Baby Question

[Psi]

Hey,

I've got a small collection of young killifish right now, and recently one of the larger ones (all are less than a centimetre in length) seems to have developed a swimbladder disorder; it can maintain its balance in the water column, but unlike its siblings cannot maintain bouyancy unless it constantly moves its tail fin - which results in either it performing the classic motion of constant forward movement at a slight head up, tail down angle. It's able to feed, but when it isn't taxing itself trying to stay afloat it spends its time resting on the bottom. Just tonight I noticed another of its even smaller siblings presenting with the same signs.

Otherwise, neither fish appears ill of health - so it doesn't seem to be an urgent care requirement. However, I don't like to see my fish impeded in any way in their attempts merely to go about their daily lives, and I'm wondering - is there anything I can do to alleviate the problem? As I said, it looks to be a swimbladder dysfunction, but might it be something else? And in either case, what are the steps towards rectifying the problem, if any, and returning the two and any others it may happen to to health?

 

[WILDER]

Size of tank in gallons or litres.
How many fish and which type.
Water stats in ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, and ph.

Swim bladder signs are
Being bloated.
Unable to maintain balance in the water.
Heading stand or tail looks like it weighing them down in the water.

Treatment.
Cook some frozen peas for a few minutes,, let cook down, pop out of shell, mush between fingers and add to the tank.
Epson salt baths if the fish is bloated, helps draw the fluids out.
Bacerial med.

 

[Psi]

8 litres; nine <1cm Fundulopanchax gardneri killifish; I'm uncertain as to what the stats are (I know, it isn't necessarily the most professional method of keeping fish but right now I haven't got the resources for doing the tests).

The babies affected aren't bloated, but they certainly do seem weighed down (albeit not greatly) by their tail ends; as I said, the other seven are able to maintain their position and orientation within the water column but the affected two either must maintain movement of their tails against gravity or they sink to the bottom.

I'll attempt treatment with the suggested methods - but is there anything else that might be the problem? I note you suggest bacterial medication, which makes me wonder whether it is in my case bacterial infection as two of nine small fish have the concern, rather than it being a single isolated case.

Thanks for the help and again, if anything else seems even remotely likely I'd sincerely appreciate notification.

 

[rocknurworld2006]

need to know water parameters before treating as this could be the problem rather than treating with unneeded meds!

 

[WILDER]

Get your water tested as bad water quality can cause swim bladder.
Cook some peas for a few minutes, let cool down, pop out of shell, mush between fingers and add to the tank.