Top 26 How To Cure Swim Bladder Disease In Molly Fish Top 13 Best Answers

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Treatment involves water maintenance, feeding changes, and possible antibiotics. Let the fish fast: If an enlarged stomach or intestine is thought to be the cause of a swim bladder disorder, the first course of action is to not feed the fish for three days.There’s no treatment as such, and if the fish can recover, they will do so given a few hours. Switching the tank lights off for a while often helps, partly by removing one source of stress, but also by encouraging the fish to rest quietly rather than try to swim about.Swim bladder function

When the swim bladder malfunctions, the fish has trouble maintaining his level in the water and can sink to the bottom of the tank or be stuck near the top. The abnormal ballast can cause the fish to turn sidewise and swim on his side, or even roll entirely upside down.

Can a fish recover from swim bladder disease?

There’s no treatment as such, and if the fish can recover, they will do so given a few hours. Switching the tank lights off for a while often helps, partly by removing one source of stress, but also by encouraging the fish to rest quietly rather than try to swim about.

Why is my molly fish swimming head down?

Swim bladder function

When the swim bladder malfunctions, the fish has trouble maintaining his level in the water and can sink to the bottom of the tank or be stuck near the top. The abnormal ballast can cause the fish to turn sidewise and swim on his side, or even roll entirely upside down.

What medicine cures swim bladder?

If all of the environmental components are within normal limits, a veterinarian will sedate the fish and perform a physical exam. The most common sedatives used for this are euganol or MS-222. These products should only be used by professionals, as incorrect dosages could be fatal.

How do you save a fish with swim bladder?

Treatment. Treatment involves water maintenance, feeding changes, and possible antibiotics. Let the fish fast: If an enlarged stomach or intestine is thought to be the cause of a swim bladder disorder, the first course of action is to not feed the fish for three days.

Can peas cure swim bladder?

Some possible causes of swim bladder disease is poor water quality and the way food is taken in by the fish. Swim Bladder’s disease should be treated promptly or else it will result in dead fish. Some say that crushed peas do the trick.

Should I euthanize my fish with swim bladder?

Removing and euthanizing infected fish promptly will minimize the chances of healthy fish becoming sick. Fish with poorly developed swim bladders (“belly sliders”) and deformed spines are particularly common among inbred fish, such as some fancy livebearers.

Why is my Molly staying at the top of the tank?

Molly fish stay at the top of the tank due to sickness or poor water conditions. A damaged swim bladder is one of the most common reasons molly fish stay at the top of the tank. Aside from floating at the water’s surface, fish with a damaged swim bladder will also struggle and swim erratically.

How long can a fish live with swim bladder disease?

Depending on the cause, swim bladder disorders may be temporary or permanent. If your fish has a permanent swim bladder disorder, they can still live a full and happy life with some lifestyle modifications.

Should I euthanize my fish with swim bladder?

Removing and euthanizing infected fish promptly will minimize the chances of healthy fish becoming sick. Fish with poorly developed swim bladders (“belly sliders”) and deformed spines are particularly common among inbred fish, such as some fancy livebearers.

Why do fish get swim bladder disease?

This can be due to overeating, overconsumption, low water temperatures, bacterial infections, parasites, or other impaired organs affecting the bladder. In these particular cases, the fish can end up with a distended belly, curved back, impaired swimming, or even death leaving them floating on top of the water.


How to Cure SWIM BLADDER DISEASE in fish easily?
How to Cure SWIM BLADDER DISEASE in fish easily?


