Sick female

[SPLiSH]

I have no idea what is wrong with my little Pearl. Over the last few days, she has deteriorated really badly.

She hardly ever swims around and when she does it's to come up for air, and she darts up and goes straight back to the bottom. Sometimes she is swimming weakly and sort of seems to 'give up' and falls to the tank botttom. She is eating but not with her usual vigour. Her colour is normal but her fins are clamped. She seems to be having problems swimming: she kind of wiggles and can't keep straight and her tail either sinks or floats. Her tummy is bloated but no pineconing.

It seems to be swimbladder but I just want to get a few other opinions from you guys. I've had Pearl about three weeks and she's so sweet, I'd hate to lose her.

My other betta Jeremiah is fine. These are Pearl's tank stats:

Size: 1.25 US gallons
pH: 7.0
Substrate: glass marbles
Temp: 26 degrees celcius
Ammonia/nitrIte/nitrAte: Dunno but I did a 100% water change yesterday so they are bound to be safe.

Please help!

 

[red-devil0602]

i'm not sure as i have never had to deal with swimbladder myself but i think those symptoms maybe pointing that way

 

[SPLiSH]

i'm not sure as i have never had to deal with swimbladder myself but i think those symptoms maybe pointing that way

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Oh, I hope not... the poor little baby is lying on her marbles right now. Her tank's on my desk and I feel so helpless. I've added some salt and she seems to have perked up a tiny bit... well, she's not active but her swimming has improved. I am going to lower her water level to 50% so she can get air more easily.

Can swimbladder be fatal?

 

[Synirr]

Maybe she's constipated and the pressure is causing her to have problems regulating her swimbladder? I'd try giving her a bit of pea and then fasting her for a couple of days to see if that helps

 

[SPLiSH]

Maybe she's constipated and the pressure is causing her to have problems regulating her swimbladder? I'd try giving her a bit of pea and then fasting her for a couple of days to see if that helps

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Thanks Synirr. I'll give her a pea for breakfast tomorrow 'cause I just fed her and don't want to overfeed. I lowered the water level to about 4 inches.

I really hope she pulls through...

 

[SPLiSH]

She just came up to take a breath and DARTED up to the surface really madly, swimming crazy and almost hitting her little ceramic wheel. I just took it out but I hope she's gonna be okay. She swimming right now but I think she's jus t finding a place to lie.

I hope she makes it.

 

[SPLiSH]

Well she seems to be more active, I'd guess she is swimming around 30% of the time.. but her fins are still clamped. She ate her 2 betta bites though...

I think it is definately swimbladder. Has anyone here had to treat it before?

 

[WILDER]

Not sounding to good i'm afraid, poor thing, not the writer of this information below.

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.

 

[Alix]

sell its been over 24 hours sence the last post...i would like to FRICK'IN KNOW IF PEARL PULLED THROUGH!!!

 

[SPLiSH]

Not sounding to good i'm afraid, poor thing, not the writer of this information below.

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.

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Thanks for the info Wilder.

sell its been over 24 hours sence the last post...i would like to FRICK'IN KNOW IF PEARL PULLED THROUGH!!!

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Well she's still kickin' but has lost all swimming control. I thought she was recovering but apparently not... so I moved her to a hospital tank with green walls. I painted them so she wouldn't get stressed from the movement in the office.

She is laying on her favourite ornament - a little ceramic wheel thing - most of the time and sometimes swimming, but not eating.

Thanks for your help so far everyone.