How to Treat Swimbladder Disease in Betta Fish

The swim bladder is a pouch near the tail of a fish, which uses it to control ascent and descent in the water. A betta fish suffering from swim bladder disease floats on top of the tank or sinks straight to the bottom because of problems with buoyancy. It also has a bloated look to it when viewed from above. Swim bladder disease is dangerous, and taking steps to treat a sick fish as soon as possible may save its life.

Things You'll Need

  • Small tank
  • Fish net
  • Green peas
  • Fish food
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Instructions

    • 1

      Prepare a hospital tank, which is a second tank with the same water conditions as the main tank. Generally, a hospital tank is smaller than the original tank. Because the tank is smaller, be prepared to perform water changes more frequently. Once your hospital tank is set up, use a fish net to transfer the sick betta into it. Isolating the sick fish helps prevent other fish from becoming ill and makes it easier to treat the sick fish. If your betta is not housed with other fish, you can skip this step.

    • 2

      Establish the water temperature of the tank at between 75 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit.

    • 3

      Withhold food from your betta for three or four days. One of the most common causes of swim bladder disease is constipation, also known as impaction. By withholding food, you give your fish a chance to pass the food that is stuck inside it.

    • 4

      Observe your fish for signs of improvement. If your fish does not improve after four days of no food, give it a single green pea. You can use canned or fresh cooked peas. Either way, use your fingers to crush the pea slightly before dropping it in the water. Provide your fish one pea a day for three or four days to help clear any impaction.

    • 5

      Switch your feedings back to your regular fish food, avoiding overfeeding your fish. Feed only what your betta eats in five minutes. Remove any additional food after this time by scooping it out with your fish net.

    • 6

      Return your fish to the original tank after all symptoms have subsided.