Are certain fish breeds more susceptible to swim bladder disease?

[mirko]

I'm experiencing a frustrating issue with diamond headed tetras. Over several months, they've been consistently falling ill, and it always ends in either their demise or a mercy kill. The rest of the tank's inhabitants seem fine, which is puzzling.

[coltin]

I think the issue with your diamond headed tetras might be related to their breeding history. Commercially bred fish like neons, guppies, and angelfish are more prone to health problems, including swim bladder issues. However, true swim bladder problems are pretty rare and depend on the symptoms and their diet.

If your tetras are floating when they stop swimming, it could be air trapped in their intestine or a swim bladder issue. Fish often take in air while feeding from the surface or eating dry food, and it can take a while to pass through their digestive tract. Eventually, it gets released and they swim normally. To test this, you could try stopping dry food for a week and feeding frozen or live food instead. If the problem resolves after a few days without dry food, air is probably the cause. If not, it's likely a swim bladder issue.

If they're sinking to the bottom when they stop swimming, it's usually a swim bladder problem. Although, on rare occasions, they might swallow sand or gravel, which can cause them to sink, but that's very rare.

Unfortunately, there's no cure for swim bladder problems, and the fish usually don't survive for more than a few days to a week. If it's diagnosed correctly and it's a true swim bladder problem, euthanasia is probably the best option for the sick fish.

A short video of your tetras swimming or floating would be really helpful in diagnosing the issue. If you can, upload a video to YouTube and share the link here. Just make sure to film it in landscape mode so the footage fills the entire screen.

[graye]

I've been told that it could be related to Mycobacterium internal cysts, depending on where they develop. It's possible that these cysts can affect the swim bladders in a slow, chronically developing way. Diamonds don't have any special disposition to this, and Mycobacter is an infection that can manifest in many different ways, so that's a guess.

[miguel]

I've been told that it could be related to Mycobacterium internal cysts, depending on where they develop. It's possible that these cysts can affect the swim bladders in a slow, chronically developing way. Diamonds don't have any special disposition to this, and Mycobacter is an infection that can manifest in many different ways, so that's a guess.

I agree with you, but it's also worth noting that the species of fish can play a role in this issue. For example, bettas are more prone to developing swim bladder problems if they're overfed. However, overeating can affect any fish, causing them to gulp in air, especially after meals, which can lead to swim bladder problems.

[graye]

@miguel - I'm with you on this. Swim bladders inflating from intestinal gas and blockages are a major issue when it comes to balance problems. But let's be clear, there's no such thing as a swim bladder disease. It's more like a symptom of various underlying issues - bowel blockages, infections, cysts, inflammation, or simply the wrong food choices. We tend to view it as a disease, but it's similar to saying a person has sneezing as a condition.

I've noticed it's quite common, especially in older fish, much like dropsy - another symptom we often mislabel as a disease. Both of these issues seem to be more prevalent in older fish.

Physical trauma can also be a cause. If the swim bladder takes a hard hit, it can rupture. I've seen this happen with aggressive fish like redtailed sharks or territorial Cichlids, where fish struggle to recover their balance.

The only fish I can think of that are more prone to swim bladder issues are those bizarre goldfish types with no dorsal fins and strange fins. But let's be honest, that's a result of breeding practices rather than a natural disposition.

[bettaMagenta]

Just wondering, do mail-order fish that fly to your doorstep have a higher risk of issues due to the pressure changes in the cabin?

[graye]

I've noticed that many annual killies, or eggs that have been shipped by mail, often have issues with their swim bladders - a condition commonly referred to as "belly sliders." It's suspected that this is due to the eggs taking too long to hatch, which can cause developmental problems.

However, I don't think air travel is the primary cause of this issue. Many fish species spend time as air cargo and seem to do just fine. Sometimes, the shipping routes involve multiple transfers, and the fish still arrive healthy. Given that the diamond-headed tetras are dying over a period of days and weeks, I suspect that they might be carrying an internal infection or disease.

[miguel]

@miguel - I agree with you. Swim bladders inflate from intestinal gas, and blockages cause problems with balance. But let's be clear, there's no such thing as swim bladder disease. It's a symptom of various issues - bowel blockage, infections, cysts, inflammation, or simply wrong food choices. We tend to view it as a disease, but it's similar to saying a person has sneezing.

I've noticed it's quite common, especially in older fish, just like dropsy. Violence can also be a cause, as a hard hit to the swim bladder can rupture it. I've seen this happen in tanks with aggressive fish like redtailed sharks or territorial Cichlids.

The only fish that might be prone to this are certain goldfish types, with no dorsals and unusual fins. However, this is often a result of breeding practices. I think it's essential to consider water quality and stress levels as contributing factors. Maintaining consistent water quality and avoiding fluctuations in nitrates can help reduce stress on the fish. Adding live plants like Amazon swords can also help absorb toxins. If a fish is gulping air and eating dry food excessively, it could also lead to issues.

[graye]

I've been told that it could be related to Mycobacterium internal cysts, depending on where they develop. It's possible that these cysts can affect the swim bladders in a slow, chronically developing way. Diamonds don't have any special disposition to this, and Mycobacter is an infection that can manifest in many different ways, so that's a guess.

I agree with you, but it's also worth noting that the species of fish can play a role in this issue. For example, bettas are more prone to developing swim bladder problems if they're overfed. However, overeating can affect any fish, causing them to gulp in air, especially after meals, which can lead to swim bladder problems.

I agree with most of what you said, but I have to disagree with the notion that water changes can be avoided by adding plants. I see this idea popping up everywhere, but it's not based on fact. I get it, nobody likes doing water changes. However, a well-planted tank might give you a short buffer if you're running late with water changes, but that's about it. The idea that nature can take care of itself in a small tank is just not true. There are too many factors missing from the equation. You might be able to manage the nitrogen cycle in a very lightly stocked, heavily planted tank, but that's only part of the story.

[miguel]

I've been told that it could be related to Mycobacterium internal cysts, depending on where they develop. It's possible that these cysts can affect the swim bladders in a slow, chronically developing way. Diamonds don't have any special disposition to this, and Mycobacter is an infection that can manifest in many different ways, so that's a guess.

Of course, water changes are still crucial, but live plants do provide some benefits, like adding oxygen and serving as a natural food source for herbivores that eat dead plant matter. However, maintaining ideal water conditions is indeed key to minimizing issues with your fish.