Swim Bladder Disorder in Aquarium Fish

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  • Summary of article content: Articles about Swim Bladder Disorder in Aquarium Fish Updating …
  • Most searched keywords: Whether you are looking for Swim Bladder Disorder in Aquarium Fish Updating Swim bladder disorder affects a fish’s swim bladder which can cause it to inappropriately float or sink. Learn the causes, treatment, and prevention.
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Causes Treatment and Prevention

What Is Swim Bladder Disorder

Symptoms of Swim Bladder Disorder in Aquarium Fish

Causes of Swim Bladder Disorder

Diagnosing Swim Bladder Disorder in Aquarium Fish

Treatment

Prognosis for Aquarium Fish With Swim Bladder Disorder

How to Prevent Swim Bladder Disorder

Is Swim Bladder Disorder Contagious to Other Fish

Swim Bladder Disorder in Aquarium Fish
Swim Bladder Disorder in Aquarium Fish

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Swim Bladder Disorder in Aquarium Fish

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  • Summary of article content: Articles about Swim Bladder Disorder in Aquarium Fish Updating …
  • Most searched keywords: Whether you are looking for Swim Bladder Disorder in Aquarium Fish Updating Swim bladder disorder affects a fish’s swim bladder which can cause it to inappropriately float or sink. Learn the causes, treatment, and prevention.
  • Table of Contents:

Causes Treatment and Prevention

What Is Swim Bladder Disorder

Symptoms of Swim Bladder Disorder in Aquarium Fish

Causes of Swim Bladder Disorder

Diagnosing Swim Bladder Disorder in Aquarium Fish

Treatment

Prognosis for Aquarium Fish With Swim Bladder Disorder

How to Prevent Swim Bladder Disorder

Is Swim Bladder Disorder Contagious to Other Fish

Swim Bladder Disorder in Aquarium Fish
Swim Bladder Disorder in Aquarium Fish

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How to Cure Swim Bladder Disease in Molly Fish | Cuteness

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  • Summary of article content: Articles about How to Cure Swim Bladder Disease in Molly Fish | Cuteness Updating …
  • Most searched keywords: Whether you are looking for How to Cure Swim Bladder Disease in Molly Fish | Cuteness Updating If you notice your molly fish swimming or floating upside down, sideways, or with his tail higher than his head, chances are he’s having trouble with his swim bladder. Swim bladder disease treatment is easily done at home. Chances are good your fish will be back to normal in a couple of days.
  • Table of Contents:

Swim bladder function

Swim bladder disorder causes

Initial treatment First 48 hours

Further swim bladder disease treatment

Preventing a recurrence

How to Cure Swim Bladder Disease in Molly Fish | Cuteness
How to Cure Swim Bladder Disease in Molly Fish | Cuteness

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How to Cure Swim Bladder Disease in Molly Fish | Cuteness

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  • Most searched keywords: Whether you are looking for How to Cure Swim Bladder Disease in Molly Fish | Cuteness Updating If you notice your molly fish swimming or floating upside down, sideways, or with his tail higher than his head, chances are he’s having trouble with his swim bladder. Swim bladder disease treatment is easily done at home. Chances are good your fish will be back to normal in a couple of days.
  • Table of Contents:

Swim bladder function

Swim bladder disorder causes

Initial treatment First 48 hours

Further swim bladder disease treatment

Preventing a recurrence

How to Cure Swim Bladder Disease in Molly Fish | Cuteness
How to Cure Swim Bladder Disease in Molly Fish | Cuteness

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How to Cure Swim Bladder Disease in Molly Fish | Cuteness

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  • Summary of article content: Articles about How to Cure Swim Bladder Disease in Molly Fish | Cuteness Add one tablespoon of aquarium salt for every 5 gallons of water in the molly’s recovery tank as a salt treatment. Make sure to use aquarium salt designated for … …
  • Most searched keywords: Whether you are looking for How to Cure Swim Bladder Disease in Molly Fish | Cuteness Add one tablespoon of aquarium salt for every 5 gallons of water in the molly’s recovery tank as a salt treatment. Make sure to use aquarium salt designated for … If you notice your molly fish swimming or floating upside down, sideways, or with his tail higher than his head, chances are he’s having trouble with his swim bladder. Swim bladder disease treatment is easily done at home. Chances are good your fish will be back to normal in a couple of days.
  • Table of Contents:

