Tetra Floating On Side And Back

Phoebe

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I have a black neon tetra that can't seem to stay upright. He will start floating on his side and eventually his back. He is still swimming around, but will only right himself for a second before he floats back onto his side. I would really appreciate anyones thoughts on this. Thank you.
 
Size of tank in gallons or litres.
How many fish and which type.
Water stats in ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, and ph.
What do you feed the fish.

Its sounds like swim bladder to me.
Is he bloated.
 
I have a 5 gallon tank and he is the only fish in it.
Today I put new water in so the GH is 60, KH is 120, ph is 7.5, nitrite is 0.5, and the nitrate is 0.
I feed him TetraMin Tropical Flakes.

I was thinking the same thing I just don't know what to do to treat it.
No he is not bloated.
 
Black tetra are shoaling fish and need to be kept in no less than a group of 6.

How long has the tank been set up.
Water change and increase aeration.
Does the tank have a filter and heater.

Swim bladder is caused by bad water quality, injury, birth defect, unstable temp, unstable diet. to many dried foods, bacterial, internal parasites.

If he's still eating cook some frozen peas for a few minutes. Let cool down and pop out of shell. Mush into small pieces and add to the tank.

Need a more varied diet of frozen foods and veg. Frozen daphnia and brime shrimp are good.
 
The tank does have a filter but I only put a heater in the tank in the winter. Arizona is hot enough that it heats up the water on its own in the summer.

As far as I can tell he is not eating at all.

He is starting to just lay on the bottom of the tank.
 
Its not sounding good i'm afraid.
I would do a water change and increase aeration.
Its best to keep fish in a stable temp. Unstable temp can lead to many deseases.



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.
 
What country do you live in.
 
If the fish is still eating try a medicated food. It not you will need to add a med to the tank like a maracyn.
Get you some info.

The med will only work on swim bladder if its bacterial,.
You need to improve water quality and diet.

I think the swim bladder has been caused by bad water quality, unstable temp, bad diet.

Maracyn–Two
Manufacturer: Mardel
A broad-spectrum antibiotic for internal or external gram negative bacterial infections which can even be absorbed through the skin. Effective treatment of fin and tail rot, popeye, gill disease, dropsy (swollen body, protruding scales), septicemia (bleeding or red streaks on the body), secondary and internal infections. Effective even when fish won't eat.
Active ingredient: Mincycline hydrochlor.
 

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