Swimbladder?

[fatguppy]

I think one of my pristellas has developed a swim bladder problem. It is swimming on it's side and more or less going round in largish circles.

The tank is 40 UK gallons and has various community fish (including 2 other pristellas bought at the same time) in there who are all fine. Water parameters are spot on. We have had no new fish for several weeks so I don't think it's anything it's picked up from another newer fish.

My husband wants to treat the fish in situ whereas I feel we should take it out put it in a smaller tank we have (uncycled) to treat it and then put it back in the main tank.

What are the thoughts? I don't like putting unneccessary chemicals in the main tank without reason but the other tank would not be cycled. although my instinct tells me that with one fish in for a few days it would probably be okay. The uncycled tank is about 32 litres (sorry not sure in gallons) and has only a heater but no filter.

 

[Angel Lady]

Feed your fish some frozen peas. Let them thaw and shell them out and mash them up enough to where your fish can eat them. And see if this helps.

 

[fatguppy]

Wow - does this help with swim bladder or do you suspect something else?

 

[Angel Lady]

The peas will. It could very well be something else. Lets try with the peas first and go from there..

 

[webcat5]

Sometimes it is not Swimbladder but instead is caused by the fish gulping in air when it feeds at the surface. In this case you hold the food just under the surface of the water so that it sinks when released and it has to be eaten in mid-water.

If it is swimbladder you are to move the fish to shallower water and increase the temp about 5 degrees, this will sometimes work. Dosing the tank with aquarium salt will also sometimes work. If all else fails treat the tank with an antibacterial.

 

[fatguppy]

Thanks for this - I will have to move it to the uncycled tank then because we have corys and I know that you can't put salt in with corys.

I have tried the peas by the way and typically every other fish ate the peas but the porly pristella wasn't interested! If only it knew that I am only trying to help! Thanks folks - I will keep looking on here for any other suggestions but will keep you all posted on progress for future reference.

 

[Angel Lady]

Peas wont hurt them anyway they are good for them. It will clean them out also. Make sure your food sinks also. See if all this stuff helps.

 

[fatguppy]

I've put the pristella in the spare tank. With swim bladder treatment. He doesn't look too good - he keeps sinking. keep you all posted

Thanks

 

[fatguppy]

Got up this morning and he looked pretty bad. We left him for about an hour and he was upside down on the bottom of the tank with just his gills moving - so sadly I finished him off - Didn't look like he was going to recover and I couldn't bear to watch him struggle for every little breath.

Do I need to watch the others in case it wasn't swim bladder? My concern is it happened so fast. Less than 24 hours from first noticing him struggling to him dying.

 

[Blade118]

shame



OK u asked im telling i had goldfish and added 2 more to the tank
2 weeks later all dead



JUST to be on the safe side i suggest u do a few water changes (lets say 30%)


just what i think


Hope it turns out well

 

[Angel Lady]

I cant tell you for sure what it was happened to your fish. Have you put any new ones in the tank??You could have spreaded something that way. I would watch very closely and do a 25 percent water change.