Have you ever observed your fish swimming upside down and still alive? Well, there are a few species of fish that do that as part of their routine. But, if you find a lot of fish doing that, it may be something that you need to be worried about. Ever wondered why is your fish swimming upside down? We will try to find the causes for this strange-looking behaviour.
The primary reason for your fish to be swimming upside down can be due to swim bladder disease. The swim bladder may get inflated to such an extent that it may find it difficult to swim against the buoyancy of the water. One of the most common reasons your fish may swim upside down or sideways is due to swim bladder disease, though certain species naturally exhibit this behavior.
Why Is My Fish Swimming Upside Down or Sideways?
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Some fish, like the upside-down catfish, naturally swim upside down without any health issues.
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The swim bladder is essentially a gas-filled sac that controls buoyancy, similar to a balloon inside the fish.
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Stress from low water quality can disrupt the swim bladder’s functioning and cause abnormal swimming.
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Overfeeding is a common but often overlooked cause of swim bladder disease.
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Feeding boiled green peas is a simple, natural remedy to help fish recover from swim bladder problems.
The only and most possible reason for your fish swimming upside down or sideways is the swim bladder disease. When the swim bladder of your fish is inflated or infected, it will not have the proper buoyancy when swimming. This results in making it swim sideways or upside down.
Swim bladder disease in fish can manifest itself in several ways. Your fish may swim at the top of the aquarium, swim sideways, sit at the bottom of the tank, or even float with its belly up.
Swim bladder disease can show up due to several reasons. Some of them include the changes in the living conditions and water change, eating disorders, bacteria, and parasites. If you do not treat the disease in time, it can be fatal. Even when the disease is not contagious, it can affect all your fish as all of them face the same living conditions.
If your fish shows these symptoms:
- Cannot swim upright for more than 24 hours
- Stops eating completely
- Shows signs of distress or gasping
- Has visible swelling or injury
What is Swim Bladder?
The swim bladder is a small, gas-filled organ that helps fish control their buoyancy and swim at different depths without sinking or floating uncontrollably. When it becomes infected or damaged, fish lose this control, causing them to swim abnormally—often upside down or sideways. Symptoms include floating at the surface, sinking to the bottom, or a tilted swimming posture.
Courtesy – Britannica
In fact, the Swim Bladder helps fish retain buoyancy in the water.
What is Swim Bladder Disease?
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Most common in goldfish, bettas, and fancy varieties.
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Caused by poor water quality, overfeeding, constipation, infections, or shock.
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Symptoms: Distended belly, curved spine, floating upside down, sinking, appetite loss.
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In most cases, with prompt intervention fish recover well.
Swim Bladder Disease is a condition in fish that renders the swim bladder unable to function properly. it can happen due to several reasons. It can be due to a disease, mechanical factors, environmental factors, or even physical abnormalities. This will make the fish lose its ability to buoyance and stay floating in water.
The disease is commonly seen in goldfish and beta fish, but it can also affect a wide range of other fish as well. It is a traceable and treatable disease, and your fish can easily recover.
What Causes Swim Bladder Disease?
Swim Bladder Disease can be a result of several reasons –
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Improper Water Quality
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Overfeeding or Poor Feeding Habits
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Bacterial or Parasitic Infection
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Physical Injury
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Water Temperature Fluctuations
If you can, you may attempt pin-point each of these reasons to help you reduce or avoid the disease from spreading to other fish in your tank.
Upside-down swimming is not always fatal or even a ‘disease’—often it’s a reversible food/air problem, especially in fancy breeds
Symptoms of Swim Bladder Disease
If you find your fish is continually swimming sideways, that should perhaps be the prime sign that it has the swim bladder disease. That apart, there are a few other tell-tale signs of swim bladder disease that you can check out for and take up a treatment plan. Symptoms of swim bladder disease include a distended belly, floating at the surface or sinking to the bottom, swimming sideways or upside down, and a curved back.
Your fish sinks or floats to the top
You may find your fish sink to the bottom and stay there. It may also float to the top. Remember that the latter can happen when your fish has gulped too much air while feeding.
Swimming upside down or sideways
The swim bladder disease causes buoyancy issues in fish. It may struggle to stay upright. It may swim upside down or even swim sideways. You will also notice an excessive fin movement.
Distended belly
The compression of the swim bladder can make the fish to swim with a distended belly. It may also have its digestion process disturbed. This can also make its stomach get enlarged.
Curved back
A curved back is another sign that indicates an issue with the swim bladder. When the abdomen is enlarged, it would push other organs to a side and thus cause a curved spine.
How to Stop Your Fish from Swimming Sideways?
| Symptom | Possible Cause | Remedy |
|---|---|---|
| Floating upside down | Swim bladder issue | Water changes, peas, check diet |
| Sinking to bottom | Swim bladder issue | Adjust feeding, test water |
| Bloated belly | Constipation | Feed peas, reduce dry food |
| Curved back | Pressure on organs | Veterinary consult |
So next time you notice your goldfish upside down, you know that it is primarily due to swim bladder disease. Are you wondering how to save a fish that is upside down? Well, the following timely measures can help you save the fish from dying, or at least help save other fish in the tank from developing swim bladder disease.
1. Check your water quality
The first thing that would make sense is to check the water quality. Most of the time you would notice fish swimming vertically after water change. This can be a clear indicator of an issue with the water.
