I have a tiger barb that was fine last night, but when I woke up this morning, she was swimming sideways. I tested the water - ammonia 0, nitrite 0, and nitrate is about 7. There are also three other fish in the tank that are fine. I have looked at the sick one and there are no physical problems that I can see. Any ideas? Is this an issue with the swim bladder?
Sideways swimming fish
- Thread starter bkahl
- Start date
What kind of testing equipment are you using? If it is the test strips you may not be getting an accurate reading. I used to use the strips but all the more experienced fishkeepers here advised to use the liquid test kit so I switched.
I found out from experience that the strips are very unreliable and are inaccurate most of the time.
If you are using strips I think the first thing I'd do is a big water change with temp matched water. Also, I'm sure you're using a dechlorinator but you want to be sure to use one that removes chlorine and chloramine.
Prime is a product that is really highly recommended by the pros here, because it not only does all that but it detoxifies ammonia and nitrites for about 24 hours giving you some time to do the water changes that are needed.
Can you give us more information about the tank:
What size, what type filtration, heater, how long it's been set up, what other occupants, water change schedule, feeding schedule, any new additions of occupants to the tank. These things may be able to help us figure out what's going on.
Also, if you can, pics are very helpful.
I found out from experience that the strips are very unreliable and are inaccurate most of the time.
If you are using strips I think the first thing I'd do is a big water change with temp matched water. Also, I'm sure you're using a dechlorinator but you want to be sure to use one that removes chlorine and chloramine.
Prime is a product that is really highly recommended by the pros here, because it not only does all that but it detoxifies ammonia and nitrites for about 24 hours giving you some time to do the water changes that are needed.
Can you give us more information about the tank:
What size, what type filtration, heater, how long it's been set up, what other occupants, water change schedule, feeding schedule, any new additions of occupants to the tank. These things may be able to help us figure out what's going on.
Also, if you can, pics are very helpful.
The tank is an Marine Land Eclipse system. It is a 12 gallon and the filter is built in to the top. I have a Stealth heater. This tank has been set up for about 6 months and this particular fish and two others (red glass barbs) have been in the tank from the beginning. There is one other tiger barb right now that was added about 2-3 months ago.
I feed them 2 times a day. Once in the morning and then once at night. I did feed them freeze dried blood worms yesterday as a treat. That is really the only thing that is different.
I do a 25% water change every week and I use Prime. My test kit is the API liquid test, so I know those are pretty accurate.
This fish keeps swimming and is staying very active but just keeps her nose down and swims kind of on her left side. Sometimes you can really notice it, but other times it looks really bad. She is still chasing the other barb around at times and is acting "normal" except for swimming on her side/nose down. She ate this morning when
I fed all of the fish and ate last night as well. A few months ago she seemed to have trouble staying at the bottom of the tank and had to fight floating to the top. After a day or so she seemed to be fine.
Thanks for all of your help!
I feed them 2 times a day. Once in the morning and then once at night. I did feed them freeze dried blood worms yesterday as a treat. That is really the only thing that is different.
I do a 25% water change every week and I use Prime. My test kit is the API liquid test, so I know those are pretty accurate.
This fish keeps swimming and is staying very active but just keeps her nose down and swims kind of on her left side. Sometimes you can really notice it, but other times it looks really bad. She is still chasing the other barb around at times and is acting "normal" except for swimming on her side/nose down. She ate this morning when
I fed all of the fish and ate last night as well. A few months ago she seemed to have trouble staying at the bottom of the tank and had to fight floating to the top. After a day or so she seemed to be fine.
Thanks for all of your help!
Sorry I had to bake a cake for my husband, lol. Chocolate layer.
It does sound like swim bladder. First thing I noticed was freeze dried blood worms.
I have two African Dwarf frogs, so doing a lot or research on them I discovered that the freeze dried blood worms can cause constipation and/or intestinal blockages.
I would fast your fish for a couple of days and feed some english pea (famous here for helping with constipation and swim bladder that may be related to that.
Take frozen english peas, nuke in the microwave in tank water for about 30 to 45 seconds. Take the skin off, usually the pea will slip out of the skin. You want the pea to be slightly mushy, not firm.
You feed them this and it really does help with constipation and I've seen the pros recommend it for swim bladder because sometimes that is related to constipation.
EDIT: You do want to keep the ammonia and nitrite at 0 and it looks like you are doing that, and Prime is excellent. Sounds like you're doing a good job taking care of them. This is the only thing I can think of right now. Someone else may come along with some other possibility.
It does sound like swim bladder. First thing I noticed was freeze dried blood worms.
I have two African Dwarf frogs, so doing a lot or research on them I discovered that the freeze dried blood worms can cause constipation and/or intestinal blockages.
I would fast your fish for a couple of days and feed some english pea (famous here for helping with constipation and swim bladder that may be related to that.
Take frozen english peas, nuke in the microwave in tank water for about 30 to 45 seconds. Take the skin off, usually the pea will slip out of the skin. You want the pea to be slightly mushy, not firm.
You feed them this and it really does help with constipation and I've seen the pros recommend it for swim bladder because sometimes that is related to constipation.
EDIT: You do want to keep the ammonia and nitrite at 0 and it looks like you are doing that, and Prime is excellent. Sounds like you're doing a good job taking care of them. This is the only thing I can think of right now. Someone else may come along with some other possibility.
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Tiger Barbs standing on their heads is always an early indicator that I need to do a water change (even if the tests show good)
I also give them peas weekly. All the fish like them, but the barbs are my food hogs and I think it helps them with constipation.
Good Luck
I also give them peas weekly. All the fish like them, but the barbs are my food hogs and I think it helps them with constipation.
Good Luck
sometimes with freeze dried foods or pellets...when fish eat excessively they start to bloat...the food usually has air inside (in the case of freeze dried blood worms) or they take on more water and obviously become more filling then originally intended
not sure if that's the problem but I thought I'd shed my .02 worth
not sure if that's the problem but I thought I'd shed my .02 worth
Thank you everyone for your help. The barb is doing much better today and is swimming normally. I didn't feed her anything to see if that would help and it corrected the problem. She must have problems with this, because she had floating issues a while ago.
Thanks everyone!
Thanks everyone!