Swim Bladder Disease in Betta Fish

What is Swim Bladder Disease?

The swim bladder in fish is a gas-filled internal organ resembling a balloon that can get bigger or smaller, helping the fish move up or down in the water. It helps fish regulate buoyancy by maintaining balance and position in the water without using excessive energy. A healthy swim bladder is necessary for fish of the gourami family, such as betta fish, which rely on labyrinth organs to breathe atmospheric air.

If the swim bladder malfunctions, it can cause buoyancy issues, making it difficult for the fish to swim normally. Betta fish are highly vulnerable to swim bladder disorder as they frequently rely on it to come to the surface for breathing. A betta fish suffering from a swim bladder problem would try to maintain its balance while swimming by using excessive energy, which can lead to floating upside down or sideways of the betta, or sinking to the bottom and struggling to rise.

Is Swim Bladder Disease Deadly?

Swim bladder disease is not fatal on its own; however, it can significantly affect fish of the gourami family, such as betta fish, which swim to the surface to breathe atmospheric oxygen. These fish use their swim bladder to help them reach the top of the tank. If their swim bladder malfunctions, they will have difficulty swimming to the surface. If a betta owner leaves his betta fish suffering from the SBD untreated for a long time, the fish can face severe health complications, which may result in the eventual death of fish.

Is Swim Bladder Disease Contagious?

The swim bladder is actually a secondary infection caused by other health issues or infections. Its contagiousness depends on the underlying causes. If it is caused by internal infections, such as bacterial or parasitic, it can spread to other tank mates; otherwise, it is not contagious.

Symptoms of Swim Bladder Disease

Before discussing the symptoms of swim bladder disease in betta fish, it’s essential to understand that this disorder often indicates other health issues. My personal betta initially had the swim bladder problem and suffered from fin rot later on. Therefore, it’s essential to recognize the disorder in time so that you can address the other health concerns effectively.

To identify swim bladder disease in your betta, observe its swimming patterns closely. Since the swim bladder affects swimming and normal betta movements, any abnormal movement can indicate the presence of a disorder. The diseased betta may show one of the following symptoms.

• The betta floating in an unusual way, such as swimming sideways or upside down.
• The betta sinking at the bottom of the tank, struggling too much to the water surface.
• Sometimes your fish may swim with its tail down.

Other minor symptoms may include lethargy, lying at the bottom for prolonged periods, and, in extreme cases, losing appetite.

Causes of Swim Bladder Disease

Any external or internal factor that affects the swim bladder of a betta can lead to swim bladder disease. These factors include overfeeding, constipation, swallowing air, injury, poor shipping conditions, and bacterial and parasitic infections.

Overfeeding

In their natural habitat, bettas eat everything they find or hunt because they don’t know what their next meal may be. Therefore, special care is needed when feeding them in captivity, as bettas often eat any available food inspired by their natural instinct. This can lead to overfeeding, which may cause bloating and swim bladder issues. The problem can be more severe if you provide food that is difficult to digest. Occasional foods, like flakes and pellets, can expand inside their intestines if given in large quantities. It may lead to bloating that compresses the swim bladder, causing buoyancy problems.

Constipation

Another leading cause of swim bladder disease in betta fish is constipation, which results in a blockage of the betta’s digestive system. The accumulated food in the betta’s digestive tract puts pressure on the swim bladder, causing the fish to suffer from SBD.

Swallowing Air

Bettas can also develop swim bladder disorder if they swallow too much air while eating floating foods excessively, such as freeze-dried foods or flakes.

Shock

Short-term shock can put your betta at risk of developing swim bladder disease. This shock could occur during poor shipping due to improper lighting, temperature fluctuations, or uncontrolled environments.

Any sudden changes in water conditions, such as rapid drop in water level during water changes, large ammonia buildup, or other stressors, can likely lead to swim bladder issues in betta fish.

Injury

An injured betta is more prone to suffer from swim bladder disorder. Betta fish can become injured if they get stuck in decorations or are handled roughly. As natural jumpers, they may also injure themselves when trying to leap out of the tank, which can affect their swim bladder.

Bacterial and Parasitic Infections

Bacterial or parasitic infections can attack the swim bladder of betta fish, leading to inflammation and malfunction of the organ.

Genetic Defects

Some bettas may have defective swim bladders when they are born. While the defect may not be noticeable in the early stages of life, it can become apparent as the fish grows. Similarly, due to genetic predisposition, fancy varieties of bettas are more prone to swim bladder disorder than other betta varieties.

