Prevention of Swim Bladder Disease in Aquarium Fish

By Valerie Jean Tags: Freshwater fish health, fish care, aquarium care, disease

If your goldfish doesn’t seem to know whether it wants to sink or float, or is swimming unnaturally, it may be suffering from a swim bladder disease, or floating disease. Japanese fishermen called this disease of floating tenpuku, which means capsized. A very apt name for the poor fish’s condition. The swim bladder is an organ in bony fish, like goldfish and Betta. This gas-filled organ primarily helps fish float, as well as hear and communicate (http://www.fishtanksandponds.co.uk/fish-health/swim-bladder-disorder.html).

Do you need to worry about the other fish in your aquarium catching swim bladder disease? No, because swim bladder disease actually refers to a number of issues that could stem from the swim bladder being damaged. It is a physiological abnormality that affects the quality of life for that individual fish. 

Some fish are born with a malformed swim bladder, especially fancy goldfish whose internal organs may have been shuffled around due to breeding practices. The shape of their spine and placement of internal organs lends to a predisposition of imbalance.

Other fish develop the disease through digestive problems such as how or what they eat. These issues revolve around gas being trapped and interfering with the buoyancy of the fish. Often these can be modified to avoid the disease. 

Some diseases that have nothing to actually do with the swim bladder have an impact on the effective functioning of the organ. Infections can cause thickening of bladder walls or inflammation of the swim bladder. Cysts can force the internal organs to shift, affecting the balance and buoyancy of the fish. Parasites can infiltrate, putting pressure on the organ which can damage it. 

Finally trauma through rough handling or other aggressive fish can also cause the swim bladder to malfunction. This can also happen if a fish gets dropped on the ground during tank cleaning or moving. 

As a fish owner, keeping your tank clean and feeding your fish appropriately are the most effective ways to prevent swim bladder disorder. (http://www.fishtanksandponds.co.uk/fish-health/swim-bladder-disorder.html).

How can I prevent swim-bladder disease?

Although in some instances, swim bladder disease is inherent in a fish, many times it is caused by preventable fish owner practice. Keeping your tank clean and healthy should be a priority to avoid swim bladder disease, as well as a number of other fish ailments. Poor tank conditions obviously lead to infections, and many of these infections end up causing swim bladder disease. 

So how do you maintain a clean healthy freshwater aquarium? Make sure to check the water regularly for ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, pH, and hardness. Smaller tanks will need at least a third of their water changed on a consistent basis or as needed to remain clean. And be sure to check your filter for clogs, but never rinse them away with tap water because this kills beneficial bacteria. You can also add some aquarium salt to your tank. (https://ornamentalfish.org/wp-content/uploads/1-Set-up-maintain-a-freshwater-aquarium.pdf).

Another way to keep your tank clean is to feed your fish smaller portions more often throughout the day. That way excess food doesn’t dirty the tank, and fish aren’t tempted to overeat, which can cause a variety of complications. 

What you feed your fish as well as the way you feed your fish can contribute to a diagnosis of swim bladder disease. If you’re using dried pellets or food, try adding a drop or two of moisture to it first. Buying a high quality food that has more moisture in it, such as gels or live food, can help fish with digestion. Using food that sinks into the water quickly, rather than food that forces the fish to eat at the top also helps deter them from sucking in air while they eat. (https://www.canadianveterinarians.net/documents/swim-bladder-problems-in-goldfish

What are the signs and symptoms?

A beautiful, healthy fish will move with grace and speed through the water, reminding us of a mythical mermaid or a daring dolphin miniaturized. An unhealthy fish looks more like a beached whale in its own aquarium. 

Although the most common symptom of a swim bladder disease is your fish floating upside down, a swim bladder disorder can be tough to spot if you are not a tropical fish expert. Besides your fish floating like he’s dead, other signs he may be suffering from a swim bladder disease could include sinking to the bottom, floating along the top or on his side, or the inability to control his movement in the water. Often, fish with swim bladder disorders will swim with their head lower than their tail. Basically, if your fish isn’t swimming normally, a swim bladder disorder could be the culprit. 

The anatomy of your fish may also change, cluing you in to the disease. Physical signs of this could be an extended belly or deformed back. If the case is severe enough, the fish may not be able to eat, although sometimes appetite is not affected. A fish that gets stuck on the bottom of an aquarium generally has more luck eating than one stuck floating at the top. 

