Swim Bladder Getting Worse

[Murk&Harry]

Hi all,

Just looking for a little advice for one of my ryukins who has always had swimbladder issues, but who has got considerabley worse in the last week.

I have five Ryukins in 220 litres, my water parimeters are great, the tank has been up and running for around 6 months now and seems to have established nicely. I do a weekly partial water change of approx 10% and service the filter every two - three weeks as well. I do not heat the water although in the winter I may leave a heater in there set at 20 degrees (although I rarely see it turn on). I have a fish who has a weird recurring mouth ulcer, I have no idea what it is but aquarium salt gets rid of it everytime, it also makes all the fish perkier and brighter so I have decided to leave a small trace of it in there (1% concentration). However, I am still weaning it down from treatment levels of 3% so it is probably still around 2% in there at present. They are fed on sinking pellets, peas (they're Ryukins afterall, the IBS fish!) and, very occationally, blood worm (about once a month).

The fish in question, Harry, has had slight swimbladder issues all his life, largely it just involved poor balance and the occational day or two floating upside down before he, somehow, righted himself. In the last week, however, he no longer floats at the top but seems to have trouble keeping off the floor. He spends a lot of time lying on his side on the gravel. On several occations he did look like he had died but sure enough, when the food was produced, he comes belting to the top to eat! He is other wise in immaculate condition with no unusal markings or damage. The other fish are in fine health.

If the condition is getting worse could it ave a treatable cause rather than being congenital as I always thought? Or could have an additonal infection on top of he disorder making it worse? Is there any treatment I could give him?

Thanks for your attention!

 

[dingweding]

there are many reasons can cause swim bladder. In China, where I grow up, we normally treat these fish in shallow water.

Use a small pond or tank, bucket whatever, outdoor, where can get warm sun shine, keep the water very shallow, barely can totally cover the whole body of fish, thus the fish is forced to swim normal.

the water turn to green slowly due the sun light, leave it on, also feed the fish some nice live food, the fish will grow stronger, then gradually add more water week by week.

at least 80% fish can be cured by this way. Hope that helps.

 

[black angel]

I would agree with the last post..very shallow water takes pressure off the bladder and doesnt need to inflate or deflate and in some cases it fixes itself over time..may actually ahve to keep the fish permanently in shallow water so as not to over burden the bladder.

really depends as well on the cause of the problem..as its always been a roblem it may be defective from birth and not growing as it should.