Swimming head up

[Greeny]

1 I have an Australian Rainbowfish that is swimming with it's head up all the time. Sometimes on a steep angle, sometimes straight up and down. It is always swimming to stay in place (must be very tiring).
2 Ammonia, Nitrite 0, Nitrate 50, temp 78, ph 7
3 55 gallon tank, set up for years.
4 Aquaclear 70 filter and an undergravel filter.
5 Community tank with tetras, rainbows, corys, kribs
6 40% water change two days ago.
7 I've had the fish for 3 or 4 months. It has exhibited this behaviour periodically over that time, but now it is worse and it is doing it all the time.
8 I feed flake food, sinking pellets, and algae wafers. Frozen and live food occasionally.

Is this a swim bladder problem? Is he suffering? Is there anything I can do for him?

Thanks,
Greeny

 

[dkpate]

You can try feeding boiled, de-shelled peas. They are a natural laxative for fish.

 

[Blueiz]

It sound s like it could be swim bladder disease. This could be caused by a bacterial infection, constipation, genetics, trauma, etc. I would try quarantining this fish and treating it with an antibiotic such as tetracycline and feeding it deshelled peas as the previous poster suggested. You can also add a small amount of epsom salt to the water for constipation, how much would depend on the size of the qt tank..or do a bath in epsom salt.