Check the water for the following issues –
- Ammonia level
- Nitrite level
- Nitrate level
- pH of the water
You can buy the test strips to help you measure the water quality with no technical knowledge as well. Make sure you use the right quality and type of water for your aquarium.
According RSPCA Knowledge, poor water quality can cause your fish to develop stress and thus affect the balance of homeostasis. Ammonia levels above 0.1 ppm being toxic to most fish species. This is likely to result in swim bladder disease. The best way to stay safe is to clean the gravel every week, take up partial water changes, and check the water quality regularly. If you are using tap water, make sure to make the tap water suitable for your fish.
- Ammonia: 0 ppm (toxic above 0.1 ppm)
- Nitrite: 0 ppm (toxic above 0.25 ppm)
- Nitrate: Below 40 ppm (ideal under 20 ppm)
- pH: 6.5-7.5 (species dependent)
- Temperature: Stable within species range
- Test frequency: Weekly for established tanks, daily during treatment
2. Cultivate proper feeding habits
As per the studies published on Chewy, improper feeding has been found to be the primary reason for swim bladder disease, accounting for 60-70% of cases in captive fish populations. These can include overfeeding, feeding freeze dried food, and feeding dry flakes, which expand.
It is always important to give a good thought to the right type of food suitable for your fish. Improper food and subsequent eating habits can put pressure on the stomach of your fish, which would further put pressure on the swim bladder of your fish.
3. Bacterial infection
Yet another cause for concern when it comes to taking care of your fish can be a bacterial infection. According to a study, Aeromonas hydrophila and Shewanella xiamenensis are commonly isolated from swim bladder disorders, with bacterial involvement documented in 86% of clinical cases. However, before the fish can show swim bladder disease due to bacterial infection, it may also show other signs.
By the time you notice the swim bladder issues, the swim is probably very sick. The treatment may get a little challenging at this stage. That is why it may be quite essential to keep checking for bacterail or parasitic infections from time to time.
How to treat or prevent Swim Bladder disease?
There are a few ways that can help prevent the swim bladder disease in fish. These methods may also be used for the prevention of the disease in your fish.
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Feed Green Peas: Boil, peel, and feed peas to relieve constipation, which often contributes to the disease.
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Improve Water Quality: Change 25% of tank water weekly and monitor ammonia, nitrate, and pH levels.
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Avoid Overfeeding: Feed small portions that your fish can consume in 2-3 minutes to prevent stomach pressure.
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Control Water Temperature: Maintain stable water temperatures recommended for your fish species.
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Consult a Vet for Infections: If bacterial infection is suspected, appropriate antibiotics may be needed
1. Feed green peas occasionally
Green peas have a lot of fiber and this will keep the fish from getting constipated. They can also be used to treat the fish that swim sideways or upside down. Boil the green peas for a few minutes, remove the skin, and feed them to your fish. Remember to maintain the quantity.
2. Change water frequently
Since poor quality of water can cause swim bladder disease, frequent water changes can help prevent it. As per research on Aqueon, it is essential to change at least 25% of your tank water each week, as regular water changes maintain nitrate levels below 40 ppm, significantly reducing stress-related swim bladder disorders. This will help lower nitrates in the water.
3. Avoid overfeeding
Feed the right amount of food to your fish. This will help in preventing having issues with the stomach. Typically, it is recommended to feed the food that is consumed within just around two to three minutes.
4. Maintain proper temperature of water
St ress and shock caused by temperature may also result in causing swim bladder disease in your fish. Check the exact temperature that your tankmates need. Too hot or too cold temperature can result in issues such as Swim bladder disease in fish.
Can fish swim upside down?
Yes, there are a few fish species that would swim upside down or sideways. If you do have such fish in your tank, you need not worry about swim bladder disease. However, even in that case, exercising caution would be important.
Some fish species that tend to swim upside down include
Upside down catfish
The fish is typically known to swim upside down and thats why it is called so. It spends almost 90% of its time swimming upside down. Even when it is not known why it does so, the behaviour is normal for the species.
Lionfish
Lionfish is another fish that swims upside down. It can do so by manipulating its swim bladder. It can thus swim at extremely wild angles.
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Test water for ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, and pH.
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Change 25% of tank water immediately if levels are off.
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Fast your fish for 24 hours, then feed boiled green peas.
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Maintain stable temperature for your species.
In Conclusion
Fish swimming upside down usually signal swim bladder problems but can also be natural behavior for some species. Maintaining clean water, proper feeding, and stable temperatures are key to prevention. If your fish shows persistent symptoms, act quickly to save their health. Share your experience or questions in the comments below!
Frequently Asked Questions
Can swim bladder disease be cured?
Yes, with prompt care including proper feeding and good water conditions, many fish recover from swim bladder issues.
How long does swim bladder disease last?
Recovery time varies; mild cases improve within days, while severe cases may require weeks of treatment.
Are some fish more prone to swim bladder disease?
Yes, goldfish and fancy varieties with round bodies are more susceptible due to their anatomy.
(VETERINARY DISCLAIMER This article provides general information about fish health and is not intended as veterinary advice. Always consult with an aquatic veterinarian or fish health specialist for diagnosis and treatment of specific health conditions. Do not delay seeking professional care based on information from this website).
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