How to Treat Swim Bladder Disorder In Angelfish {Causes & Symptoms}

Angelfish are usually very sensitive to their environment. They are quickly affected by dirty tanks or overcrowding.

How to prevent swim bladder disorder in Angelfish is going to discussed today. Will will address the causes and symptoms along with treatment options.

This article is meant to help your Angelfish from swim bladder disorder

How to Treat Swim Bladder Disorder In Angelfish

  1. Stop feeding the angelfish for three days and add some aquarium salt to the tank.
  2. Relocate the affected fish to a treatment tank and keep the temperature between 78-80°F.
  3. Feed the fish with a cooked and skinned pea on the fourth day to accelerate their recovery.
  4. Test the water condition with a tester kit that you can purchase from amazon to make sure there are no water quality issues.

How To Treat The Tank For Swim Bladder Disorder

You can consider the inclusion of some supporting treatments. For instance, you can reduce the water level of the tank to ease their movement. Likewise, you can lower the current of the tank to help them get hold of their swimming ability more quickly.

You should also consider the use of broad-spectrum antibiotics if the causative agent of the disorder is bacteria. You should also consider visiting your veterinarian if the condition persists.

If you are looking for antibiotics I recommend melafix aquarium antibiotics which you can purchase from here

Does Swim Bladder Disease Hurt Fish?

Yes. The swim bladder is a health complication that frequently occurs in Angelfish tanks. It is a condition where the swim bladder stops functioning normally. A lot of things can be responsible for the disorder, including:

  • physical abnormalities
  • diseases
  • environmental factors
  • mechanical factors

Some causes of disease that you cannot quickly diagnose. Other times, it can occur as a combination of two or more of these factors. Once the disorder strikes a fish, they begin to exhibit some apparent signs.

Any fish that is affected by this disorder will have difficulty in swimming. They might not be able to swim to the surface of the water.

Causes of Swim Bladder Disorder in Angelfish

The overall cause of the swim bladder problem in fish is when the bladder stops functioning. A lot of things can, however, cause the bladder to stop working. It can be as a result of a compressed bladder or swollen bladder.

The notable factors that cause swim bladder disorder include;

  • Distended stomach resulting from constipation, overeating, or excess gulping of air.
  • too much pressure on the swim bladder from the enlargement of the gastrointestinal tract.
  • Enlargement of other internal organs
  • Infections from parasites and bacteria
  • Accidental hard hit against the side of the tank
  • Nipping from aggressive fish.
  • Swim bladder genetic defects.
  • Poor water quality
  • high nitrate concentration

Symptoms of Swim Bladder Disorder

You don’t have to wait until the swim bladder disorder in your fish becomes life-threatening before identifying the problem. Fish show apparent signs of discomfort and other swimming abnormalities. These signs can even be evident at the early stage of the disorder.

Most symptoms of swim bladder disorder have to do with the buoyancy of the fish. Once your Angelfish is hit by swim bladder disorder you can find them:

  • sinking to the bottom of the tank.
  • floating aimlessly at the top of the tank.
  • floating upside down
  • drifting sideways
  • with curved back or swollen belly.

The feeding habit of the fish can also be altered. It is either they exhibit some distinct feeding disorder or lose appetite ultimately. In severe cases, the fish might not be able to swim to the food location.

Prevention of Swim Bladder Disorder

Here are my top 4 prevention tips for swim bladder disease in Angel fish.

  1. Avoid overfeeding them. Too much food will only double the problem of your fish. Although it might solve the problem of hunger, it will create a digestion problem that can affect the bladder of the fish.
  2. Likewise, you should avoid feeding you fish with too much-floating food or air-filled food. The reason is that swim bladder disorder can also arise when the fish gulp in too much air. It would help if you also diversified the diet of your fish.
  3. You can also consider thawing frozen foods before feeding it to the fish. It would help if you also regulated their feeding time, particularly for adult fish.
  4. Ensure that you keep the fish tank clean at all times. Carry out regular water changes and avoid the accumulation of nitrate in the tank. Likewise, you should maintain a stable temperature in the tank to ensure stability.

Conclusion

Angelfish are one of the aquarium species that are sensitive to their environment. They are usually prone to disease and disorders if they are in a dirty tank. Being in an overcrowded tank can also affect them.

Swim bladder disorder is a common problem. It has a lot to do with swimming abilities. It often makes the affected fish lose control of their swimming, thus, making them swim abnormally.

Alternatively, you can prevent the disorder from happening in the first place by taking some precautions. You can avoid it by ensuring the cleanliness of your tank and regulating your fish’s diet.

 

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jbarr3tt1979

Hello, I'm Jason. I'm the guy behind HelpUsFish.com. I volunteer at my local fish shop and I created this site to offer tips and advice on the fish I care for.

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