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Swim Bladder Disorder
sarahliu@telus.net
Swimbladder Disorder-is very common in bettas and various fancy type goldfish. There are many reasons as to why Swimbladder disorders exist.
-The most common problem is overfeeding. When you feed your bettas dried foods (such as Betta Pellets or freeze-dried bloodworms), they expand in the intestines from the water/moisture and swell up, sometimes squishing down on the swim bladder which causes them to swim sideways, sink, or float. If your betta has this, he/she probably won't pass poo, so you should cut off the food for 48 hours and see if he poops. Some people like to try to feed a blanched cut up pea to their bettas.
-acterial Infection is another reason that swim bladder problems occur, but this rarely is the cause for swim bladder problems, but if you have determined that this is what your betta has, then you can start treatment with an Antibiotic such as Kanacyn or Maracyn-Two.
-Viral Infection may cause swim bladder problems, but there is no treatment and the betta may or may not recover by him/herself.
-Damaged Swim Bladder through handling or jumping can damage or rupture the betta's swimbladder. I don't think that there is medication for this, it may or may not heal by itself.
-The most common problem is overfeeding. When you feed your bettas dried foods (such as Betta Pellets or freeze-dried bloodworms), they expand in the intestines from the water/moisture and swell up, sometimes squishing down on the swim bladder which causes them to swim sideways, sink, or float. If your betta has this, he/she probably won't pass poo, so you should cut off the food for 48 hours and see if he poops. Some people like to try to feed a blanched cut up pea to their bettas.
-acterial Infection is another reason that swim bladder problems occur, but this rarely is the cause for swim bladder problems, but if you have determined that this is what your betta has, then you can start treatment with an Antibiotic such as Kanacyn or Maracyn-Two.
-Viral Infection may cause swim bladder problems, but there is no treatment and the betta may or may not recover by him/herself.
-Damaged Swim Bladder through handling or jumping can damage or rupture the betta's swimbladder. I don't think that there is medication for this, it may or may not heal by itself.
Uh Oh's
Ick/Ich(Parasite)-Ich looks like white grains of salt on the body of your fish. Your fish may rub him/herself against rocks & aquarium objects & dart around madly. More water changes are recommended if your betta has Ich. Ich can be medicated with things like Maracide, Rid-Ich, and Aquarisol
Flukes(Parasite)-The gills may turn red and swollen. The betta may scratch himself against objects and breathe rapidly. Flukes can be medicated.
Velvet(parasite)-Velvet looks like a yellow dust, and the fish will try to scratch himself against objects. You can shine a flashlight on your fish to see more clearly. Velvet can be medicated with Maracide
Popeye(Bacterial)-Basically, eyes that are popped out like a ball! The fish may have trouble finding food because of his eyes, and he won't be so lively. Popeye can be medicated.
Finrot(Bacterial)-Fins start to fall off or look ragged. The tips may be red and you can see the fin rays exposed. The fish may looks pale and won't be so sluggish. I find that the best way to stop fin rot is to do a full water change. You can use medications, such as BettaMax, Maracyn, and Maracyn II to help the fins grow back though
Fungus-White cotton like stuff around the mouth, head, or body usually. The fish's colour may fade and will not be as lively. Fungus can be medicated.
Cloudy Eyes-Whitish film over the eye. This can be cured by feeding your fish a larger variety of food, or you can add vitamins to the food itself or into the water.
Dropsy-The scales will protrude at the abdomen and look like a pinecone. The betta will not be as lively. Dropsy is usually fatal, but you may try to medicate your betta with an Antiobiotic like Tetracycline or Kanacyn. (no aquarium salt AT ALL, it will just add to the problems!) Dropsy is basically a failure of the internal organs (such as kidneys), and the fish cannot take water out of the body fast enough therefore, causing the swelling of the abdomen.
Flexibacter-looks like fuzzyness basically. On my molly, there were some fuzzy balls on his body that looked a lot like mold. Flexibacter is a gliding bacteria. These bacteria are long, thin, and flexible. One end of the bacterial cell is attached to the fish, while the other end if free floating. Flexibacter can be cured. But chances will be improved if you treat them sooner. Treatment: Maracyn and Maracyn II used together, medicated flakes, increased aeration, and decreased temperature.
Clamped Fins-this could be stress, bad water quality, boredom, or a bacteria. You can try tetracylin if you think it is the unknown bacteria.
Mouth Fungus-causes raised grayish patches on the mouth and body. This is caused by the bacteria flexibacter. See flexibacter.
Hole-in-Head Disease-can affect discus, some cichlids, and many of the saltwater fish. The fish will have a hole in his head, and sometimes on it's lateral line. Water quality and stress are some of the causes for this disease. Hole-in-Head Disease can be medicated. If left alone, it can be fatal
Swim Bladder Disorders-The fish with swim bladder disorders may swim upside-down or sideways, due to dried food devoured too quickly swelling up in the intesting and makes it difficult for the fish to control his/her swim bladder. You can feeding the fish a pea with the outside skin taken off. It would be a good idea to stop feeding the fish for a couple of days
Fish Lice-if you look closely at the body of your fish, you will notice that there ware "c" or disc shaped crustaceans scurrying around on the body of your fish. They can penetrate the skin of the fish to get to the fluids underneath.
Ammonia Poisoning-you will notice red or bleeding gills on your fish. the fish may be constantly gasping for air at the surface of the wtaer. sometimes, the fins will appear a darker colour. Ammonia poisoning cannot be cured, but can be prevented by frequent water changes. If your fish does have ammonia poisoning, try changing the water often.
