Swimbladder

[Zoom]

Hi guys,

I have a rather "novice" question to ask...

I might be over-analysing my fishes, or seeing things that aren't really there... it appears to me as if my Black widow Tetras and my Pristella tetras like to swim in a straight horizonal line, but at a 30 to 40 degree angle. As far as my reading has shown, this could be swim bladder.

What is swim bladder?
Is it a birth defect, or can it be "contracted" as any other illness?
Is there a remedy for it?

I'm not even sure if my fish have this desease, as I said, I might just be reading too much and seeing things, but it would be good to know if I can isolate it properly.

Ash

[Dolphin]

have a look here, it might help you identify swim bladder disorders
http://www.fishyfarmacy.com/fish_diseases/swim_bladder.html

[veegal]

Is anyone else having problems getting onto fishyfarmacy??? I've battled (and failed) for almost 2 weeks now :( Sorry Dolphin, I can't open that link - it would have been awesome to read :(

[Dolphin]

veegal it opens fine on my side... maybe clear your browser history and cookies and try again - i'm not an expert on such things, sorry.

I've tried to copy and paste the chart here but its not all nicely aligned...


Swim Bladder Disorders

Whenever you suspect a swim bladder problem, do not poke the fish with a pin or needle!


Symptoms http://www.fishyfarmacy.com/fish_diseases/images/if_yes.gif Cause http://www.fishyfarmacy.com/fish_diseases/images/if_yes.gif Treatment and Links



A). The fish whirl or wobble around the aquariumhttp://www.fishyfarmacy.com/fish_diseases/images/if_yes.gifThis is a gram-positive bacterial infection of the swim bladder known as: Whirling diseasehttp://www.fishyfarmacy.com/fish_diseases/images/if_yes.gifTreat with TMP Sulfa (http://www.fishyfarmacy.com/products5.html#TMP_Sulfa) -or- Erythromycin (http://www.fishyfarmacy.com/products.html#Erythromycin)

http://www.fishyfarmacy.com/fish_diseases/images/if_not.gif

B). The swim bladder contains purulent fluid. Large numbers of bacteria are found in the fluid and the wallhttp://www.fishyfarmacy.com/fish_diseases/images/if_yes.gifThis involves a bacterial infection usually as a result of an inflammationhttp://www.fishyfarmacy.com/fish_diseases/images/if_yes.gifTreat with Quinine Sulfate. (http://www.fishyfarmacy.com/products4.html#Quinine_Sulfate)

http://www.fishyfarmacy.com/fish_diseases/images/if_not.gif

C). The wall of the swim bladder is hardenedhttp://www.fishyfarmacy.com/fish_diseases/images/if_yes.gifThe Swim bladder is hardenedhttp://www.fishyfarmacy.com/fish_diseases/images/if_yes.gifRaise the temperature in the tank by 3 to 5 degrees for five days.

http://www.fishyfarmacy.com/fish_diseases/images/if_not.gif

D). Round cysts of various sizes occur in the wall of the swim bladderhttp://www.fishyfarmacy.com/fish_diseases/images/if_yes.gifThe fish are affected with the sporozoan Eimeriahttp://www.fishyfarmacy.com/fish_diseases/images/if_yes.gifTry: Furazolidone Powder (http://www.fishyfarmacy.com/products2.html#Furazolidone) -or- Quinine Sulfate. (http://www.fishyfarmacy.com/products4.html#Quinine_Sulfate)

http://www.fishyfarmacy.com/fish_diseases/images/if_not.gif

E). Large inclusions occur in the wall of the swim bladderhttp://www.fishyfarmacy.com/fish_diseases/images/if_yes.gifThe fish is affected with Microsporahttp://www.fishyfarmacy.com/fish_diseases/images/if_yes.gifNo suitable treatment known.

http://www.fishyfarmacy.com/fish_diseases/images/if_not.gif

F). The anterior part of the air bladder, the part towards the abdomen, is inflamed. These fish were standing on their heads, or laying flat on the bottomhttp://www.fishyfarmacy.com/fish_diseases/images/if_yes.gifA bacterial infection is the causehttp://www.fishyfarmacy.com/fish_diseases/images/if_yes.gifTreat with: TMP Sulfa (http://www.fishyfarmacy.com/products5.html#TMP_Sulfa) -or- Sulfa 4 TMP. (http://www.fishyfarmacy.com/products4.html#Sulfa_4_TMP)

[veegal]

:) Thanks Dolphin. :)

[Zoom]

OK... stupid question?

Where is the swim bladder located on a fish so I can see if my fish are suffering from swim bladder infection?

Ash

[Zafgak]

Hi Zoom - possibly not swimbladder, a lot of fish - just like helicopters - need a bit of forward tilt to get a good turn of speed. If you watch Angelfish they will sometimes go sideways (especially when defending territory) just to get a bit more speed - and to look more menacing.. The swimbladder is round about where you would expect the lungs to be. BUT all depends on the species of fish.

[Dolphin]

http://superlative1.files.wordpress.com/2008/03/fish-anatomy.jpg