Swim bladder function

Swim bladder disorder causes

Initial treatment First 48 hours

Further swim bladder disease treatment

Preventing a recurrence

How to Cure Swim Bladder Disease in Molly Fish | Cuteness
How to Cure Swim Bladder Disease in Molly Fish | Cuteness

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Swim Bladder Disorder In Molly Fish: Causes, Symptoms, And Treatments – Fish Keeping Guide

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  • Summary of article content: Articles about Swim Bladder Disorder In Molly Fish: Causes, Symptoms, And Treatments – Fish Keeping Guide Adding Epsom salt to their tank water will help flush out the toxins present in the swim bladder of Molly fish. In this process, you need to add about 1/8 … …
  • Most searched keywords: Whether you are looking for Swim Bladder Disorder In Molly Fish: Causes, Symptoms, And Treatments – Fish Keeping Guide Adding Epsom salt to their tank water will help flush out the toxins present in the swim bladder of Molly fish. In this process, you need to add about 1/8 … Swim bladder disorder in molly fish is when its swim bladder fips over due to overeating, bloating, constipation, gulping of air, or genetics.
  • Table of Contents:

What Is Swim Bladder Disorder In Molly Fish

Swim Bladder And Its Importance In Molly Fish

What Causes The Swim Bladder Disorder In Mollies

What Are The Symptoms Of Swim Bladder Disorder In Molly Fish

Can Molly Fish Die From Swim Bladder Disorder

Treatment How To Treat Swim Bladder Disorder In Molly Fish

Avoiding Swim Bladder Disorder In Molly Fish

Some FAQs

Conclusion

About Fish Keeping Guide

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Swim Bladder Disorder In Molly Fish: Causes, Symptoms, And Treatments - Fish Keeping Guide
Swim Bladder Disorder In Molly Fish: Causes, Symptoms, And Treatments – Fish Keeping Guide

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How to Cure Swim Bladder Disease in Molly Fish | eHow UK

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  • Summary of article content: Articles about How to Cure Swim Bladder Disease in Molly Fish | eHow UK Add salt. Mollies should live in a brackish water environment. Brackish water has a higher content of salt than fresh water. Add 1/2 tsp of salt per gallon … …
  • Most searched keywords: Whether you are looking for How to Cure Swim Bladder Disease in Molly Fish | eHow UK Add salt. Mollies should live in a brackish water environment. Brackish water has a higher content of salt than fresh water. Add 1/2 tsp of salt per gallon … Fish swim bladder “disease” causes a fish to lose its buoyancy. You can identify a molly (Poecilia) with this so-called disease by observing how it is swimming. A fish with this disorder may float in a strange position, possibly vertically, on its side or upside down.
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How to Cure Swim Bladder Disease in Molly Fish | eHow UK
How to Cure Swim Bladder Disease in Molly Fish | eHow UK

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How do you treat swim bladder disease in molly fish? – JacAnswers

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How do you treat swim bladder disease in molly fish – Related Questions

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Molly swim bladder disease? – YouTube

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  • Summary of article content: Articles about Molly swim bladder disease? – YouTube My silver molly is swimming in a weird way, any ea what is wrong?If you see this do a water test, I believe it was caused by unclean … …
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Molly swim bladder disease? - YouTube
Molly swim bladder disease? – YouTube

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Molly with Swim Bladder Disease? | Freshwater Fish Disease and Fish Health Forum | 155236

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  • Summary of article content: Articles about Molly with Swim Bladder Disease? | Freshwater Fish Disease and Fish Health Forum | 155236 It is best to acclimate the fish to the PH of your faucet unless it is well is below 6.0, in which case it is best to adjust the PH in the … …
  • Most searched keywords: Whether you are looking for Molly with Swim Bladder Disease? | Freshwater Fish Disease and Fish Health Forum | 155236 It is best to acclimate the fish to the PH of your faucet unless it is well is below 6.0, in which case it is best to adjust the PH in the … I definitely spoke too soon about my Mollies being fine – in .