Black Spot-Black spot is a parasitic disease. The parasites have a complicated life cycle. If infected, the fish will have some small black spots on the skin. Usually, black spot is not fatal. Sooner or later, the life cycle of the parasites will end and die. You can try many medications for this. Including: Jungle Labs: Parasitic Guard, Jungle Labs: Parasitic Clear,
Novaltec/Kordon: Trifon, Mardel Labs: Maracide
Tumor-there are 2 types of tumors. The Benign and Cancerous tumor. The benign tumour will have something that looks like an infection around it. You can try treating this with Tetracylin. A Cancerous tumour will keep growing and some scales around the area will protrude when it grows big enough. There is no cure for a cancerous tumour, but it may live for a while.
Bloat-You may notice your fish's stomach bloat up and he will swim sideways. This is similar to Swim bladder disorder, isn't it? You can treat this with tetracylin.
Gill Flukes-You may notice red gills and open red gill covers. The fish may have clamped fins, bleed from the gills, or you may notice some fungus in the gills. The fish may rub the infected area on rocks or plants.
Flukes(Parasite)-The gills may turn red and swollen. The betta may scratch himself against objects and breathe rapidly. Flukes can be medicated.
Velvet(parasite)-Velvet looks like a yellow dust, and the fish will try to scratch himself against objects. You can shine a flashlight on your fish to see more clearly. Velvet can be medicated with Maracide
Popeye(Bacterial)-Basically, eyes that are popped out like a ball! The fish may have trouble finding food because of his eyes, and he won't be so lively. Popeye can be medicated.
Finrot(Bacterial)-Fins start to fall off or look ragged. The tips may be red and you can see the fin rays exposed. The fish may looks pale and won't be so sluggish. I find that the best way to stop fin rot is to do a full water change. You can use medications, such as BettaMax, Maracyn, and Maracyn II to help the fins grow back though
Fungus-White cotton like stuff around the mouth, head, or body usually. The fish's colour may fade and will not be as lively. Fungus can be medicated.
Cloudy Eyes-Whitish film over the eye. This can be cured by feeding your fish a larger variety of food, or you can add vitamins to the food itself or into the water.
Dropsy-The scales will protrude at the abdomen and look like a pinecone. The betta will not be as lively. Dropsy is usually fatal, but you may try to medicate your betta with an Antiobiotic like Tetracycline or Kanacyn. (no aquarium salt AT ALL, it will just add to the problems!) Dropsy is basically a failure of the internal organs (such as kidneys), and the fish cannot take water out of the body fast enough therefore, causing the swelling of the abdomen.
Flexibacter-looks like fuzzyness basically. On my molly, there were some fuzzy balls on his body that looked a lot like mold. Flexibacter is a gliding bacteria. These bacteria are long, thin, and flexible. One end of the bacterial cell is attached to the fish, while the other end if free floating. Flexibacter can be cured. But chances will be improved if you treat them sooner. Treatment: Maracyn and Maracyn II used together, medicated flakes, increased aeration, and decreased temperature.
Clamped Fins-this could be stress, bad water quality, boredom, or a bacteria. You can try tetracylin if you think it is the unknown bacteria.
Mouth Fungus-causes raised grayish patches on the mouth and body. This is caused by the bacteria flexibacter. See flexibacter.
Hole-in-Head Disease-can affect discus, some cichlids, and many of the saltwater fish. The fish will have a hole in his head, and sometimes on it's lateral line. Water quality and stress are some of the causes for this disease. Hole-in-Head Disease can be medicated. If left alone, it can be fatal
Swim Bladder Disorders-The fish with swim bladder disorders may swim upside-down or sideways, due to dried food devoured too quickly swelling up in the intesting and makes it difficult for the fish to control his/her swim bladder. You can feeding the fish a pea with the outside skin taken off. It would be a good idea to stop feeding the fish for a couple of days
Fish Lice-if you look closely at the body of your fish, you will notice that there ware "c" or disc shaped crustaceans scurrying around on the body of your fish. They can penetrate the skin of the fish to get to the fluids underneath.
Ammonia Poisoning-you will notice red or bleeding gills on your fish. the fish may be constantly gasping for air at the surface of the wtaer. sometimes, the fins will appear a darker colour. Ammonia poisoning cannot be cured, but can be prevented by frequent water changes. If your fish does have ammonia poisoning, try changing the water often.
Black Spot-Black spot is a parasitic disease. The parasites have a complicated life cycle. If infected, the fish will have some small black spots on the skin. Usually, black spot is not fatal. Sooner or later, the life cycle of the parasites will end and die. You can try many medications for this. Including: Jungle Labs: Parasitic Guard, Jungle Labs: Parasitic Clear,
Novaltec/Kordon: Trifon, Mardel Labs: Maracide
Tumor-there are 2 types of tumors. The Benign and Cancerous tumor. The benign tumour will have something that looks like an infection around it. You can try treating this with Tetracylin. A Cancerous tumour will keep growing and some scales around the area will protrude when it grows big enough. There is no cure for a cancerous tumour, but it may live for a while.
Bloat-You may notice your fish's stomach bloat up and he will swim sideways. This is similar to Swim bladder disorder, isn't it? You can treat this with tetracylin.
Gill Flukes-You may notice red gills and open red gill covers. The fish may have clamped fins, bleed from the gills, or you may notice some fungus in the gills. The fish may rub the infected area on rocks or plants.
