Pea Puffer possible swim bladder disease?

[Ryan1988]

Hey All,

Came home to this little guy having issues swimming. swollen belly. total of 3 pea puffers in the tank plus 5 glow tetras. Water parameters are fine, slightly low on nitrate 25ppm.

Thoughts on issue and cure?

[Colu]

Could have puffed up and got trapped air or over eaten and become bloated what I would do is fast for a Couple of days add low dose of epsom salt 1 table spoon for 10 gallons as epsom salt acts as a muscle relaxant it won't harm your puffer or plants at that level for 5 days then give an update @Ryan1988

[Ryan1988]

@Colu thanks for the reply. just for clarification 1tbs for 10 gallons, added to the main tank? or should I dose in a separate container for 15 mins then move back to the main tank? If its in the main tank do you mean to dose once and let sit for 5 days? or dose ever day for 5 days? 

[Whitecloud09]

On 3/11/2024 at 8:29 PM, Ryan1988 said:

@Colu thanks for the reply. just for clarification 1tbs for 10 gallons, added to the main tank? or should I dose in a separate container for 15 mins then move back to the main tank? If its in the main tank do you mean to dose once and let sit for 5 days? or dose ever day for 5 days? 

Either one is fine, I personally disolved the epsom salt into a separate tank. He means wait 5 days then inspect. He told me the same thing in a topic about my sick betta and then I asked the same EXACT questions.

@Ryan1988

[Ryan1988]

@Whitecloud09 got it, thank you

@Colu before i do the epsom salt is that safe for hillstream loaches and amano shrimp as well?

[Colu]

On 3/12/2024 at 12:39 AM, Ryan1988 said:

@Whitecloud09 got it, thank you

@Colu before i do the epsom salt is that safe for hillstream loaches and amano shrimp as well?

At the level I recommended it's fine just remember to only put back in what you take so if you did a 10 gallon water change put 1 table spoon of epsom salt back as salt only removed though water changes