    We lost Ninja last week (details here: ). Now Timmy, the Dalmatian Molly, is looking…

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Molly with Swim Bladder Disease? | Freshwater Fish Disease and Fish Health Forum | 155236
Molly with Swim Bladder Disease? | Freshwater Fish Disease and Fish Health Forum | 155236

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Swim Bladder Disorder in Aquarium Fish

Swim bladder disorder is a condition when the swim bladder isn’t working properly due to various possible factors. A swim bladder is a gas-filled internal organ that helps a bony fish maintain its buoyancy. The disorder refers to a collection of issues affecting the swim bladder, rather than a single disease. Although commonly seen in goldfish and bettas, swim bladder disorder can affect virtually any species of fish. The disorder is often treatable, and a fish can experience a full recovery.

What Is Swim Bladder Disorder?

Swim bladder disorder refers to a condition when the swim bladder does not function normally due to disease, physical abnormalities, mechanical/environmental factors, or for reasons that cannot be diagnosed. Affected fish will exhibit problems with buoyancy, that is, they’ll have difficulty controlling their ability to float or sink.

Symptoms of Swim Bladder Disorder in Aquarium Fish

Sometimes a fish owner may think a fish floating abnormally in the tank is dead but it is actually exhibiting symptoms of swim bladder disorder. Fish suffering from swim bladder disorder exhibit a variety of symptoms that primarily involve buoyancy.

Symptoms Sinking to the bottom of the tank (or floating by standing on its head at the bottom of the tank)

Floating to the top of the tank

Struggling to stay upright, turning on its side, or upside down

Distended belly

Curved back

Changed appetite

Sinking/Floating to the Top

If the swim bladder is deflated, it will sink in the tank. If the fish has gulped in too much air while feeding, this may cause it to float to the top of the tank.

Struggling to Stay Upright

A fish that does not have buoyancy problems tends to remain static and upright in the water. If your fish is struggling to stay upright, you will see excessive fin movement that it’s using to try to float the right way.

Distended Belly

Compression of the swim bladder may cause a the fish to swim with a distended stomach. The fish’s digestive process may become disrupted with this disorder, which may cause the belly to become enlarged.

Curved Back

If the fish’s abdomen is inflated, other organs are pushed aside which can sometimes cause the spine to curve.

Changed Appetite

Affected fish may eat normally or have no appetite at all. If severe buoyancy problems exist, the fish may not be able to feed normally or even reach the surface of the water.

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Causes of Swim Bladder Disorder

This disorder can be caused by many issues, spanning from environment to feeding problems, including the following:

Rapidly eating, overeating, constipation, or gulping air may occur with floating foods to cause an extended belly and displace the swim bladder. Eating freeze-dried or dry flake food that expands when it becomes wet can also lead to an enlarged stomach or intestinal tract.

Other abdominal organs may become enlarged and affect the swim bladder. Cysts in the kidneys, fatty deposits in the liver, or egg binding in female fish can result in sufficient enlargement to affect the swim bladder.

Low water temperature can slow the digestive process, which in turn can result in gastrointestinal tract enlargement that puts pressure on the swim bladder.

Parasites or bacterial infections can inflame the swim bladder as well.

Occasionally a hard blow from striking an object in the tank, a fight, or fall can damage the swim bladder.

Rarely fish are born with birth defects that affect the swim bladder, but in these cases, symptoms are usually present at an early age.

Diagnosing Swim Bladder Disorder in Aquarium Fish

Typically, swim bladder disorder is diagnosed at home by the observation of symptoms. You can choose to bring your fish to a veterinarian specializing in aquatic conditions. If you do, the only way to properly diagnose swim bladder is with an X-ray. The X-ray will show the swim bladder’s size, shape, and location. If there is any fluid or other abnormalities inside of the bladder. An X-ray can also show if there is another growth or disease that is pushing on or displacing the bladder.

