Molly fish are susceptible to water changes and are liable to different diseases. Keeping a molly fish healthy and happy in the tank is one of the topmost priorities of any fishkeeper. But can you do it without making certain mistakes? Well, you might not. From swim bladder disorder to Molly fish sleeping upside down in the tank is a nightmare no owner wants to live through. However, we often miss the point and have no idea what swim bladder disorder means in the first place. What is it? How does swim bladder disorder occur in molly fish?
Swim bladder disorder is one of the common illnesses in aquarium fish in which their swim bladder fips over. There are many reasons why Molly fish suffers from this disease, such as overeating, constipation, gulping of air, or rapid eating. This disorder can be both temporary and permanent. Usually, temporary Swim bladder disorder resolves itself if you maintain ideal water parameters. But the permanent ones need surgery.
It never gets easy, and you have to understand what you need to do to prevent any disorder in your molly fish swim bladder. I have dedicated this entire article to that very purpose. So let’s dive in, shall we?
What Is Swim Bladder Disorder In Molly Fish?
Swim bladders are an organ that allows aquatic animals to adjust their depth and maintain neutral buoyancy. They are usually present in the digestive tract of most species. But sometimes, there might be infection or inflammation in these organs due to influencing factors. Thus, this results in swim bladder disorder.
Typically, swim bladder disorder is when the Molly fish cannot control its buoyancy in water. Therefore, if your mollies have swim bladder issues, they will have difficulty maintaining their posture. As a result, you will observe them floating up or sinking without warning.
Swim Bladder And Its Importance In Molly Fish
Swim bladders are those gas-filled organs in the bodies of most fish species that help to breathe. They help these vertebrates stay buoyant and control their vertical position in the water to swim up or down.
Hence, molly fish will start having breathing difficulties due to constricted airways, eating problems, and lethargy from pain and discomfort.
Moreover, disorientation is a common symptom of this disease, due to which Mollies fail to stay upright correctly. So they’ll end up upside down at the bottom of your tank. Swim bladder disorder can subsequently decrease the lifespan of your molly fish. And I don’t think that’s the risk you are willing to take.
What Causes The Swim Bladder Disorder In Mollies?
Usually, there are different causes of swim bladder disorder in Mollies, and you cannot pinpoint a single one. However, a few things contribute to the frequent reoccurrence of this disease. Such as:
Bacterial Infection
Being a popular aquarium fish, Mollies are more prone to bacterial and parasitic infections. This is because there may be different bacterias present in the aquarium of these fish, even in normal conditions. But when there is a sudden change in water parameters, the bacteria outgrow themselves and cause infection.
Bacterial infection followed by the disturbance in their surroundings makes Molly fish vulnerable, so they start struggling for air and gulping. Rapid gulping or infection of bacteria in the swim bladder will end up in this disorder.
Genetics
Swim bladder disorder is a genetic disease in some fish, especially those born from interbreeding. Swim bladders seem to also run on a line of inheritance. If any of the two parents have a swim bladder disorder, then there is an increased likelihood that their offspring will have it.
Water Quality Issues
Swim bladder disorder in Molly fish is more likely to happen if you have any water quality issues. This is because swim bladders are very sensitive and can’t handle fluctuations or changes.
Pollution in the tank, lack of enough oxygen, and disturbances in the water conditions make the swim bladder of your fish weak. This will eventually result in swim bladder disorder, so maintaining oxygen in the tank, keeping it clean, and ensuring good water quality is quite important.
Aquarium ammonia poisoning is a nightmare you want to duck in every way possible. But, trust me, swim bladder disorder is one of the many problems that degradation in aquarium quality brings.
I hate to tell you this, but most of the time, you are the one who will be responsible for the death of your molly fish. If only you could maintain the proper water, you won’t have a molly fish swimming upside down.
Nutritional Deficiency
Another reason Molly fish may have this disease is excess protein consumption. If the Molly fish overeats protein, it can cause swim bladder disorder because of muscle overgrowth, which obstructs their natural ability to control movement in the water.
In addition, nutrition deficiency can make Molly fish weak. As a result, Mollies will eat more rapidly when they get food or starts overeating tank wastes. This will affect the sensitive swim bladder of Mollies and cause the disorder.
Overfeeding And Bloating
Overfeeding your aquarium fish is never a good idea, and believe me, when I say this, you will regret it. One of the major reasons your molly fish have a messed-up swim bladder.
Let me give you an example to make you understand what I mean. You see, you have a balloon with air-filled to the brim and is stuck between two big books but not pressed enough to make it burst. So now, you start adding more books to the pile, and the balloon starts to get pressed one after another to the point that it gives out all the air.
The above illustration is what happens when you feed your molly fish quite often than necessary. Overfeeding leads to pressure in the swim bladder, and hence the bloating makes it harder for the swim bladder to withstand all the pressure.
Finally, it gives out, and the disorder leads to too many problems. Can you imagine seeing your molly fish swim in circles or frantically so that they can ease themselves?
