Recent Feedback
I have tried to help my gold fish with swim bladder disorder-the fish floats on her back at the surface of the water. I have tried feeding skinned, mushed peas, increasing the water temp. and adding epson salt to the water. I also hand feed her every day live food. Nothing is improving the situation. 1. Is there anything else to try other than surgery and harnesses. 2. Is the fish suffering to the point in which I should consider euthenizing her.
Optional Information: Pet's Age: 1 Type of Animal: fancy gold fish
Hello,
Have you checked the water parameters? Ammonia, Nitrites and Nitrates?
What size tank is the fish in?
Is it the only fish in the tank?
How long have you done the slat treatments?
Are the scales standing away from the body like a one cone?
Joan
Yes, I consistently have the water checked and it always comes back good. She is in a 30 gallon tank with one other common gold fish. The other fish looks very healthy and is growing like crazy. The scales look normal and she looks healthy otherwise. on Occasion her exposed scale look red so I have applied vasoline on the sore areas which seems to quickly resolve the sores. I have done two salt treatments -each time when I change the water. I have added 3/4 teaspoon at the time that I do a partial water change.
Hello, Swim Bladder Disease affects a fish's swim bladder which is the organ that helps in maintaining a fish's ability to balance and swim in a normal position. When itbecomes blocked up or too full of air it stops functioning properly. This can be a result of water quality, over feeding dry foods or a Bacterial infection. Poor water quality can play a major issue contributing to the Swim Bladder problem.
The first step to helping is to check your water quality.
The Ammonia should be 0, Nitrites 0 and the Nitrates 20 ppm or less. You should have a test kit to check the levels. I suggest the type with the test tubes because the strip tests can be inaccurate. I constant water quality check will be needed and regular water changes important. We can try some first aid to help the fish.
First do a 3/4 water change and be sure to add some de-chlorinator or use bottle Spring water for replacement.
Next continue to feed a couple of frozen peas in which the shell has been removed. This helps the stool to pass and will sometimes help to relieve the problem if it is constipation.
Instead of the epsom salts I suggest using aquarium salt at 1 teaspoon of the salt per gallon of water. The Salt helps to draw out fluids that can cause swelling in the swim bladder disease. These are a couple of links that give you information about swim bladder disease: http://www.netpets.org/fish/reference/freshref/swimbldr.htmlhttp://www.fishfriend.com/articles/the_swim_bladder_disease.html http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/364175/swim_bladder_disease_in_goldfish_how.html?cat=53 Since the fish is in with other fish it may be wise to set up a hospital tank which will make it easier to treat the fish. There is another methods of treating swim bladder which has to do with reducing the amount of water in the tank which helps to decompress the swim bladder, but I would only use that as a last resort. This entails putting the fish in just enough water to cover the fish and help the swim bladder to decompress. It does not always work, but as a last resort it may be worth a try.
This link will help you locate Fish Vets if the treatment does not help: http://www.koivet.com/a_fishvets.html
I hope some of the methods I suggest will help. Joan
How often should I use the salt. I have been removing 50% water weekly and I do test the water with kits not strips and the results are consistently good. Also, please give me any insight you might have about the level of suffering the fish might be experiencing and what point would you consider euthenizing?
Relist: Incomplete answer.
Sorry my computer went down. With the swim bladder it can take weeks to a month to start seeing a difference in this type of issue. The water changes may needs to be done daily depending on the water conditions. It would be wise to replace the salt every other water change in relation to the amount of water replaced.
The vasoline you are using on the fish is a petroleum based product and can cause more problems. If you are going to use any thing the sal helps builds body slime and Stress Coat will help with this type of problem. The redness you are seeing may be an ammonia burn which is common when the ammonia levels are high.
As far as pain and suffering, if the fish is eating and still gets around the tank there is a good chance for survival.
I belive if treated properly and you can get the water parameters correct we may be able to save this fish. You will have to do the regular water changes as well the aquarium salt. The last option is to see a Fish Vet and they can use a needle and aspirate the swim bladder.
Experience: Vet Tech for 30+yrs. Small Animals and Fish