How do I fix air bladder disease?

[Fridgeseal]

Hheeeeeeeeeeeelpppppppppp!!!

My goldfish has air bladder disease! His tum is really fat and bloated, and he can't swim the right way up. he keeps on floating upside down to the top of the tank, and can't really do much else except float upside down.

He has been like this for about a week, and is not getting any better. I've heard i should try changing his diet, so have stopped giving him pelleted food and started putting in flakes but I don't think he's eating them. I tried chopping up a green pea and dropping that in but it floated to the bottom and he couldn't reach it.

How can I make him better? He's so sad!

 

[squidlips]

i doubt it will eat while in this condition anyway so i wouldnt polute tank .take 1litre or two from your tank and chuck it in . then add 1tspoon of epsom salys to water .let it desolve slowly in the water with the fish .leave it in there for 10 min then toss the fish back in your tank . its the best bet you have .

 

[OzzieGirl]

Hi there,

just a suggestion, cause my sister had a goldfish and it could never swim properly, was always bobbing around, the only thing that ever helped him was bi-carbonate of soda, and she used to just add a bit to the tank every now and again when it seemed to have worn off. He lasted over three years, which was a lot longer than i would have expected!

May be worth a try.

 

[squidlips]

bicarbs only use in aquarium it to raise the ph . yibida yibida thats all folks and thank your mother for the rabbit.

 

[Cheese Specialist]

I would not do either of those things. Epsom can help but a dip in it is no good, the fish would need to be in it for a prolonged period of time.

Do not feed the fish for a week and then feed peas (unsalted, deshelled and cut up) for 2 days. This should help as does feeding bloodworm and peas regularly and not feeding for one day a week. It's very common in fancy goldfish.

 

[WILDER]

If the above reply dosn't work it means the swim bladder has progressed and their is no cure, I used antibiotics for 3 weeks with a fancy goldfish my husband fetched back from lfs with swim bladder and brown spots on belly, I started treatment straight away but it took 3 weeks of daily water changes salt and antibiotics, she is still alive but I keep her on a varied diet with alot of peas in her diet.

 

[Fridgeseal]

Thanks for the replies, I'll try my best to keep my poor fish going. If there are any more ideas then keep 'em coming, my fish needs me!

 

[squidlips]

I would not do either of those things. Epsom can help but a dip in it is no good, the fish would need to be in it for a prolonged period of time.

Do not feed the fish for a week and then feed peas (unsalted, deshelled and cut up) for 2 days. This should help as does feeding bloodworm and peas regularly and not feeding for one day a week. It's very common in fancy goldfish.

oh .....you want trouble mister cheese?
we have recomended this treatment many times and our customers return smileing... please explain why it is not good

 

[black angel]

epsom salts draw fluid from the fish and bicarb does raise the ph. swim bladder disease is caused by the bladder becoming deformed or full of air.
the best advice was indeed imo given by cheese and the fish should be starved for 3 days and then given peas that have been shelled, boiled and squashed. this should only be done with frozen peas, try to hold at the fishes mouth and see if it can eat from your finger.
the gas in the bladder gets trapped so the starvation helps the gas move through then the peas give the good bacteria back to the gut wall.
you might also find lowering the water to around 6 inches can take the pressure off the swimbladder and raising the temperature to 79 slowly will help kick in its immune system.
flake food shouldnt be given to sbd fish as this causes gas to form again. gel foods and peas may now be the only option. if you still want to feed pellets then these must be pre soaked beforehand.

 

[squidlips]

ok that all makes sence. ill pass that 1 on .but the epsom salts did definately work even on non goldfish . thanks mr angel