Swim Bladder Disease

lola

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I have a zebra danio with what I believe is swim bladder disease. It was fine when I left the house this morning, and when I came home tonight he was spiralling wildly. Is there anything I can do? Should I put him (or her?) out of its misery? All the info on swim bladder I seem to find is for gold fish or bettas. I just got these danios Sunday. Right now there are only three of them in a 10 gal. with no other tank mates.
 
I have always been told that if a fish had swimbladder problem but was still able to feed then no need to euthanize - if it was so severe that the fish was unable to aim for food and therefore going to starve, I was told to euthanize.

Recently, I overheard my local aquarist telling someone that feeding fish a little vegetable matter sometimes helps with mild swimbladder problems - although I have no idea if this is true or not. Also, I have had fish in the past who had swimbladder for a short time then it somehow corrected itself (they were goldfish).

If yours is spiralling then that is probably the worst kind of swimbladder because when they have it that bad they can't usually reach the food, poor things. I had a beautiful 6" goldfish, Jess, who ended up with that type of swimbladder, spiralling like crazy. I was in tears watching him desperately trying to get to his food and missing it every time. I took him to my aquarist who put him to sleep for me.

Swimbladder can occur when a fish is added to a tank or at water changes, due to a sudden change of temperature. Also not enough roughage in their diet, apparently.

Regards - Athena
 
Something I was told when one of my goldfish had a mild case of swimbladder is its sometimes caused by them swallowing air whilst going up for food. Since then I scoop tank water into a glass, add the flake, swill it around then pour into the tank-it slowly sinks then, and the fish still seem happy.

And I was told the same thing-peel a cooked pea or 2 and crush it up, that can apparently help.
 
Thanks for the advice. Unfortunately the poor little guy/girl didn't make it through the night. :( On the other hand the other fish seem fine and happy so thats the bright side.
 
Your tanks overstocked.
What are your water stats in ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, and ph.
Goldfish are massive waste producers so the first goldfish alone needs 20 gallons then 10 gallons for every other goldfish added.
They also need double the filter size to the tank in gallons due to the waste.
 

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