If My Betta Has Swim Bladder, Will He Be Ok?

Hi,

I just got a new betta today after I lost my last guppy a few nights ago. I think my guppy died of old age and/or the long term affects of ammonia poisoning due to some issues I had in my tank a while back. My water seems all good now, 0ppm ammonia, 0ppm nirite, under 5ppm nirates but not zero. My tank is 5gal, my pH is 8.2 and the temperature of the water is around 78 degrees, although it was higher (maybe 80-82) when I put him in the tank. I didn't really notice any issues when he was at the store or in the bag, but he wasn't in very much water, so maybe I just didn't notice.

But anyways, when I put him in the tank immediately he seemed to be floating near the top, having a little trouble balancing (tilting on his side) and he can't swim down very far, his butt lifts him back up to the surface. The lady at the store said she had just fed them today.

First of all, do you think I am correct in my diagnosis of swim bladder? I can't provide pics right now, because it is too dark, but to me, he looks a little swollen on his butt where his swim bladder would be. He doesn't seem distressed, he isn't breathing hard or panicking in any way. He mainly just sits there and readjusts himself when he starts to tilt over. If I am right, what should I do? I read that I should just let him fast for a few days and maybe try feeding him a pea. If I'm not right, what other issues might be at play? He is really pretty and I want to take good care of him.

 

If he's involuntarily floating and can't swim down, it's swim bladder disorder. If you didn't properly acclimate him to the water parameters and temperature, it could cause pH shock or temperature shock which could cause swim bladder disorder.

 

A swim bladder issue is almost always a symptom. It could be bloat, injury, shock, parasites, many other things. If he's a little too plump he could simply just be constipated. In which case a de-shelled pea will do the trick. Tell me how you acclimated him to his new tank?

 

If he's involuntarily floating and can't swim down, it's swim bladder disorder. If you didn't properly acclimate him to the water parameters and temperature, it could cause pH shock or temperature shock which could cause swim bladder disorder.

I floated him in the bag for about 15 minutes. Then I added some water from the tank into his bag and floated him for another 10 minutes. That's what it said to do on his bag. Was that too fast? If so, will he be OK?

 

It was a bit of a quickie, but hopefully he'll be fine by morning.

 

It was a bit of a quickie, but hopefully he'll be fine by morning.

I hope so. I feel like I keep messing everything up. I really want him to be as happy and comfortable as possible.

 

Where did you get him from? I got one from one of the popular pet stores, and I couldn't see that he was bloated oddly while in the cup. Tried feeding him blanched and shelled peas for 5 days, and ended up taking him back because there was no improvement.

 

Where did you get him from? I got one from one of the popular pet stores, and I couldn't see that he was bloated oddly while in the cup. Tried feeding him blanched and shelled peas for 5 days, and ended up taking him back because there was no improvement.

I got him from a local fish store. He was in a larger container than they keep them at the chain pet stores, but not super big. He may have been affected there too, and I just didn't notice. But I don't think I remember him being at the top of his water.

 

Definitely agree with all of the above! Also, maybe try putting a scheduled fasting day every week in your feeding schedule. Seems to be a good preventitive for such things in my experience.

 

Good news everyone he seems to be recovering!! He is still a little bloated and buoyant, but doing better!

 

Great news. Glad to hear it. See if he'll eat some deshelled peas. That's a laxative for fish. If he's constipated it will help.

 

A little blurry but photos of my guy enjoying himself in his tank Swim bladder has completely gone away. He is just hanging out at the surface right now because I just fed him.