Swim Bladder Disease

Swim Bladder Disease
Swim Bladder Disease
By Rachel Hunt (Mushi)
Swim Bladder Disorder Information and Symptoms ...

Swim Bladder Disease General Description
Swim bladder disease is a multifactorial illness which primarily affects ornamental goldfish which have globoid body shapes, like orandas, ryukins, and fantails.

Swim Bladder Disease - Poor water quality, mishandling, and congenital disorder are the main causes of swim bladder disease. The afflicted fish has difficulty staying upright, oftentimes swimming upside down or sideways.

Swim bladder Disease - A condition in which the Swim Bladder fails to function normally. Causes vary. Symptoms include an inability to maintain normal upright position, or difficulty swimming down to lower levels of the water column. ...

Swim bladder disease
DISEASE Caused by various factors, including sudden changes in temperature, although microbial infection may be involved in some instances.
SYMPTOMS Fish experiences difficulty in maintaining its position in the water.

Because of the unusual body shape, the pearlscale is more susceptible to swim bladder disease and constipation. It is suggested that any pellets or flake food be soaked thoroughly before feeding to prevent swelling in the stomach.

Another frequent problem noted with goldfish is "Swim Bladder Disease". This really isn't a disease but an indicator of other problems. Reversal of swim bladder problems is dependent on what the root cause is.

Excessive feeding of processed fish foods, especially floating-type foods, can cause constipation and swim bladder disease. Symptoms are an inability to remain upright, floating at the top of the tank, or sinking to the bottom.

Some species have a particularly low threshold for nitrates - Fancy Goldfish need levels below 20ppm as higher amounts can cause buoyancy problems which are frequently mistaken for Swim Bladder Disease.

The more exotic varieties of goldfish should not be fed dry foods without it being soaked in water first. Many goldfish become ill with swim bladder disease because the food is of low quality or too dry.

See also: Water, Swim Bladder, Fish, Stress, White Spot