Female with a swimming problem?

[TheJadeBetta]

My niece had a female Betta and I was worried all her fish were picking on her so I took her. The male she had looked awful. Well I took the little girl, I noticed she had a swimming problems. She keeps floating to the top and she can't stay down. She usually gets in the plants or my skull to help her stay down. What could be the problem?

[1fish2fish]

sounds like a swim bladder issue

[TheJadeBetta]

That's what I thought. Is there anyway to help her?

[1fish2fish]

I'm not really sure what to do for a swim bladder.. I've never had problems with them before. Try searching through the forum for Swim Bladder Disease or SBD to see if you can find anything.. I know its a common problem so there's bound to be something.

[Oldfishlady]

For swim bladder issues I like to lower the water level to about 3 inches or better yet use a QT container to make the daily 100% water changes easier and for correct dosage of Epsom salt 1tsp/gal, turn off filters and/or airstones, water temp in the 76-80F range, hold food for 3-4 days and then feed a high protein diet fused with fresh garlic juice.
Several reason fish get swim bladder problems are from poor water quality, bacterial infection, constipation that puts pressure on the duct or causes an infection, deformities, short swim bladder.
Fresh clean water and the epsom salt can help in many ways by reducing edema, antibacterial/fungal properties, laxative, decrease of pathogens in the water to name a few reason, however, if it is an advanced bacterial infection you may need to treat with a broad spectrum antibiotic. Usually clean water and epsom salt treatment for 10 days will be all that is needed in early stages.

[TheJadeBetta]

Oldfishlady, what do you mean by QT container?

[Oldfishlady]

Quarantine, I like to use smaller containers that hold about a half gallon or less to do treatment, it is important to make daily water changes and use correct amount of epsom salt.

I pre-mix my epsom salt water in a 1g clean jug of dechlorinated water, I keep the pre mixed water in the same location as the QT fish so that the temp is equalized too. Very important to keep water change water and tank water within a few degrees of each other so not to stress with sudden temp swings/changes

[TheJadeBetta]

Thank you so much!