Since fish breeds are different, one way to see if your fish is acting normally is to watch some videos of healthy fish of the same breed. You could also talk to pet store workers, other fish owners, online groups, or your vet if you’re that unsure. X-rays are the most effective way to see if your fish has this disease. (https://fishkeepingadvice.com/swim-bladder-disease/).

What causes the disease?

There have not been many studies done on swim bladder disease, and those that have been done found somewhat inconclusive results due to a variety of factors. Since fish are such delicate and sensitive creatures, there are a number of reasons one could have a swim bladder disorder. 

Their own genetics can occasionally be the cause of a malformed swim bladder. Fancy-bred goldfish and other short-bodied fish can have an unnatural shape to their internal organs because of specialized breeding.  Internal cysts can also disfigure the swim bladder, causing discomfort and the inability to swim correctly. 

Poor water quality in the aquarium can cause the swim bladder to overwork.  A sudden drop in water temperature also forces the organ to work harder than normal.  

Lack of proper nutrition or cheap food can also lead to numerous issues. Digestive trouble and complications are also common causes of swim bladder disease. 

All of these external factors, however, merely initiate the actual cause of a swim bladder disease, which can include a variety of deformities. Too much air in the swim bladder makes it so a fish can’t control its buoyancy. The organ actually being moved around inside the fish’s body may impact its ability to control its swimming. If a fish gets fluid in the organ, it cannot swim to the top. Gas in or around the bladder affects the fish’s swimming control. In the worst case scenario, an actual rupture of the swim bladder would ultimately cause death because it couldn’t be repaired. Each of these internal causes of the disease are painful and uncomfortable, as well as nearly impossible to cure in some instances.  (https://www.researchgate.net/publication/301731661_Buoyancy_disorders_of_ornamental_fish_a_review_of_cases_seen_in_veterinary_practice).

What are my treatment options?

Although swim bladder disease is curable, many times fish perish because of the external damage to their bodies. This can happen while they are pressed against the bottom of the tank or stuck floating on top. If they can’t control their floating movements, they’re basically a ship in a storm without an anchor or sail. In order to save your fish if possible, you may have to try several strategies.

Making the fish fast for several days is suggested to support clearing out digestive issues. Some evidence suggests after fasting, feeding the patient a green pea, soft and skinned, to help. If your fish has too much trouble moving, you may have to hand feed it.  

Controlling and altering the environment your fish lives in is another way to improve chances against swim bladder disease. Adding sodium chloride to the water permanently may help with your fish’s balance. Adjusting the water temperature, level, and flow are also ways to help your fish recover from swim bladder disease. 

If improving the environment for your fish’s condition isn’t enough, medicines are available. Many times a swim bladder disease is caused by an underlying disease, including a variety of infections. Different medications tend to treat different infections which have hurt the swim bladder.  With the prompt treatment of these diseases, hopefully surgery does not become necessary. There are also external floatation devices that can be attached to fish for short periods of time to help them recover. Sadly if it gets to the point where your fish is suffering or there is no improvement, putting it down is often the best option for it. (https://www.thesprucepets.com/swim-bladder-disorder-in-aquarium-fish-1381230).

Swim bladder disease in various fish

The anatomy and physiology of the fish breed plays heavily into the risk percentage of the fish suffering from swim bladder disease. There are some fish that don’t have a swim bladder, or whose swim bladder is so reduced it is not worth mentioning. These tend to be bottom-dwellers or sharks.

Although nearly any type of fish with a swim bladder can get the disease, goldfish and Betta are the most common types of fish to have swim bladder disease because of their physiology and eating habits. They have a curved spine already, and their esophagus and swim bladder have an open connection. They also eat at the top of the tank, making it more likely they’ll gulp in air.  

Koi have a tendency to develop the disease because of their large size and breeding practices. Cichlids are also susceptible to this disease because they go through specialized breeding, which can cause physical abnormalities. Despite the susceptibility of certain fish to swim bladder injury, nearly any species of fish can develop the disorder. (https://www.petmd.com/fish/conditions/respiratory/swim-bladder-disorders-fish).

The swim bladder in fish compares to the lungs in humans, according to Charles Darwin. So when you’re looking at that beautiful aquarium full of healthy fish, remember that we aren’t so different from them after all. Just as health is important in humans, a fish’s health should be important in a fish owner’s perspective.