Please avoid overfeeding or overdoing anything as it can lead to constipation in molly fish. Your Molly loves to eat both veggies and meaty foods. But that doesn’t mean you need to feed them all the things at once. You will end up with a fish with problems with excretion leading to a swollen gut area and failed swim bladder.
Mollies eat pellets, flakes, wafers, live foods, and even frozen ones without any complaints. But, this only works for their betterment when you feed them in the proper amount and times.
Lack Of Exercise
If there is not enough space for Mollies to move around freely, they will begin to show signs of this disease. This happens because Molly fish usually swim a lot every day and need to move their muscles as much as possible.
If they do not get enough exercise, it will cause the muscle tissues in their swim bladder to grow too big, leading to severe problems with movement.
What Are The Symptoms Of Swim Bladder Disorder In Molly Fish?
Swim bladder disorder is a condition that affects many types of fish. Swim bladders are organs that help certain types of marine life regulate buoyancy in water. When a Molly fish has swim bladder disorder, one or both its swim bladders become distended with gas (or air) instead of entirely contracting.
The symptoms of swim bladder include:
- Fasten or labored breathing
- Floating near the surface of the water, at an angle or vertically.
- Sinking to the bottom of the aquarium slowly and staying there with no effort to swim back up.
- Swimming in circles or flipping onto their sides as if they are trying to climb out of the tank.
If your Molly fish displays any of the above symptoms, they likely have swim bladder disorder and need immediate treatment.
Can Molly Fish Die From Swim Bladder Disorder?
Yes, your Molly can actually die due to the disorder in their swim bladder. I know this is not the answer you were hoping for and were probably searching for that last tiny ray of hope.
It is never easy to say goodbye to your pet, even when tiny, like molly fish. But it is a fact. You have no idea how difficult it is for your molly fish to go through all the bloating, constipation, and breathing problems that swim bladder disorder bring.
However, there are ways you can save your fish before it is too late. A dying fish might still have a chance, and trust me, molly fish doesn’t die that easily; they are a fighter when it comes to life.
You have to put extra work, attention, and care for molly fish once you see the symptoms. It is not easy to save your dying fish, but it is easier to take care of the one who is just in the first stage of illness.
If you still neglect and let go of the fish from the very first symptoms, then there is no way you can hope for your molly fish to live.
Treatment: How To Treat Swim Bladder Disorder In Molly Fish?
Treating the illness of Molly fish is a challenging job. You must be very attentive and careful about the many things during the treatment.
Usually, every owner has their treatment method, and the same treatment procedure doesn’t need to work for every fish.
However, the journey from questioning how to fix swim bladder disorder in molly fish to doing it can be short and long, depending on the route you take.
Hence, I have listed ways to cure swim bladder disorder in molly fish below:
Salt Bath Treatment
Adding Epsom salt to their tank water will help flush out the toxins present in the swim bladder of Molly fish.
In this process, you need to add about 1/8 teaspoons of Epsom salt to every 5 gallons of water and keep the fish in the water for half an hour. This method works best when the cause of the swim bladder disorder is overeating, constipation, or poisoning of the food infected with bacteria or parasites.
Home Swim Bladder Treatment
The first thing to do is keep the tank at a steady temperature between 75 and 78 degrees Fahrenheit.
Adjust water levels so that there are no sharp changes in either direction, which can exacerbate swim bladder problems or cause them altogether.
Keep oxygen levels high by adding air pumps in the molly tank and powerheads. Your Molly fish cannot survive without oxygen in the tank; subsequently, it loves to have lots of oxygen.
If the fish is eating but still has Swim Bladder Disorder, add a pinch of salt to the water. A teaspoon per five gallons will do it.
Monitor for swim bladder disease throughout the treatment process, as you might have to start over again if things don’t work out or get progressively worse.
Finally, ensure that your Molly Fish gets lots of rest in whichever way possible: other plants for hiding spaces (real or fake), more frequent lights-outs.
Molly Fish Swim Bladder Treatment With Peas
Peas help because they expand when eaten, making it easier for your mollies’ swim bladders to stay afloat on their own.
You can perform swim bladder treatment with peas in two ways. First, you can feed your fish frozen peas or even fresh ones if they are willing to eat them whole (make sure you take out the pit). Second, you can try feeding your Molly with a pea utensil that fits into his mouth and helps prop it open as he eats the peas.
Crushed ice will also work with this home remedy if you don’t have any peas handy (or want to try something different).
You can opt for either surgery or medication as per the Vet’s suggestion.
Avoiding Swim Bladder Disorder In Molly Fish
Mollies would eat lots of algae and plants in the wild to help their swim bladders become buoyant. However, since you probably aren’t feeding them that in an aquarium setting, it’s important to keep water levels steady so they don’t experience dramatic changes in depth or temperature when swimming around.
