmart.com/global/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524441806678&ASSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=2534374302023693&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302030134&bmUID=1099966616806" style="COLOR: #C000C0[/link] Hope this helps ![]() |
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smantzer![]() Big Fish Posts: 378 Kudos: 347 Votes: 10 Registered: 02-Nov-2004 ![]() ![]() | You can't be sure the kind he doesn't have isn't contagious, so I'd suggest QTing him just incase. ![]() |
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garyroland![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ---Prime Fish--- Posts: 7878 Kudos: 4010 Votes: 103 Registered: 31-Dec-2001 ![]() ![]() | I doubt that "swim bladder" is the problem... Those symptoms are significant with a host of other maladies, including internal parasites. --garyroland. |
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Meg's Mom![]() Enthusiast Posts: 208 Kudos: 435 Votes: 10 Registered: 25-Mar-2004 ![]() ![]() | What size tank is he in ? Putting him in a smaller environment may reduce some of the water pressure on him and thus assist him to swim upright. |
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