Swim bladder or labyrinth ?

[MADxMAC771]

Hey all,

My fish Paul, who recently recovered from a bacterial infection thanks to all of your help, seems to have a swim bladder issue. I feed him 2 times daily 3 pellets each feeding. He is staying toward the bottom of the tank only to swim up rapidly, almost vertical, to get air from the surface. He seems to be having trouble staying level from front to back. His rear end is sinking lower than the rest of his body. He does not seem swollen at all. In addition I was watching him earlier as he came up for air and before he reached the surface he released a rather large bubble from his mouth and then proceeded to the surface to breathe.

[photochic88]

my fish is doing the same thing! i am going to make a trip to the petstore. and i need to know what i should get him.

[dr2b]

I would fast your betta for a couple days.

[MADxMAC771]

I plan to. I also have him suspended in his old betta cup at the top of his tank so he doesnt have to swim as far for air. Hopefully this is taking some of the stress out of it.

[MADxMAC771]

He has been fasting for over 24hours now. He still has some swelling towards the front of his body. Should I attempt to feed him a pea or some other green in hopes of loosening him up? Or should i just leave him be for another day.

[dramaqueen]

I would feed him daphnia. Its more healthy for them than peas.

[neenjar]

I do not feed peas. They are non digestible material and can damage the digestive tract. Fast another day then feed some daphnia.

[MADxMAC771]

I got the frozen daphnia today. He doesnt seem to be that interested in it unless it is in a clump on the top of the water. Perhaps he will get more interested in it the more hungry he gets. Also I noticed today that he is randomly releasing bubbles from his mouth. Could this be a problem with his labyrinth or is a symptom of the SBD. The swelling in the frontal region of his body from the overfeeding does not seem to have gone down at all.