Fishes by nature swim in order to adjust their body weight without drowning or raising in the water. It is the result of the muscles at the sides of their body. Swim bladder is an air filled structure seen in fishes to maintain the buoyancy. It is located at the dorsal aspect of a fish body. In some species it also helps in respiration. If there is an injury or a disease that affect swim bladder, fishes find it difficult to manage their body weight. You can easily make this out if you carefully observe the fish, they looks drunken. There are a number of conditions in which a fish can get infection to its swim bladder.
External factors are the common thins that affect the swim bladder. It could be from a fight with the other fish or from the hits with the walls of the tank or accessories. These physical injuries can sometime become fatal. The sudden temperature changes inside an aquarium can also affect the swim bladder and swimming of a fish.
Some fishes due to genetic reasons are prone to develop a deformed swim bladder as they grow. This commonly occurs during the line breeding to acquire high quality fishes. The same species fishes with a certain quality when line breeded, results in fishes with impaired swim bladder.
Cancer and tuberculosis in fishes are another factor that affects the swim bladder. If the cancer or tuberculosis is affecting an organ that is close to the swim bladder, the chances of swim bladder getting infected are very high.
Under nutrition can cause swim bladder disease as the fish is not getting enough nutrition for the growth of internal organs. The initial stages can be cured giving a proper balanced diet. Improper feed also causes constipation in fishes. The swelling of internal organs results in compression of swim bladder and the fish may find difficulty to swim. Gold fishes are the most affected by this condition.
Swim bladder disease can be a result of various fungal, bacterial, parasitic infections.
This problem should be cured according to the underlying cause. Severe damage from external factors cannot be treated and the fishes will be dead within 2 weeks. The fishes need to be in a healthy environment for it to be free from diseases. Keep the water clean and give an adequate quantity of food at regular interval. Monitor frequently for any contamination and treat the water with anti fungal drops if necessary.
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