Treatment of Swim Bladder Disease

While treating your betta fish for swim bladder disease, it’s important to consider what caused the issue. Having been in the fish hobby for years, I always focus on diagnosing the reasons before beginning treatment. It has helped me a lot in the effective therapy of the problem. This strategy is crucial when ministering to the betta fish with swim bladder disease as its treatment differs for different reasons that lead to the disorder. Experienced veterinarians always stress matching the treatment with the specific reason behind the problem.

For example, trying to cure swim bladder disease caused by overfeeding with remedies meant for bacterial or parasitic infections will not bring positive results. Therefore, we strongly recommend to understand the causes of swim bladder disease in betta fish before starting treatment.

Gastrointestinal Issues

If your betta has gastrointestinal issues such as overfeeding, constipation, or a likely blocked digestive tract, don’t fret too much – there is no need to set up a hospital tank. Simply follow these three steps, and your betta will recover from swim bladder disorder.

Fasting

Start the treatment of your diseased betta by letting it go without eating for a few days. It will help reduce the bloating and clear the blockage caused by overfeeding. You can have the fasting period for 3-4 days, depending upon the condition of bloating and blockage in the digestive tract. Moreover, fasting can increase your fish’s eagerness to accept peas (discussed later).

Feeding Peas

After fasting your betta, feed him peas. Peas are suggested because they are high in fiber, which can help relieve constipation and reduce bloating. They are easier for bettas to digest if properly boiled, de-shelled, and cut into small pieces.

However, remember that peas are not part of a betta’s natural diet, so avoid feeding them in large amounts, as this can lead to further digestive problems. Also, these are only a temporary solution to betta’s digestive issues.

During this time, don’t provide your betta with regular foods, especially flakes or pellets.

Feed Daphnia

Daphnia is closer to a betta’s natural food and can serve the same purpose as peas. It acts as a laxative, like peas, and is generally more preferable. However, for a betta owner, daphnia may not always be easily accessible or available in an emergency. Therefore, we suggest using peas despite their contrast with a betta’s natural food. If you can arrange a daphnia, then it should surely be your first priority.

To know how to feed your betta fish, read our complete article.

If you notice that the SBD is not due to overfeeding or constipation, don’t attempt the above steps. Instead, proceed to the next steps of swim bladder treatment.

Treatment of SBD due to Infection

Swim bladder disease caused by bacterial or parasitic infection is treated differently than gastrointestinal issues. Follow these steps to ensure the successful recovery of your betta fish.

Set up a Hospital Tank

A quarantined hospital tank is recommended when swim bladder disease results from an infection, as treatment often involves medications that can affect other tank mates or live plants in community tanks. A hospital tank is considered necessary for every bacterial infection. Arrange all the necessary items such as heater, filter, air bubbler and all other essential decoration items in hospital tank to provide an healthy environment while curing your fish.

Inside Tank Remedies

After setting up a hospital tank, maintain the following conditions to ensure the quick recovery of your betta fish.

• Keep the water depth lower than usual, as bettas with swim bladder disease have difficulty swimming. This helps reduce the energy they need to reach the surface.
• If you know that your betta fish’s swim bladder disease is caused by a sudden temperature drop, maintain a stable tank temperature between 78–80°F (25–27°C).
• Perform a daily 25% water change to remove the buildup of harmful substances like ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates, especially during medication use.
• An Epsom salt bath (magnesium sulfate) can help reduce swelling and bloating.

Provide Medications

Fasting your betta and feeding peas or daphnia will not work if the disorder is due to an internal bacterial or parasitic infection. In such cases, experts suggest administering medications such as Kanaplex or maracyn to your betta fish.

A Maracyn by Fritz (view it here on Amazon) is my personal choice which is a broad spectrum maracyn used for bacterial infections

An API Melafix (view it here on Amazon) is another good medication that can heal bacterial infections and repair damaged fins if they were injured due to difficulty swimming.

For proper dosage of the medication:

• Follow the instructions labeled on the antibiotic packaging.
• Use an air bubbler in the tank as it will provide adequate oxygen to your fish, taken away by antibiotics.
• Feed your betta sparingly every 2-3 days during the treatment to prevent further digestive stress.

Prevention of Your Betta from Swim Bladder Disease

To prevent your betta from developing swim bladder disease in the future, it’s important to eliminate its root causes.

1. Avoid overeating and providing occasional food in large amounts and for longer periods. Offering a varied diet can help relieve constipation and other gastrointestinal issues. For proper feeding guidelines, don’t miss reading the comprehensive article about feeding your betta fish.
2. Avoid using sharp decorations or needle-like items in the betta tank.
3. Reduce stress-causing factors such as sudden water changes, temperature drop, and improper lighting.
4. Maintain stable water parameters, especially pH levels.
5. Keep your tank cycled and cleaned by carrying out partial water changes regularly.

For more information on tank requirements and maintenance, read our full article on betta fish care.