Swim bladder issues in Neon Tetras

csmith1004

AC Members
May 8, 2008
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Today I noticed all 15 of my tetras acting strange. They are swimming at an angle with their heads pointed down and a few keep flipping upside down. From what I have read online it sounds like Swim Bladder Disease. I didn't feed them at all yesterday and this morning they all went nuts when I fed them so is it possible that eating too fast/gulping air while eating may have caused this? Any suggestions on what to do or should we just leave them be and see if they get over it? Thanks!
 
check your water parameters and post those (ammonia,nitrite and nitrate) this gives up a starting point.
unfortunately, swim bladder isssues may be caused from numerous possibilities.
starting with the condition of the water ..helps.
 
i read that if you feed fish at the surface they can injest air, and it will affect their bouyancy. so try to submerge the food, however that may be hard with flakes...i cannot remember the book i read this in, but i know that that may be a cause to your problem. As far as long term effects on your fish goes, i am unsure.

best of luck
 
My tank is not cycled. My Nitrates and Nitrites are at 0 and my Ammonia is at .5 but has been treated with Prime. I did a partial water change (25%) yesterday. Thanks!
 
http://www.fishyfarmacy.com/fish_diseases/swim_bladder.html
http://www.petfish.net/articles/Bettas/swimbladder_betta.php
http://www.fishfriend.com/articles/the_swim_bladder_disease.html
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/ca/volume_3/cav3i3/swim_bladders/swim_bladders.htm

Read these, it will help you diagnose your fish. The last one is long, so to summarize it basically says the leading theory for the cause of swim bladder problems is when you feed fish too much dry flake food. The food absorbs water in the stomach and expands creating unstable gas build up.

Furthermore, i agree with star to check parameters because it could be due to a bacterial attack. That would explain why all of your fish are seeing bouyancy problems. I don't know much about keeping fish, i just know about this disorder!
 
Thanks everyone! I do think it was related to their eating too much too fast and gulping air. After a couple of hours they were looking better then last night before bed I gave them some peas and this morning they are all back to normal. Also, I did go out and bought a new Ammonia test that tests for both Free Ammonia and Total Ammonia and it showed my Total Ammonia at .5 which I expected but my Free Ammonia was 0 so it looks like the Prime is doing it's job and keeping that Dangerous Free Ammonia away from my fishies! :)
 
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