Betta with Swim Bladder Disease

[HuricaneKatt]

Hey guys, my Betta Sharky has SWB. I've never dealt with this before - any advice? Right now I have him in a "hospital tank" (a vase unfortunately bc that is all I have atm). I have him in a little epsom salt water (1tsp per gallon of water) and I am fasting him. I cleaned out his regular tank and did a complete water change.

- Is there anything else I can/should be doing? Or anything I am doing incorrectly so far?
- How many days should I fast him? I have read mixed things on this...
- Also, I've read in a few places that following the fast it is good to give them a small piece of a blanched pea for fiber....I'm a little iffy on this one and plan to do some more reading first. Thoughts?

 

[Mr Ironic]

okay if he is still in the espon salt water take him out and put him in normal aquarium water. Try to feed him blanched peas (cut them in small pieces). they are high in fibre and help the betta poop out the food that causing the problem.

every once a week i feed my betta peas and fast him ffor the rest of the day so that he can pass out the food he had before

 

[henningc]

I use a good portion of 3-4 day old live brine shrimp until they are stuffed and then keep them off feed for a day. I breed Bettas and most likely your tank is not covered or it got the disorder prior to your getting it..

 

[Lady JinglyJones]

Maybe a dumb question, but what is the problem with keeping the tank uncovered? Why would that lead to sbd?

 

[Gregg]

Often swim bladder infections or similar gut infections that can present as swim bladder infections are caused by Aeromonas of the gut. As well poor osmoregulation can also lead to these infections or at the very least make a cure much more difficult.

A Medicated Fish Bath using Epsom Salts, Sodium Chloride Salt, Methylene Blue, along with Neomycin or Kanamycin in this bath. Making sure positive mineral Cations are present in the water are also important too (this has positive affect on aquarium Redox balance).
Using products such as Wonder Shells or Medicated Wonder Shells can help greatly with this as well

Beside the excellent idea of using peas, soaking fish food such as Brine Shrimp in a slurry of Neomycin and Metronidazole can also often be helpful.

Refs;
http://www.aquarium-pond-answers.com/2009/07/fish-baths.html
http://www.aquarium-pond-answers.com/2006/12/how-do-fish-drink.html
http://www.americanaquariumproducts.com/Aquarium_Medication.html#food_delivery
http://www.fishbeginner.info/home/aquarium-gh-kh-ph-chemistry-what-to-know/
http://www.americanaquariumproducts.com/Redox_Potential.html

 

[Lady JinglyJones]

Dang - now I am lost in a wikipedia labyrinth of bacterial terminology. Thanks, great post! Very informative. Love it.