I had 3 small fantail goldfish in a 20-gallon tank (yes, I know that's too small, but I bought the fish before I learnt that; I do extra PWCs to help make up for that). They seemed to be doing wonderfully, until one of the fish suddenly became lethargic and began staying in one corner, hardly moving. The next day, the fish moved more, however its swimming was forced and it would swim on its side and have trouble staying in the right position: it would float to the top of the tank and the bottom uncontrollably while still trying hard to swim, sometimes flipping around in the water. Finally, the day after that, the fish was found dead.
I thought this was swim bladder disease, so I then began feeding each of my fish a portion of a pea each week to help with that.
However, a few weeks later, another goldfish showed the exact same symptoms, and ended up dying the third day as well (today :[ ).
The fish seemed so healthy; this was extremely unexpected.
Because of how quickly the second fish was diseased, I'm no longer sure if this disease was of the swim bladder.
With that, can you tell me what the exact symptoms of swim bladder disease are, and how to tell for sure if that's what they had, or if what they had was a completely different disease? If it is swim bladder disease, is that spread by a pathogen, or is it caused by poor water conditions/diet?
I thought this was swim bladder disease, so I then began feeding each of my fish a portion of a pea each week to help with that.
However, a few weeks later, another goldfish showed the exact same symptoms, and ended up dying the third day as well (today :[ ).
The fish seemed so healthy; this was extremely unexpected.
Because of how quickly the second fish was diseased, I'm no longer sure if this disease was of the swim bladder.
With that, can you tell me what the exact symptoms of swim bladder disease are, and how to tell for sure if that's what they had, or if what they had was a completely different disease? If it is swim bladder disease, is that spread by a pathogen, or is it caused by poor water conditions/diet?