Wierd Behavior

[Durbkat]

One of my black widow tetras in my 55g seems to be having problems keeping balance and when he starts playing with the other tetras he turns to his side and starts to swim. He is also appears to be fat which is why I'm guessing this is why he is acting this way. So should I leave him alone or what?

 

[tttnjfttt]

It sounds like it is a swim bladder problem. Start by fasting them for a day, then feeding peas or daphnia. If it doesn't resolve then it may be a bacterial infection (if the scales begin pineconing, it IS a bacterial infection)

Not the writer of this information
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.

 

[WILDER]

Durbkat till you get your fish on a better varied diet you will have these problems, been telling your for a while, not point keep buying fish if you can't keep them on a good stable diet.

 

[Durbkat]

This is the first time of me hearing you tell me I need a varied diet. Well what kinds of food do you think I should switch around with and since I can't get my hands on any vegetibles because my grandmother thinks its just experimenting with the fish what should I do next if fasting doesn't work? Because last night I seperated it into a container that hangs on the inside of the tank and I put an air stone in it. Now since last night all the fish has done is sit on the bottom.

 

[WILDER]

You must eat veg, until you can get them on a good diet tell your gran that you will be repacing the fish ever two minutes, so the diet will be cheaper. i will try and find you a link to show your grandma.

http/www.skepticalaquarist.com/docs/feed...nutrition.shtml
Also look on feeding there is a list.

 

[Durbkat]

I'm not kidding I have never eaten a veggie or fruit besides bannanas my whole life. Thanks for the link. Is there anything else I can do for the fish, would it do better if I put it back into the tank so it could get excersise and try and move around to get the poop out?

 

[WILDER]

Yes that would be better to put the fish in the tank, you will have to have a sit down with your grandma and talk it through, plus you need fruit and veg, you have charm work on her that what kids do best.

 

[Durbkat]

Ok thanks. Here is better similey than this one that I sent in my PM to you this is the more appropiate one

 

[WILDER]

Good luck.

 

[wendywc]

I'm not kidding I have never eaten a veggie or fruit besides bannanas my whole life. Thanks for the link. Is there anything else I can do for the fish, would it do better if I put it back into the tank so it could get excersise and try and move around to get the poop out?

Wow, you never eaten any veggies in your life!?!! Hope your tetras get better.

 

[tttnjfttt]

If she is set in her ways about not getting veggies, and insists on something from the LPS, look for daphnia

 

[Durbkat]

Well I've talked her into letting me get blood worms from the lps will this be good enough, which foods would you recommend so I can have some variety?

 

[tttnjfttt]

Blood worms are the last thing you want to feed right now, they are very fatty and high in protine. You need foods taht are high in fiber right now. The most common ones are peas and daphnia. How close are you to a grocery store? A bag of frozen peas is relatively cheap and should last a while.

Here is a list of what I feed my fish: Flakes, blood worms, shrimp pellets, algae wafers, and peas. Occasionally bananas (clown loaches love them, not too popular otherwise), cucumbers, and zuccini.

 

[Durbkat]

Well like I said my grandmother won't let me get vegetibles. Does the lps sell daphina?

 

[tttnjfttt]

You will have to look, or call and ask. If they don't, look for a food that is HIGH in fiber. You can also try an epsom salt bath, but i would use that as a last resort.

I am not the author of this information.
If you can't get him to eat any pea or he doesn't seem to be passing anything after eating it, you can give an Epsom salt bath a shot. You may have noticed that I didn't advocate adding aquarium/rock salt this time, and there's a reason for this. Regular salt will cause fish to absorb more water. When you've got a bloated fish, you want them to excrete, not absorb. Epsom salt will get this done for you.

Setting up an Epsom Salt bath:

Add 1 Tbsp per gallon of Epsom Salt to some aged, temperature-adjusted (same temperature as the water the betta is already in) water.

Pour Epsom Salt solution into a containter.

Place the Betta in the Epsom Salt bath for 15-20 minutes. While the Betta is having a bath, change the water in his tank so that he has nice, clean water to go back to afterwards. Make SURE that the water in all of these containers is the same temperature, we don't need the Betta getting another disease right now.

Hopefully the Epsom Salt bath will help to loosen the blockage, just sit back and watch. The Epsom Salt bath can be repeated up to two times a day - just be aware that it is stressful to the fish, so if you can get him to eat the pea, give the pea a shot first.