What do you do with your SBD fish?

[32Bit_Fish]

I would like to know what do you guys do to your GFs that have SBD problem.

Is there any way that I can correct the problem except by not feeding them at all.

My SBD infected fish look normal when they have an empty stomach.

They started to float at the surface right after a meal regardless what and how much I feed them.

Would it really be a death sentence to them?

[bekko]

Have you tried withholding food for a week or two? That will force the fish to burn stored fat reserves and catabolize muscle which might relieve some of the constriction around the swim bladder.

-steve

[32Bit_Fish]

Have you tried withholding food for a week or two? That will force the fish to burn stored fat reserves and catabolize muscle which might relieve some of the constriction around the swim bladder.

-steve

I couldn't help myself not to feed them when I approach to the tank, everyone come up and begging.

I did starved them for 3 days when I was away on a trip. But soon I feed them pellets, they started to float. That was last year.

Anyway, do I really need to starve them for that long?

The floating problem normally disapears over night.

Also I noticed some cooked green peas are always hard no matter how long I cook them. Should I throw them away? I dont think they are good for the GFs.

[suphi]

Overcooked green peas are hard. 10 sec-microwaved green peas in a little bit of water are soft. Gel food is the best for floaters from my experiences, but it stinks...

[Fishdork]

I think people use fresh frozen peas or sometimes canned peas, not dried green peas.

[32Bit_Fish]

I use frozen green peas in bags that I found them in supermarket.

[32Bit_Fish]

Today is the 2nd day into fasting. I'm really determined not to feed my fish anything for a week.

I would really like to see some good results from this procedure.

[small_ranchu]

I couldn't help myself not to feed them when I approach to the tank, everyone come up and begging.

Today is the 2nd day into fasting. I'm really determined not to feed my fish anything for a week.


So don't even go near to the tank for a week.

[32Bit_Fish]

I did a 80% w/c last night. After 24 hours, the nitrate is at 10 PPM without any feedings since the w/c. I think I'm really overstocking my tank. :-S

[thomasn]

test your tap.

my nitrate is 10ppm out of the faucet.

[32Bit_Fish]

test your tap.

my nitrate is 10ppm out of the faucet.

My tap water has 0 nitrate and 0 of everything else except of 7.0 PH.

Tap water in NYC here pretty good.

[Daryl]

Since a fish with continuous SBD has no other options for life, keep repeating to yourself that he either does not get food - or he dies. This may help you ignore the fish's pleads for food.

Nitrates can make a fish floaty - particularly a fish that has been exposed to higher nitrites (and occasionally high ammonia) in the past. Some fish are unstable in anything over 5ppm nitrates. Fish such as these - nitrate susceptible - often can even do better in an environment that does not use the nitrogen cycle. Continuous water exchange or even Zeolite filtration can help some fish.

I rarely ever feed my fish anything but gel food - homemade, using many of the readily available fish foods as a base, but with plenty of fresh greens and fruits. Many an unstable fish will lose that tipsy movement when OFF dried foods.

[cowiche ponder]

I did a 80% w/c last night. After 24 hours, the nitrate is at 10 PPM without any feedings since the w/c. I think I'm really overstocking my tank. :-S

How big is the tank, how many fish and what is filtration?

[32Bit_Fish]

Starting from now on, I feed all my fish with frozen bloodworm, canned tuna and green peas with constant water temperature around 80F. They seem do better under these conditions.

I have separated two fish that has the most severe SBD in another tank and they have not been fed for the past 4 days. I will start feed them alittle in 3 days.

I know I'm overstocking my tank, but I do 80% w/cs 3 times a week, my nitrate had never exceed 15 PPM before any w/cs.

I'm still try to figure a way to cure SBD. Hopefully I will discover something that would help curing this problem.

After in this hobby for almost 2 years, the best way to keep goldfish is in a pond. If you are going to keep your GFs in a tank, please do the following:

1. Keep the constant water temperature at or around 80F
2. Do frequent large amount of w/cs perferrably 3 times a week. Make sure Nitrate would never exceed 10 PPM.
3. Huge fish swimming space (I noticed the fish digest their food better and quicker with exercise). Overstocking a 90G tank is much better than in a 30G tank, since fish could still have alot room swimming around in a 90G.

4. Feed your fish only soft food such as frozen bloodworms, canned tuna or Gel Food. Disregard what the manfuacture say, feeding any type of dry food to your GF will expose them to the risk of getting SBD.

[32Bit_Fish]

How big is the tank, how many fish and what is filtration?

I have 5 GFs in my 40G right now. Three (5") ranchu/lionchu and two (3") Ryukins.

I have AC 70 and Whisper 4 (large one) running on the tank.