Swim Bladder Problems

When dealing with tropical fish illness and disease, it's always a good idea to have a good guidebook at your side. We recommend this book as a handy desktop reference.

Occasionally, you may see one of your tropical fish acting distinctly like it has been drinking. It may or may not be bloated, and generally has a healthy, normal appearance, except that its balance has been impaired. This may show itself in being unable to swim upright, turning over on its side, floating to the top, sinking to the bottom, or appearing as if it is doing a headstand in the aquarium, with nose down and tail up.

This is almost always the result of a swim bladder problem, and most of the time, there appears to be little or no cause. If you have some hyper active occupants in the tank, there is always the chance that the fish has been injured by them, or by fighting.

When you see a fish doing this, it would be a good idea to test your water, as some imbalances, can affect their ability to swim properly. If the aquarium conditions are normal, and there have been no "shocks" such as total exchange of water, then it's likely the cause is either an internal disorder, or possibly a bacterial infection.

The only possible treatment, is to use a broad spectrum antibiotic in a hospital tank, on the off chance the condition is treatable. A minor injury may heal in the time they are separated from the regular tank, and if it is bacterial, you should see visible results. However, if there is no improvement, it is best to euthanize the fish, as there is likely no chance of recovery at that point.

Recommended! A-Z of Tropical Fish Diseases and Health Problems: The aim of this book is to help aquarists recognize signs of illness so they can identify and resolve problems. Divided into three sections, the first focuses on health and husbandry, describing the signs of a healthy fish, anatomy and general care; the second provides signs of diseases and health problems and is cross-referenced to section three, which covers the treatment of diseases and health problems. Illustrated throughout with top-quality color photos, the book is an invaluable reference for novice to experienced fishkeepers. Click here for your copy.

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