floating danios

[mpg]

several of my young zebra danios have looked fat for several weeks. they are too young to be pregnant (6-8 weeks old). and tonight 3 of the fat ones are having trouble swimming. they seem to be floating to the surface. 2 of the 3 are able to swim where they want but it appears they are fighting the tendancy to float. the third looks more exhausted and is floating. upright, but unable to leave the surface.

i thought possible dropsy, but no scales are protruding. the disease mentions a swim bladder disease which affects goldfish. i gave them some aquarium salt. anyone have any other ideas how to help them?

 

[toodles]

Swim bladder disease can affect any fish.....aside from the salt, the only thing I can offer is "maybe" to raise the temp of the tank by a few degrees. I have heard mixed results with this, some say it helps others say it doesn't do a thing. I don't know what temp you keep your tank at but if you decide to do this, don't raise it too much, and don't go over 82º. Make sure you have plenty of agitation at the surface as warmer water holds less oxygen than cooler water.....and warm salt water even less!
Also, are you feeding these fish flake food? Might be a good idea to soak the flakes briefly before feeding so they sink and the fish aren't grabbing air when they eat.
HTH

 

[bobrob]

it sounds like its swim bladders gone but it would be unlikely to happen to 3 in a tank wouldnt it. Bit too much of a coincedence 4 me.

 

[mpg]

the little guys are less floaty today. a couple of them still look fat. i soak the flakes but they sink too fast into the gravel, and muck things up. i'm now thinking it may have been the freeze dried worms that i feed them every few days. i soak the worms but maybe not long enough. i'll keep track of what i feed them and when.