Does anyone know any information on swim bladder in Betta's? Mine appears bloated near his tail, and cannot dive to the bottom of his tank but is not constipated. His buoyancy is off [emoji853]. He's very active and still eats well. Any info is much appreciated.
Betta Swim Bladder help needed!
- Thread starter krwhwb
- Start date
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Let's start with getting some info.
What size tank he is in and is there a filter or heater?
How often and how much of the water do you change?
Are you familiar with the nitrogen cycle?
For additional reading check out the article link in my signature, good, solid info for fish keeping in general.
Best to know what the condition is of the water he is in. Do you have a test kit and have you tested to see what the water conditions are?
Looking for levels/readings for Ammonia, NitrIte, NitrAte, pH.
How long have you had this guy, and how long has this issue been going on?
~~~
What to do about it. Any issues usually call for a fresh water, so do a partial water change aka pwc.
If it has been more than a couple weeks since a pwc (and you do =not know his water parameters, then try doing 3 pwc of 1/3rd of the water, then another 1/3rd, and then maybe a couple hours later another one.
Make sure to match the water temperature and treat with dechlorinator to make it safe.
This helps to slowly allow him to get used to the fresher new water.
It is not necessary if he has recently had the water changed, say with in a few days, unless the water smells very bad or is getting cloudy, like maybe from too much uneaten food.
Feed the 2 center halves and even the little part which becomes a sprout.
Let him get hungry by not feeding a regular time if you are going to feed peas. See if he eats the peas, sometimes they need to get used to it and be hungry to try it, and usually like it.
You can try using a fresh clove or garlic and squeezing a few drops of the juice onto the food pellets you usually feed and let him eat that.
There is also Epsom salts in water.
See how the foods work. Peas help him poop, and garlic is a natural antibacterial and more.
If you do have Epsom salt no additives, only ingredient Epsom salt, you can dissolve a teaspoon per gallon amount into a cup, and after you are done with the pwc's you can add 1/4 of the liquid to the tank, then a few hours later 1/4, etc. It can help them feel better and poop
What size tank he is in and is there a filter or heater?
How often and how much of the water do you change?
Are you familiar with the nitrogen cycle?
For additional reading check out the article link in my signature, good, solid info for fish keeping in general.
Best to know what the condition is of the water he is in. Do you have a test kit and have you tested to see what the water conditions are?
Looking for levels/readings for Ammonia, NitrIte, NitrAte, pH.
How long have you had this guy, and how long has this issue been going on?
~~~
What to do about it. Any issues usually call for a fresh water, so do a partial water change aka pwc.
If it has been more than a couple weeks since a pwc (and you do =not know his water parameters, then try doing 3 pwc of 1/3rd of the water, then another 1/3rd, and then maybe a couple hours later another one.
Make sure to match the water temperature and treat with dechlorinator to make it safe.
This helps to slowly allow him to get used to the fresher new water.
It is not necessary if he has recently had the water changed, say with in a few days, unless the water smells very bad or is getting cloudy, like maybe from too much uneaten food.
Feed the 2 center halves and even the little part which becomes a sprout.
Let him get hungry by not feeding a regular time if you are going to feed peas. See if he eats the peas, sometimes they need to get used to it and be hungry to try it, and usually like it.
You can try using a fresh clove or garlic and squeezing a few drops of the juice onto the food pellets you usually feed and let him eat that.
There is also Epsom salts in water.
See how the foods work. Peas help him poop, and garlic is a natural antibacterial and more.
If you do have Epsom salt no additives, only ingredient Epsom salt, you can dissolve a teaspoon per gallon amount into a cup, and after you are done with the pwc's you can add 1/4 of the liquid to the tank, then a few hours later 1/4, etc. It can help them feel better and poop
Last edited:
By the way, welcome to the community. 
Hello, and thank you for the welcome [emoji4].
Damond is in a gallon tank, no heater or filter. We clean his tank every Friday night and have been on this routine since November of 2016 when we purchased him. He's had this issue going on a month now. We have had his water checked on two different occasions and each time all was well.
I have not heard of the nitrogen cycle.
He still very much has an appetite and continues to poop. No constipation issues at all.
We tried fasting and the peas about two weeks ago and he did not do well with eating them because they would fall to the bottom and he cannot dive to the bottom to get them [emoji53]. He tries to dive down but the buoyancy is keeping him from it. It breaks my heart for him.
Other than that he is very happy and goes wild when he sees us after school and work.
This is a picture of him today in his tank.
Damond is in a gallon tank, no heater or filter. We clean his tank every Friday night and have been on this routine since November of 2016 when we purchased him. He's had this issue going on a month now. We have had his water checked on two different occasions and each time all was well.
I have not heard of the nitrogen cycle.
He still very much has an appetite and continues to poop. No constipation issues at all.
We tried fasting and the peas about two weeks ago and he did not do well with eating them because they would fall to the bottom and he cannot dive to the bottom to get them [emoji53]. He tries to dive down but the buoyancy is keeping him from it. It breaks my heart for him.
Other than that he is very happy and goes wild when he sees us after school and work.
This is a picture of him today in his tank.
nirbhao
Aquarium Advice Addict
Only addressing the pea issue-
If you use a garlic press, the tiny pieces of pea tend to float a bit longer. That might help.
If you use a garlic press, the tiny pieces of pea tend to float a bit longer. That might help.
Try the garlic and food too, floating pellets like Hikari Gold.
Then try the Epsom Salts - magnesium sulfate option. It sometimes will help the fish.
Also as long as you can do water changes every day, you can lower the water. The parameters will be very difficult to maintain unless you do water change every day with less water. It is a small amount of water to start with.
Exceptionally clean water will be of tremendous help in hopes of recovery.
Then try the Epsom Salts - magnesium sulfate option. It sometimes will help the fish.
Also as long as you can do water changes every day, you can lower the water. The parameters will be very difficult to maintain unless you do water change every day with less water. It is a small amount of water to start with.
Exceptionally clean water will be of tremendous help in hopes of recovery.
Thank you Autumnsky! I really appreciate all the input. Hopefully this will help our our little Damond [emoji846]
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