FISH SWIMMING UPSIDEDOWN

 

Fish floating upside down. This indicates a condition know as swim bladder disorder or flip over. This condition is common in round bodied goldfish. The swim bladder is actually two small bags of air inside the goldfish that when working properly gives the fish neutral buoyancy in the water. To control the amount of air in the swim bladder there is a duct (called the stom) that attaches the swim bladder to the esophagus. This allows air to be released from the swim bladder through the esophagus. The problem occurs when the stom becomes blocked or damaged. This damage can be from chronic digestive problems, internal parasites, bacterial pathogens, or a mass such as a tumor pressing on the stom that prevents air from being vented from the swim bladder through the esophagus. Also, chronic high nitrates have been identified as causing damage to the stom. which leads to the fish floating.

 

TREATMENT

 

When floating is first noted stop feeding for 3 days then feed frozen peas that have been defrosted and shelled. This will help clean out the digestive system. If floating continues then pre-soak pelleted food in a container with 1 ounce water and a pinch of Epsom salts. Soak for 10-15 minutes then discard the solution and feed the pellets. Try this only once or twice as regular ingestion of Epsom salts will harm the fish's digestive system.

 

These methods work in the early stages of digestive related floating and can help control the floating to allow the fish to live a reasonably normal life. Once a fish begins to float upside down a good percentage of the time or all the time then it may be the beginning of the end. Goldfish really can't eat and digest food properly when upside down all the time and they will eventually become weak and susceptible to parasites or bacterial pathogens. It's time to consider the humane choice of euthanizing the fish.

 

OTHER CHOICE

 

Start by doing a water 15 to 20% water change you may also want to check you pH and amonia. adding an airstone with an air pump would get more oxygen in the tank and more carbon filtration will kinda get your water in better condition. Only feed once a day and as much as will last in the tank for 5 min. you dont want all that extra food just rotting in your gravel.

 

FEEDING PEAS TO FISH

 

Peas act as roughage and cleanse out your fish's digestive system. They take care of most digestive problems like constipation or swim bladder disease.

Preparing a pea for your fish is simple. You must use frozen peas, as canned and fresh ones have preservatives and pesticides respectively. Place the pea in a dish of tank water or dechlorinated water, and microwave for 30 seconds. Leave to cool, and then remove the shell of the pea, cutting its insides up into tiny pieces that your fish can eat. You should only feed your fish about a third to half of the pea, depending on how large your fish is.

It's also recommended to fast your fish for a couple of days before feeding the pea, since it is not part of many fishes' natural diet and they might need to be fasted a little before they are hungry enough to eat it.