Swim Bladder Issues Or Sumin

[Hallett]

Hey,


One of my serpae tetras has been experiencing difficulties for the past week it can only stay up right if it stays in the same position. If it tries to swim it goes off in any direction...Not sure if it can feed like that. Its obviously the swim bladder. Will that heal itself and is it a risk to the other fish? If not do I have to remove him or buy something to cure it...

cheers.

 

[rabbut]

Need to know more before we can diagnose the caurse of the problem. Can you give us readings for ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and pH. Also, what do you feed, how much and when? Most swim bladder issues are non-contagious, so s/he can be left where s/he is

All the best
Rabbut

 

[Colin_T]

if the swim bladder has popped or been damaged it does not normally heal itself. And if it does heal the fish will not go back to swimming normally. The swim bladder has air in it and once this has leaked out of the organ the fish will have problems with it's boyancy.
Swim bladder issues can occur in any fish but arent contagious so there is little chance of the other fish having the same problem. If the other fish do develop similar symptoms then it could be something else.
Swim bladder problems usually cause the fish to have trouble keeping level when they aren't moving. But they can normally swim properly until they stop then they either float or sink.

 

[Hallett]

I'll test hte water tomorrow then, I just doesn't seem right at all...Swims around in circles..Goes upside down..This morning it was just up against the filter housing being sucked toward it not moving. Its more active again now so I'm unsure.

 

[Colin_T]

If it is spiralling through the water then it is more likely to be a problem with the brain. Sometimes they pick up protozoan or bacterial infections and the pathogens work their way into the brain of the fish. They cause inflammation and brain damage affecting the nerves.
If that is the problem there isn't much you can do for the infected fish.

These problems are often associated with dirty environmental conditions and sometimes the fish get better if you do some water changes and gravel cleans. Also make sure the filter is running properly.

 

[Hallett]

Right amonias 0ppm, Ph is 7.6..It's always been hight not sure how to get it down really and Nitriteis 0ppm nitrates about a 5.0ppm. I did a water change on monday about 25% or so. It still tries to feed and things and if its just sat there..It head points down but it is up right. Every morning I wake up its just not moving lieing in some plant. Then I'll turn the aquarium light on and it'll become active again. The fin on its back seems to be slightly shredded not sure if hes getting attacked in his weakened state. I just really want to know whats best for it.

 

[Colin_T]

A PH of 7.6 is nothing to worry about for general community fish.

The fish is sleeping in the plants during the night, hence the reason is it always in there when you first turn on the lights.

Normally when a fish starts to have problems like this I euthanase them because they don't normally get better. You can see how things go over the next few days but if the fish doesn't start to improve then put it down.

 

[Hallett]

Yarg thought he might get better...Well he might..Been like it for a week now though . whats the best way to put them down as it were?

Yarg thought he might get better...Well he might..Been like it for a week now though . whats the best way to put them down as it were?

 

[rabbut]

I've only had to put down small fish before. I use a very hard hit to the head, ensuring that the head is squished. ery graphic, but sometimes it needs to be done

 

[Hallett]

I dooon't wanna squish it!

 

[Colin_T]

You can put it into a small container of tank water and pop it in the freezer. The temperature will go down and the fish will die.
If you can get Clove Oil and add some of that to the container of water with the fish in, then the fish will go to sleep (not die, just sleep) and then you can put it in the freezer.
Clove Oil is available from health food shops and you add a drop at a time to the water and wait until the fish rolls over. Then it is unconscious.

 

[rabbut]

Evidence surgests that freezing isn't the best way to do it, as suffering may be prolonged longer that ideal. Clove oil can kill, and if you can get it would be the better of the two methods Colin has surgested

 

[Hallett]

Sounds better if its unconscious rather than freezing it to death lol. I'll give it a go...Well might still get better yet we'll see!

Cheers!