To locate a fish veterinarian near you, contact The American Association of Fish Veterinarians.

Treatment

Treatment involves water maintenance, feeding changes, and possible antibiotics.

Let the fish fast: If an enlarged stomach or intestine is thought to be the cause of a swim bladder disorder, the first course of action is to not feed the fish for three days.

If an enlarged stomach or intestine is thought to be the cause of a swim bladder disorder, the first course of action is to not feed the fish for three days. Fix the water temperature: At the same time the fish is fasting, increase the water temperature to 78-80 degrees Fahrenheit and leave it there during treatment.

At the same time the fish is fasting, increase the water temperature to 78-80 degrees Fahrenheit and leave it there during treatment. Feed the fish peas: On the fourth day, feed the fish a cooked and skinned pea. Frozen peas are ideal for this, as they can be microwaved or boiled for a few seconds to thaw them, resulting in the proper consistency (not too soft but not too firm). Remove the skin, and then serve the pea to the fish. You can continue to feed a pea a day for a few days and then switch to a species-appropriate food but avoid flakes or pellets that float.

On the fourth day, feed the fish a cooked and skinned pea. Frozen peas are ideal for this, as they can be microwaved or boiled for a few seconds to thaw them, resulting in the proper consistency (not too soft but not too firm). Remove the skin, and then serve the pea to the fish. You can continue to feed a pea a day for a few days and then switch to a species-appropriate food but avoid flakes or pellets that float. Antibiotics: If an infection is thought to be the cause of a fish’s swim bladder disorder, treatment with a broad-spectrum antibiotic may help, and for this, you’ll need to visit your veterinarian.

Other supportive treatments (regardless of the cause) can include the following:

Keep the water especially clean and temperatures between 78 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit.

Add a small amount of aquarium salt to the tank.

Reduce the water level to make it easier for the fish to move around within the tank.

Reduce water flow in tanks with a strong current.

If the affected fish floats with part of its body constantly exposed to the air, applying a bit of Stress Coat water conditioner (which helps improve the fish’s slime coat) can help avoid the development of sores and reddened spots.

Prognosis for Aquarium Fish With Swim Bladder Disorder

Sometimes, a swim bladder disorder is only a temporary condition that responds to treatment. Fish with this disorder will have a problem eating, which can be fatal, so you may need to hand-feed your fish if it has significant issues with movement. Unfortunately, many cases of swim bladder disorder do not respond to any type of treatment. If the fish does not recover in a reasonable period of about one or two weeks of treatment, the humane resolution may be euthanasia.

How to Prevent Swim Bladder Disorder

It is well known that poor water conditions cause fish to be more susceptible to infections. Keeping the tank clean and performing regular water changes can help prevent swim bladder disorder.

Keeping the water temperature a bit higher will help digestion, and possibly avoid constipation.

Feed only high-quality foods, and consider soaking dried foods for a few minutes before feeding. Always thaw frozen foods thoroughly before placing them in the tank. For fish that gulp air when feeding at the surface, try switching to sinking foods.

Always thaw frozen foods thoroughly before placing them in the tank. For fish that gulp air when feeding at the surface, try switching to sinking foods. Avoid over-feeding at all costs. Feed smaller portions so fish can’t overeat and watch the total amount you feed throughout the week.

Is Swim Bladder Disorder Contagious to Other Fish?

A swim bladder disorder is not contagious from fish to fish. However, it’s best if you move your ill fish to a separate tank where it can be treated and observed. The tank should be empty of gravel or plants so you can clearly see how the fish is doing. Use fresh water, and do not use water from the tank from which the fish came because the water could have caused the problem.

Identifying And Treating Swim Bladder Disease

When fish can’t swim normally, many aquarists assume their fish has something called swim bladder disease. In fact the swim bladder is rarely at fault, and problems with swimming are more often to do with other, less obvious reasons.

