Possible Swim Bladder in Fantail Goldfish?

Hello to all. So yesterday night I saw that my fantail goldfish was laying down on the substrate. A few days ago, I saw that his stomach was bigger on his left side and that he would swim sort of sideways. I’ve researched a little and it looks like it could be swim bladder disease.

He’s in a 55 galling tank with other goldfish who are just fine. I have not measured the water parameters yet since i’m out of the house atm and didn’t check last night.

When i get home, should i put him in a breeder box so that he doesn’t hurt his body on the substrate? I’ve heard something about feeding peas after not giving him food for 3 days, and setting the water temperature to 78-80 ºF.

Whats the best thing I can do? I’ve just bought Melafix and have it with me and might need a little help on how much I should put in the tank or put him with the guppies in a 10 gallon tank and treat him there. (He’s only like 2-3 inches and won’t eat them)

 

Melafix is just tea tree oil. I wouldn’t use it- it won’t help the fish and can irritate their skin and gills.

An Epsom salt bath can help with the swelling. You can also try doing fast days, or feed a laxative, like daphnia.

What does he usually eat? If not water quality, poor diet or inadequate nutrition can sometimes cause swim bladder. How old is your food and what type is it? With some foods, the nutritional value deteriorates quickly

 

Melafix is just tea tree oil. I wouldn’t use it- it won’t help the fish and can irritate their skin and gills.

An Epsom salt bath can help with the swelling. You can also try doing fast days, or feed a laxative, like daphnia.

What does he usually eat? If not water quality, poor diet or inadequate nutrition can sometimes cause swim bladder. How old is your food and what type is it? With some foods, the nutritional value deteriorates quickly

come to think of it, i think it might have been the floating pellets that i’ve been feeding him and the other fish. I’ve fed them these pellets from Walmart and i’ve gotten em around last month since at that time i needed an alternative money wise.

For the salt bath, is there a specific brand that can help? and also, do i need to put him in a bucket to do so?

 

come to think of it, i think it might have been the floating pellets that i’ve been feeding him and the other fish. I’ve fed them these pellets from Walmart and i’ve gotten em around last month since at that time i needed an alternative money wise.

For the salt bath, is there a specific brand that can help? and also, do i need to put him in a bucket to do so?

Any Epsom salt is fine- so long as it isn’t scented. Do 1 tbsp of Epsom salt per gallon of water, leave him in there no longer than 30 minutes.

For now, pre-soaking the pellets may help. That will prevent the pellets from expanding inside their stomach.

There are also some great things you can feed them right out of your kitchen. Peeled peas as you said, spinach, broccoli, zucchini, garlic, even certain types of fruits. You need to blanch these, or for the spinach and peas, just thaw them out from frozen and you should be alright.

 

Any Epsom salt is fine- so long as it isn’t scented. Do 1 tbsp of Epsom salt per gallon of water, leave him in there no longer than 30 minutes.

For now, pre-soaking the pellets may help. That will prevent the pellets from expanding inside their stomach.

There are also some great things you can feed them right out of your kitchen. Peeled peas as you said, spinach, broccoli, zucchini, garlic, even certain types of fruits. You need to blanch these, or for the spinach and peas, just thaw them out from frozen and you should be alright.

alright, and just to make sure, should i put him in a bucket full of tank water? thank you for the time you’ve spared to help me, it means a lot <3

 

alright, and just to make sure, should i put him in a bucket full of tank water? thank you for the time you’ve spared to help me, it means a lot <3

Tank water would be best, you don’t want to shock him. Be sure to monitor him, if he becomes stressed just take him out. Let the salt dissolve before putting him in

 

Tank water would be best, you don’t want to shock him. Be sure to monitor him, if he becomes stressed just take him out. Let the salt dissolve before putting him in

Alright, this helps a lot, thank you very much. I'll update his condition here once I do everything.