My fish has swim bladder infection. How do I treat my sick fish?

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.

This is a classic sign of swim bladder disorder. Check water quality and chemistry. 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 0 ppm ammonia and nitrites with nitrates at 20 ppm or less. pH should hover around 7 and water temp should range between 65 F and 72F. Perform a partial water change is necessary to stabilize chemistry and improve water quality. Use only conditioned water that is temperature matched to prevent stress or shock. Pristine water quality is the foundation for recovery and healing. Next, fast her for 3 days. Resume feeding bits of cooked, shelled green peas until she is swimming and defecating normally. You can fast her one day a week in the future and offer green peas to maintain regularity. If symptoms persist, consider a broad spectrum dewormer and a broad spectrum antibiotic. You can find both in the aquarium section at Petco. Follow label directions carefully and remove the carbon filter insert during treatment in indicated.

Thanks for reaching out about your fish. Antibiotics rarely help these conditions if placed in the water, as fish don't absorb antibiotics through the skin, gills or drink it. Systemic antibiotic (injections) could help. A veterinary visit is highly recommended to assess, determine a cause, and plan a diagnostic/treatment protocol. Acetazolamide in the water can occasionally help. Good luck.

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.

A veterinarian specializing in aquatics may charge $50 to $100 for an exam. Fees can vary widely depending on geographic location and clinic. "Bubble" disease, or swim bladder disease, may be caused by poor water quality, constipation or infection (bacterial or parasites). You may be able to manage it at home. Check water chemistry using a home test kit or by submitting 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. pH should be as close to 7 as possible and water temp can range from 65 F to 72 F. Goldfish are cold water fish. If necessary, perform a partial water change to stabilize chemistry and/or to improve water quality. Use only conditioned water that is temperature matched to prevent stress or shock. Fast your goldfish for 2-3 days. Resume feeding bits of cooked and shelled peas until swimming and defecation are normal. If needed, a broad spectrum antibiotic can be used to treat any infection. Find one in the aquarium section of the local Petco. Follow label directions carefully and remove the carbon filter insert during treatment if indicated.

Thanks for reaching out about your fish. It is good to remember that all these antibiotics are not absorbed systemically through the water, and placing these antibiotics in the water will likely damage your biological filter. Many, many things can cause swim bladder disease, few are bacterial in nature. Therefore antibiotics won't fix the problem. These medicines should only be used after a diagnosis or suspected diagnosis made. Using antibiotics indiscrimantly can create superbugs, with resistance to multiple antibiotics. Good luck.