Swim Bladder Problem

[rachh004]

I currently have 3 fish that i believe have swim bladder disease (2 platies, and 1 guppy). They are hanging out at the bottom. One platy is trying to swim but can't and the others are just sitting there.

My water conditions are GH 180ppm, KH 120ppm, pH 7-7.5, Nitrite .5ppm, Nitrate 20ppm, and ammonia .25. I know the ammonia is too high but a couple days ago it was 0. Are these conditions bad for my fish? Why do my fish keep getting swim bladder? And is there anything i can do for them?

These are the fish I have, its a 55 gallon tank:
2 zebra loaches
2 plecos
2 black skirt tetra
3 fancy guppies
3 red wag tail platies
5 zebra danios
6 rasboras

 

[Spooky76]

Hey

Yes you can help. Your ammonia is killing your fish. Swim bladder is normally caused by poor water / food.

Firstly do a 40% water change ASAP. Test the ammonia and Nitrite after an hour and if its got anything other than 0, do a 20% change and keep going until its 0.

What do you use to test the water ?

Once thats sorted, I would try to find out why its like that. How long has the tank been running ? If its a mature tank it shouldnt be cycling, so something has caused it. How do you normally change the water in your tank ? How do you clean the filters out ?

Once your changed the water, feed some de-shelled peas to the fish, it helps the swim bladder problem. Put some peas in boiling water for 1 min. pop the 2 halves out their shell, press in your fingers and add to the tank.

Your fish keep getting swim bladder because somethings wrong in the tank. its either poor water, poor diet or just bad luck, but I think one of the other 2 normally.

If you need help just post back, if your unsure on water changes read this...
[URL="http/www.fishforums.net/content/New-to-the-hobby/171045/Step-by-step-Guide-To-Weekly-Maintenance/"]http/www.fishforums.net/content/New-to-t...ly-Maintenance/[/URL]

 

[rachh004]

I test the water using the API brand sticks. And i test the ammonia with the test tube. I just did a 25% water change yesterday but I haven't tested the water yet. The tank has been running for about 4 months. This is the first time i have owned a bigger tank and it seems like there are a bunch of problems.

I was planning on moving the 3 sick fish to another tank to treat them. Is this a good idea or not? Also, i think one of the platy may have ick. So i will be treating him for that too. If the 2 platy die, then I will only have one left. I know they should be in groups but i don't think i want anymore platy because they seem to be prone to every disease. Will this be ok for the remaining platy or will he be too lonely?

 

[rachh004]

the guppy and one platy has died. I think the dead platy had some kind of funus too. But the platy that is still alive looks somewhat shrivaled. He tries to eat but cannot swim to the top very easily. but he kind of looks like he is "anorexic" comparing him to the healthy platy. Here are some pictures:

 

[Spooky76]

Oh dear, sorry to hear that.
It is eating at all now the platty ?
Have your ammonia and Nitrite readings gone to 0 ?
Looks like it could be TB / Internal parasites.

When you moved tanks it probably started a cycle if you didnt put the filter media in your new tank from your old one.

Also - the test strips are really inaccurate. I used them once and they gave me a bad reading for No3. I would recommend investing in a liquid based kit, they are more money but last a long long time. Ive had mine 12 months and its still working and still accurate.

Test your water again and repeat if its still got ammonia or Nitrite readings.

 

[rachh004]

i think the platy may have tb. It appears that his spine is bending. I don't know if that is why he is sitting at the bottom or if its swim bladder or a comination of both. He has been at the bottom for about 2 weeks and is still hanging in there. is there anything that can be done for tb?

 

[Spooky76]

Erm...I dont think so.
Maybe wilder has some wonder cure for TB, I have looked around and cant see anything conclusive.

Hows it all going now ?

 

[rachh004]

Erm...I dont think so.
Maybe wilder has some wonder cure for TB, I have looked around and cant see anything conclusive.

Hows it all going now ?

He's still alive. I dont know how much longer he will live though. He is super skinny and his spine is bent. He still tries to swim but can't go all the way to the top. Howerver, his attemps have been at a minimum now. But he looks like he has white stuff on him (not ick). The other fish seem to be fine though. I got the ammonia back to 0 and the other tests are good.

 

[Spooky76]

Oh dear. Sounds like hes getting secondary infections now.
Might be worth putting him out of his misery.

Quite often fish with swim bladder related problems get secondary infections because they lay on the bottom and dont excersize well.

You could try putting internal bacterial medications in, but I dont think its going to help much....Just wait and see if wilder posts....

 

[WILDER]

Water quality is bad but it shouldn' bend the spine.
More than likely internal parasites which livebearers are prone to.
Signs of internal parasites are as follows.
Long stringy white poo.
Inflamed red anus to enlarged anus.
Being thin or bloated.
Bent spine. Old age.
Worms prutruding from the anus they usually red when they have been feeding on the blood.

Once spines bend there no cure best of putting the fish out of its misery.
Hard to prove that a fish has tb without tests.
Signs of tb are.
Being thin and bent spine.
Sores on the body of the fish.
http/www.torrens.org.uk/NatHist/Aqua/disease/tb.html
Dropsy.
Outer rays falling out.
Be easier to get you a link to tb.
I would be more inclined to say internal parasites.