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Symptoms : Young fry
are 'sliding' across the bottom on their bellies as though they cannot
swim otherwise. Older, adult fish float sideways as if 'stuck' to the
surface. Other adults will
float tail down, vertically. Some become adult 'Belly Sliders' Info :SBD (Swim
Bladder Disorder) is an undesirable abnormality that is usually culled
out by the breeder. However, if the SBD is not life threatening or
degrades the quality of life, just leave it be and brag to your friends
about the baby you didn't cull and rescued. Otherwise, the young fish should
be humanely destroyed.
There are different opinions as to the causes of SBD. I believe there is
no single cause. There are different types of SBD, therefore different
causes.
1-One theory is that at least one type of SBD is genetic,
therefore passed on from generation to generation. This makes sense as
fish with SBD are being sold or passed off as gifts to new breeders,
who, in turn, breed them being told it is not genetic. This passes the
SBD gene around. This, of course, being that there IS a SBD gene.
2-Another theory is that one type may be caused by the over
feeding of BBS (Baby Brine Shrimp). That the brine shrimp harbor air bubbles
that will get trapped and cause the swim bladder to develop incorrectly.
An under or mal-developed swim bladder will not return to normal. Once
it is developed, it is done. I have fed entire spawns TONS of BBS and
had low rates of SBD so I don't think this theory holds as much water as
people think.
3-Cancer or Tuberculosis in an organ near the Swim Bladder. This
is curable as it is not the Swim Bladder that is the cause.
4-Rapid Fluctuation in temperatures are thought to have an
effect.
5-Serious Parasitic or Bacterial infestations could also be a
cause.
6-Common on DT bettas, the short body will produce a mal-formed
or short swim bladder, causing it to float vertically.
7-Constipation is a more
common problem than realized. Please go to that page for more info.
8-Sudden change in diet is also a common cause in adults. Adjust
their diet.
Out of all these causes, the most common are 6,7 & 8. Sometimes an under
developed Swim Bladder, later in life, will not even inhibit the fish.
Later in life, they may seem perfectly normal. Other cases, I have seen
some very, very sad cases where the fish should have been put down.
Instead, they were given away as a gifts, I assume to get them off their
hands and be able to say that they did not cull them.
Treatments : Tender
love and care, sometimes in serious cases the fish may need to be
euthanized.
It is sad, but it is sometimes sadder to watch a fish slowly starve and
whither because it cannot swim correctly to breathe or eat. In many
cases the betta will be fine and be able to live a somewhat normal life,
but in those rare cases they cannot.Prevention : Proper
feeding, selective breeding and sometimes there is no prevention.
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