Possible Swim Bladder - A Full And Natural Recovery!

[ZoddyZod]

Evening all,

Over the last 5-7 days I have noticed one of my zebra danios start to lose 'balance' and she would ocassionally turn on her left side 90 degrees, basically becoming horizontal rather than vertical, but still being able to swim normally (she only turned when she stopped swimming). Yesterday when I got home I noticed her lying against a rock, motionless. I thought 'deaad' but then she spurng to life. However, since then she has basically spent most of her time lying on the side down on the gravel with only occasional spurts of swimming.

I've read up on swim baldder symptoms but I'm not entirely sure this is what it is, has anyone got any thoughts?

I do not have a hopsital tank so I can not remove her (without euthanasia) and I am concerned this will infect my other fish if bacterial but all seem normal at present. It can also be simply constipation, but surely that would not bring on this 'lethargy' that she is showing? If it is contagious and not treatable (I have read it is a very difficult 'disease' to treat) then I am inclined to give he a quick death to save the other fish.

any help or insight is grately appreciated as always!

cheers

 

[WILDER]

What are your water stats in ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, and ph.

What do you feed the fish.
Does she look bloated or thin.
What does it look like when she goes to the toilet.
Check her anus to see if it's enlarged or red and inflamed.
It could also be a bacterial infection.
Does it look like her tails weighing her down in the water.
Does she look pale or darker in colour.

 

[ZoddyZod]

Hi Wilder,

Ammonia - 0
Nitrite - 0
Nitrate - 20
pH - 8

No obvious change in body size
Have not been able to see her pass any stools
No inflamation of the anus
She appears balanced head to tail, just can't 'stand up' and when she stops swimming, there is an instant 90 degree turn onto her left side.
No colour change or loss.

 

[WILDER]

Ok.
Feed some shelled peas. Issolate her and try a bacterial med.
Watch out for when she goes to the toilet.
Turning on her side can be swim bladder, parasites, internal parasites.

 

[ZoddyZod]

peas are a regular food. Currently given twice a week. It's on the 'menu' again today.

Sadly I have no way of isolating her. Dont have a hospital tank, with a baby about a week away I doubt the wife would be keen on purcashing one either

Which brings me back to my original question, if this is a possible infectious condition, am I better off euthanising than putting the other fish at risk? I have see no signs in any of the other fish though (and she has now been showing gradually worse symptoms for a week), so would prefer to let nature take it's course.

 

[WILDER]

peas are a regular food. Currently given twice a week. It's on the 'menu' again today.

Sadly I have no way of isolating her. Dont have a hospital tank, with a baby about a week away I doubt the wife would be keen on purcashing one either

Which brings me back to my original question, if this is a possible infectious condition, am I better off euthanising than putting the other fish at risk? I have see no signs in any of the other fish though (and she has now been showing gradually worse symptoms for a week), so would prefer to let nature take it's course.

Depends on what caused the swim bladder. Is she pregnant as fry can press against the swim bladder and cause swim bladder symtoms.

Causes of swim bladder are. Injury, birth defect, to many dried foods, unstable temp, bad water quality, internal parasites, bacterial infection of the swim bladder.

Swim Bladder Disorder



The Swim bladder is a gas-filled sac located inside the fish’s body cavity just above most of the other internal organs. This sac is what gives the fish buoyancy and controls equilibrium. The amount of gas in this sac changes as the fish rises and sinks in the water, enabling it to swim, hover and move in the water. Without the use of the Swim-bladder organ a fish is unable to control it's own movements.



Symptoms:

Fish with a swim bladder disorder appear to have an abnormal swimming pattern, usually with their tail end up. They also appear to have difficulty maintaining equilibrium. They may even float upside down or appear to be stuck at the surface of the water, being unable to swim down, or they may lie on the bottom, unable to rise. Fish with a swim bladder disorder will continue to try and feed, showing a normal appetite.



Cause:

The most common cause of swim bladder disorders is improper diet. An improper diet can lead to intestinal gas or intestinal blockages. Intestinal blockages can irritate the bowel, giving bacteria or other parasites an entry point where they can then cause damage to the swim bladder. Swim bladder disorders are most common in the larger, deep-bodied varieties of Goldfish. Fish also fed a lot of dried foods, especially pellets, are most susceptible. This condition is frequently observed in the later stages of Malawi Bloat, which is primarily due to an improper diet as well and intestinal irritation.



Treatment:

Because this disorder is due principally to an improper diet, a change in their feeding needs to be made. Dried foods with lots of protein should be kept to a minimum. Pellets and other dense foods should be soaked prior to feeding or completely eliminated from their diet. Foods with lots of fiber should be introduced, such as zucchini, squash, spinach, romaine lettuce, peas, and grated carrots. If you suspect that the fish is victim to a bacterial infection, treat the fish with a medicated food.

 

[fishyfeet]

Its unlikely to be swim bladder, infection of the swim bladder is usually caused by poor water conditions and in rounded fish like fancy goldfish, i suspect this is just a one off and maybe the swim bladder was deformed otherwise the other danios would be the showing similiar signs and i assume they are all fine.

The best way to put a fish to sleep is to fill a jug with tank water then add the fish they add a few drops of clove oil, within a few minutes the fish will be dead. di

 

[ZoddyZod]

After 2 weeks of the danio swimming frantically head first into the gravel and lying on the substrate, it has made a full recovery! No meds were used, I was frankly just waiting for it to die naturally.

Maybe constipation that cleared itself and released the pressure on the swim bladder?

 

[WILDER]

Glad he's ok.
Meds only work on a bacterial infection of the swim bladder anyway. Just a shelled pead can work.

 

[Joe97]

Hi,
When I was four or five and had my second ever fish (a comet called Goldy who lived until I was eight)at some point in his life (I can't remember when) he had blood-shot fin desease and he was a strong fishy and fought his way through and survived, I don't know how but we sometimes make miraculas recoveries from desease so why not our fifth cousins, the fish.