Swim Bladder Illnesses

The swim bladder is an organ in a fish that is used to regulate buoyancy. If a fish develops a swim bladder illness, it will not be able to regulate its position in the water. Instead, it will float at the surface--sometimes upside down. There are several reasons that a fish might develop a swim bladder illness.

  1. Water Quality

    • Water quality is one of the biggest factors of swim bladder disease. It is important to maintain good water quality for your fish so they can ward off bacteria and illnesses that might be present. A drastic change in temperature, a spike in ammonia or a change in pH can all cause issues so check your water quality often to prevent problems.

    Genetic Factors

    • Fish that are bred to have short, wide bodies, such as goldfish, are prone to having trouble with their swim bladders. Fish with congenital disorders generally do not recover from a swim bladder illness. If the quality of life is drastically affected, the fish should be humanely euthanized.

    Bacteria

    • Some bacteria can cause the swim bladder walls to thicken from irritation. This changes the permeability of the tissue walls, and the gas is no longer able to escape. This condition can be treated with broad-spectrum antibiotics in the tank.

    Diet

    • Overfeeding can also cause fish to develop symptoms of swim bladder illness. If the fish is exhibiting symptoms right after feeding, you are feeding too much.

      Constipation mimics swim bladder issues as well. Stop feeding the fish for a few days, then offer them some peas for roughage. Make sure that you are feeding your fish a high quality food.