Identification

What we call “swim bladder disease” is more a syndrome than a specific disease. In other words, any disease, injury or situation that causes a fish to swim abnormally is likely to be described as swim bladder disease. Given that swim bladder disease isn’t one thing, the appropriate treatment will be difficult to determine without identifying the root causes of the problem.

Newborn And Newly-Hatched Fish

If newborn livebearers such as guppies aren’t able to swim at the surface, then the problem is very likely genetic or developmental. Nothing can be done to help such fry, and euthanasia is recommended. Fry that hatch from eggs may spend one or more days as ‘wrigglers’ at the bottom of the tank before they start to actively feed. Once the wriggler stage has passed, fry should be able to swim off the substrate without problems, though perhaps weakly at first. Again, those fry with deformed swim bladders cannot be treated, in which case euthanasia is recommended. Swim bladder deformities are commonly seen among the offspring of species that have been routinely inbred, such as convict cichlids. But even genetically healthy stock can produce fry with swim bladder deformities, especially if diet and aquarium conditions are not adequate.

Deliberately-Bred Deformities

In some cases, the swim bladder has become deformed in the process of breeding ‘fancy’ varieties of fish. Blood parrot cichlids and fancy goldfish are examples of this, and while adults may swim properly when healthy, constipation and physical injuries affects them more severely than normal fish. Prevention is key here; the fishkeeper should take care such fish enjoy a fiber-rich diet and aren’t housed with boisterous or aggressive tankmates.

Shock

Sudden exposure to environmental changes can make fish go ‘loopy’ for a while. Such fish show all the symptoms of swim bladder disease, swimming poorly or at odd angles. Adding very cold water to a tropical aquarium is a classic way to shock aquarium fish. There’s no treatment as such, and if the fish can recover, they will do so given a few hours. Switching the tank lights off for a while often helps, partly by removing one source of stress, but also by encouraging the fish to rest quietly rather than try to swim about.

Physical Damage

Cichlids and other species that engage in fierce territorial disputes are very prone to swim bladder injuries. There’s not much that can be done to speed up recovery beyond isolating injured fish in a hospital tank of adequate size. Obviously the fishkeeper will also need to make sure such problems don’t reoccur (or happen in the first place) by choosing livestock carefully and stocking at sensible levels for the size of the fish aquarium.

Parasitic Worms

Various parasitic worms can infect aquarium fish, but on the whole they tend not to cause too much trouble. But in extreme cases the sheer mass of worms inside the gut can make it difficult for the fish to swim properly. Treating with an antihelminthic medication will be necessary.

Bacterial Infection

Despite the widely-held belief that bacterial infection of the swim bladder is one particular disease, in almost all cases infection of the swim bladder is actually part of a larger, more systemic infection of the fish. By the time the fish loses its ability to swim, it will likely be very sick indeed, and treatment is extremely difficult. Standard antibiotic treatments may work, but it’s dicey. Small fish will likely need to be euthanized at this point, but larger fish can recover, and valuable livestock like koi will definitely benefit from veterinarian advice.

Treatment

As indicated above, there’s no one ‘swim bladder disease’ against which a single medication can be recommended. Bacterial infections will need to be treated one way, worm infections another, and physical injuries a third. Surprisingly perhaps, exposing fish with swim bladder problems to warmer water can help. The fish should be transferred to an adequately large hospital tank filled with water from the main aquarium to minimize temperature and water chemistry differences. The heater in the hospital tank can then be set up to 9 °F above the temperature of the main aquarium, but care should be taken before doing this. Some species are extremely sensitive to warm water and the lower oxygen concentration it brings, in which case a smaller temperature change within the known tolerances of those species is recommended instead. As well as slightly warmer water, the lower water level can be beneficial too, but the waterline should be a few inches above the height of the fish so that there isn’t any risk of it being exposed to dry air.