Some of the ways to prevent swim bladder disorder in Molly fish are:
Diet Plan For Molly Fish
Molly fish is omnivorous and will eat anything you give them. But that doesn’t give you the right to feed them every hour so that you can enjoy the eating process. Ensure you feed them a certain amount of food and never dare to overfeed them. You have no idea how feeding your molly fish properly can solve so many problems at once.
Certain Numbers Of Plants In The Tank
First, allow plants to hang out near the water surface to quickly move up and down in the water column. But that doesn’t mean your molly fish prefers a densely planted tank. Keep the number of plants low so as not crowd your aquarium and make your fish uncomfortable.
Fair warning, there is a teeny tiny chance that you might find your molly fish happily eating plants or just nibbling tiny bits of plants.
And of course, the benefits of Aquarium plants are far more than you realize; they help enlighten the tank’s aesthetics and make molly fish feel the liveliness of the natural habitat. So I suggest you use some low-light aquarium plants that can do well even when there is very less or no light in the tank.
Molly fish need plants in the tank to have a natural feel and the hiding areas when they are scared or running away from predators.
Algal Growth
Provide lots of algae or other plants for mollies to graze on. If you have fast-growing aquatic plants, this is even more beneficial because it will provide a natural source of food that won’t pollute the tank with debris.
Maintain Good Water Temperature
Make sure your molly tank has a good range in temperature (60-85 degrees Fahrenheit) and depth. For example, you don’t want them swimming up to just below the surface or down at the very bottom of their aquarium all day long.
Water Change
Molly fish requires a water change in the tank once in a while. But, ensure the water level is stable and doesn’t change too much over time when you actually change the water in the tank. Swim bladders aren’t great with sudden changes in pressure or weightlessness.
Enough Space In The Molly Tank
Keep your Molly fish oxygenated by allowing enough room in your aquarium so they can swim back and forth without difficulty.
However, be careful not to overstock an aquarium since too many fishes may cause excess waste levels, which results in poor water quality.
Instead, know how many Molly fish you can keep in the tank size you own, or else you will have to deal with problems that often equal a nightmare.
Hiding Places For Molly
Your Molly prefers to hide once in a while to have some alone time or is scared of something. But that doesn’t mean your mollies prefer to live alone; they love to have companies in the tank.
Still, you have to give them what they love in the tank. So please make sure there are plenty of hiding places within the tank.
This will encourage activity while minimizing stress from aggressive companions or people disturbing their space too frequently.
Some FAQs
Is Molly Fish Prone To Swim Bladder Disorder?
Yes, Molly fish are more susceptible to swim bladder disorder than other species of tropical freshwater fish. It is because they have a compressed spine and poorly developed swim bladder. Besides this, Mollies are voracious eaters that will eat everything rapidly, and their stomachs cannot hold excess food. As a result, the swim bladder inflames or flips over.
How To Start Treating Swim Bladder Disorder At Home?
The first thing you need to do is stop feeding your Molly fish. If Swim Bladder Disorder continues after a couple of days, I recommend purchasing Epsom salt or aquarium salt from any pet store. Add this salt into the tank at double the average dose (i.e., if there are no directions on the freshwater tropical fish/Molly fish package, add two tablespoons per five gallons).
Is Swim Bladder Disorder Of Molly Fish Curable?
Yes, swim bladder disorder is curable in Molly fish. Usually, swim bladder disorder is of two types, permanent and temporary. The temporary illness resolves when you maintain a healthy tank with all the essential water parameters. But the permanent one is the more complex and advanced stage where the Vet refers to removing the swim bladder instead of treatment.
How Long Does Swim Bladder Treatment Take?
It depends on how severe your Molly fish’s Swim Bladder disorder condition is. But generally speaking, you should notice a difference within two weeks.
Do Molly Fish Swim Bladder Disorders Cause Swim Bladder Disease?
No, Swim bladder disease is an advanced stage of Swim Bladder Disorder that does not cure. It generally occurs when the swim bladder is damaged. Thus, your fish sink to the bottom of the tank, where they will die unless you perform CPR on them (putting them in water with higher gravity so they can float).
Can I Use Vinegar And Peas For Swim Bladder Disorder In Molly Fish?
You can use vinegar and peas for Swim Bladder Disorder in Molly fish. First, steam the peas (add some salt if desired) and feed them to your fish with a syringe without the needle.
You can also mix two tablespoons of white distilled vinegar into one gallon of water and aquarium salt at the usual double dose. Follow this tip once a day until your Mollies become healthy.
What Are Bad Foods For Molly Fish With Swim Bladders?
The worst thing you could ever feed any freshwater fish is live blood worms because they go right to the stomach and swell up so much that they can’t pass.
Conclusion
Swim bladder treatment in Molly fish is complex but treatable. It is possible to restore your pet to health if you take action immediately. However, it has lasting effects if you do not take the necessary precautions beforehand. So whether you choose surgery or medication, both will work great. It would help if you gave Molly fish extra care and your full attention from the very beginning to prevent any of these. Prevention is always better than cure; remember that.
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