Symptoms of Swim Bladder Disease

Fish use their swim bladder to regulate buoyancy in the water, and a problem with the swim bladder can cause a fish to lose buoyancy and have trouble swimming properly. Having a fish with swim bladder disease is not uncommon. There are different causes of the disease such as cancer and tuberculosis, genetic disorders causing the swim bladder not to develop properly, and external problems including sudden changes in the temperature of the water or attacks by other fish.

  1. Swimming Abnormally

    • Abnormal swimming can be a symptom of swim bladder disease, and it can look as if a fish is drunk or dizzy with problems keeping balance regulated. If you notice this symptom, this is a less severe case of swim bladder disease because the disease has not progressed enough to make the fish sink or float.

    Floating

    • Having swim bladder disease can cause a fish to float to the top of the fish tank. When the fish floats, it is sideways and not moving except for where the water sends it. The fish may suddenly dart to the top of the fish tank to get air, but floating recurs when it goes back into the water.

    Sinking

    • Symptoms of swim bladder disease include sinking. A fish may sink if the swim bladder is bloated, due to the weight of the swim bladder pulling the fish to the bottom of the fish tank.