Why is my fish upside down and bloated? Is it swim bladder disease?

He may be dealing with some swim bladder issues. The swim bladder is what keeps a fish upright and controls buoyancy. Infection, poor water quality or constipation can affect the swim bladder. Perform a water change. Use aged or conditioned water that is temperature matched to prevent further stress or shock. My choice for conditioners are AmQuel and NovAqua. You can purchase them in most pet stores or fish stores. Bettas are warm water fish and do best between 78 F and 80 F. Anything below 75 F will be stressful. A small tank heater may be necessary to maintain proper temperature. Dissolve 1 teaspoon of plain aquarium salt (NOT table salt) per gallon of water in a cup of tank water and gently pour it in. This will act as a general tonic reducing stress, improving gill function and treating minor infection. Change the water daily to maintain quality and dissolve just enough salt to treat the water being replaced. Fast him for 3 days, then offer small bits of cooked, shelled green peas until defecation and swimming are normal. You can soak the bits in some garlic juice to stimulate his appetite and boost the immune system. Transition to a quality pelleted diet and fast for one day each week to maintain GI health.

Check water chemistry first. Use a home test kit or submit a water sample for testing. Aim for an absence (0 ppm) of ammonia and nitrites with nitrates at 20 ppm or less. Perform a partial water change to stabilize water chemistry and/or to improve water quality. Use only conditioned water that is temperature matched to prevent further stress or shock. Bettas do best between 78 F and 80 F. By your description, the issue may be swim bladder disease. This can be caused by infection (bacterial or parasites) or constipation. Maintain water quality as described above. Fast the fish for 3 days then resume feeding bits of cooked and shelled green peas. This will help with constipation. If this doesn't help. you can get a broad spectrum antibiotic from the local pet store. Look in the aquarium section. Follow label directions carefully and remove the carbon filter insert during treatment.

Check the water chemistry and quality. You can use a home test kit or submit a water sample for testing. The local Petco may do this for free or for a small fee. Aim for an absence (0 ppm) of ammonia and nitrites with nitrates at 20ppm or less. Elevated ammonia or nitrite levels can be toxic and could drive the fish to the surface. Water that is too warm may also do the same since it holds less dissolved oxygen. This can happen if water temp is above 82 F. Perform a partial water change, if necessary, to stabilize chemistry and/or to improve water quality. Use only conditioned water that is temperature matched to prevent stress or shock. To treat the swim bladder issue, fast her for 3 days, then feed bits of cooked and shelled green peas until swimming and defecation are normal. Constipation is a common cause of swim bladder disease. You can also consider a broad spectrum dewormer since parasites may also be the cause. Find one in the aquarium section of the local Petco. Follow label directions carefully and remove the carbon filter insert during treatment if indicated.

It is possible that she has a swim bladder disorder. Many things can cause this, only some of them reversible. Try feeding her peas for the next few days and see if that helps. If it does, then include them in her diet several times a week.

If you believe it is swim bladder disease, fast them for 3 days. Resume feeding bits of cooked and shelled green peas until swimming and defecation are normal. The peas can relieve constipation which can cause swim bladder issues. You can also consider a broad spectrum antibiotic and/or a broad spectrum dewormer for the tank to cover infection and parasites. Look in the aquarium section of the local Petco for products. Follow label directions carefully and remove the carbon filter insert during treatment if indicated.

Swim bladder issues can be caused by bacterial infection or constipation. These reasons can be compounded by poor water quality. Use a home test kit or submit a sample of water for testing to confirm 0ppm ammonia and nitrites with nitrates at 20 ppm or less. Most pet stores will do this for free or for a small fee. Partial water changes can be done to stabilize chemistry and maintain or improve water quality. Use only aged or conditioned water that is temperature matched to prevent stress or shock. Bettas do best between 78F and 80F. Once you have pristine water quality, fast him for 3 days. Resume feeding bits of cooked and shelled green peas until defecation and swimming are normal again. If this doesn't help, consider a broad spectrum antibiotic. You can find one in the aquarium section of the local pet store. Look for Furan, Maracyn 1 and 2 or Kanaplex. Follow label directions carefully and remove the carbon filter insert during treatment if indicated.

Water quality can definitely contribute to swim bladder disease. Keep the water temperature between 78 F and 80 F. Use a small filter if you can to maintain water quality. When performing water changes, use aged or conditioned water that is temperature matched to prevent stress or shock. Keep a large container of water out for 24-48 hours prior to use. This "aged" water can then be conditioned with StressCoat, NovAqua or similar conditioner prior to changes. Use no more than 1 teaspoon aquarium salt per gallon of water as a general tonic.