Any treatment for swimbladder disease?

[KatyMunoz]

I have a male bellus angel that I am 95% sure is showing signs of swim bladder disease, and I wondered if there is any treatment that has worked for anyone?

I had someone tell me they stuck a needle in the bladder to get the air out...... But I'd like to get more input before sticking a needle in my fish.

 

[alprazo]

How long have you have the fish? If it is decompression, then needling is the answer. If it is bacterial, you need an abx. Drop the temp if possible for now.

 

[KatyMunoz]

I have had him for about 3 weeks. So i am not sure the cause, but I did notice his bladder/stomach area does look a bit swollen, but I don't know if that would help diagnose the cause at all or if all fish with swim bladder look like they have swollen stomachs.

 

[KatyMunoz]

Anyone?

 

[MrTuskfish]

I have had him for about 3 weeks. So i am not sure the cause, but I did notice his bladder/stomach area does look a bit swollen, but I don't know if that would help diagnose the cause at all or if all fish with swim bladder look like they have swollen stomachs.

How is he swimming? That's usually the 1st indicator of SB problems. Eating?

 

[KatyMunoz]

How is he swimming? That's usually the 1st indicator of SB problems. Eating?

I am convinced he has swim bladder, I just meant I didn't know what the cause was, whether it was a decompression issue or something else, because the treatments are different for each as mentioned above. SO I am wondering what is a normal time frame for a decompression issue to show up in a fish? I thought it would be immediate after being caught, but I am not sure, so that's why I am asking.

I also heard people talk about using peas, but that's only if the swim bladder is caused by constipation, but I don't know the cause. I am wondering if the peas will hurt anything, or any other fish, because I can just feed every fish in my tank peas just to make sure the bellus angel gets some..... but I don't really want massive bouts of diarrhea going around either lol

 

[alprazo]

At 3 weeks.... The fish was probably decompressed at capture. Now you are likely seeing a swim bladder dysfunction. I have seen this resolve on its own. Make sure the fish remains fully submerged, has rocks to hide in, and treat with an antibiotic. I would go for gram neg coverage or a broad spectrum. I personally like ciprofloxacin or enrofloxacin for internal infections but access is difficult. You could try nitrofurazone or TMP-sulfa

This is a total guess though. It could be viral, parasitic, or even organ failure. none of which are easily treated

 

[KatyMunoz]

The fish seemed to be swimming a bit better today actually, but not totally right. Should I wait to see if he gets worse and then treat? I'd have to get him out of my reef tank before I can treat anything, and that will be quite the process. I'd like to pull him as a last case scenario if it is indeed something that can go away on its own, but if it's not, then I don't want to wait, so I'm rather torn.