Prevention

Sensible selection of livestock, adequate housing, proper diet, and careful breeding should all minimize swim bladder problems among ornamental fish. In addition to these, keeping the aquarium clean reduces the risk from opportunistic bacteria, while taking care to quarantine new livestock should prevent the introduction of parasitic worms. As always, providing the right water chemistry and ensuring good water quality will minimize stress and ensure healthy fish have an immune system able to fend off any opportunistic infections.

Posted by: Chewy Editorial

How to Cure Swim Bladder Disease in Molly Fish

How to Cure Swim Bladder Disease in Molly Fish Image Credit: Mirko_Rosenau/iStock/GettyImages

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Mollies make an excellent choice for novice aquarium owners as they are hardy freshwater fish, come in a variety of colors, and can live in an aquarium as small as 10 gallons. The species is fun to watch as they fin their way gracefully around the tank. Because they’re usually on the move, unusual things like a motionless molly listing off to one side or the freshwater fish swimming upside down are readily noticeable. Don’t assume she’s dying; although swim bladder disease in molly fish can be fatal, with early detection and treatment, your fish has a good chance for survival.

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Swim bladder function

Your fish’s swim bladder lies deep within his body as an offshoot of the digestive tube. The bladder contains gas, including oxygen, that lets the fish float upright at the desired depth. When the swim bladder malfunctions, the fish has trouble maintaining his level in the water and can sink to the bottom of the tank or be stuck near the top. The abnormal ballast can cause the fish to turn sidewise and swim on his side, or even roll entirely upside down.

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Swim bladder disorder causes

Swim bladder disorder often results from other organs pushing on the swim bladder, thereby disrupting its function. Overeating and constipation are the first two things to suspect, especially if you leave food floating on the top of the tank after your fish have had two-to-three minutes to feed. Fatty liver disease, kidney problems, or impacted eggs are other physical causes of floatation problems. Finally, bacterial counts in the tank, parasites, or high levels of nitrates can also be at fault.

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Initial treatment: First 48 hours

Check the temperature of your tank. If you tend to keep it on the cold side of the 70-to-85-degrees Fahrenheit water temperature recommended for mollies, turn it up to at least 80 degrees. Low temperatures can cause digestive issues in fish, so chances are your entire molly community will benefit from added warmth. If your molly isn’t interested in feeding and the other fish are leaving her alone, it’s not necessary to remove her from the community tank. However, if you recently introduced the fish to the community and bacteria could be at fault, isolate her in a hospital tank immediately to minimize exposure to other tank mates. Don’t feed the sick fish for the first 48 hours to allow her to process what is already in her digestive tract. In many instances, the fish will return to normal during this timeframe.

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Further swim bladder disease treatment

If your fish hasn’t recovered or shown significant improvement within 48 hours, administer continued therapy in a separate tank. Put your fish on a high-fiber diet consisting of a peeled, cooked pea so the extra roughage can help clear constipation. Let the fish nibble the pea for two-to-three minutes and then remove until the next feeding. Offer your fish a peeled, cooked pea up to three times a day and continue withholding regular fish food.

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Add one tablespoon of aquarium salt for every 5 gallons of water in the molly’s recovery tank as a salt treatment. Make sure to use aquarium salt designated for use in a freshwater aquarium, such as API aquarium salt, readily available on Amazon. The salt kills bacteria that contribute to swim bladder disease.

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Alternatively, you could treat the water with an antibacterial formula such as Interpret Swim Bladder Aquarium Treatment to take care of any tank bacteria causing the infection. Should your fish need further swim bladder disease treatment, take him to a fish vet to see if he needs swim bladder medication.

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Preventing a recurrence

Water quality is the factor most common in any fish disease, and swim bladder disorder is no exception. Fish suffer stress when their water quality is poor, such as if the pH is off, the temperature is too cold, or there are too many nitrates. Such factors disrupt their bodies’ homeostasis, leaving them vulnerable to buoyancy problems and other disorders.

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