Swimbladder?

Question
QUESTION: I have a 10 gallon tank with two fantails and one red cap oranda. I have been to the local pet store for help more than 5 times but nothing they tell me seems to work.
I have had my fish for almost two years. About 3 months ago, all of my fish started floating on the surface of the tank after I fed them. After they eat, they gasp for air at the surface for a few minutes and then float for the next 12 hours. By the time they are better, it's time for them to eat again.
I was told to only feed them once a day so that is what I have been doing for several months now. I also switched their food from flakes to pellets that I soak in water before I feed them to my fish. I also put aquarium salt in with every water change and use a powder called pH 7.0 to balance the pH. I do partial water changes about every 2 weeks. I have a bubbler that runs 24 hours a day to give them extra oxygen. I feed them frozen peas at least three times a month.
I don't know what else to do to help them or what is wrong with them. They all look healthy other than the fact that they are floating on the top of the water. Please help me!! My fish look miserable and I feel really bad that I can't do anything to fix them!!

ANSWER: Hi Carissa,
 Do the pellets sink right away or are the goldfish eating them at the surface (and hence swallowing a bunch of air)?

-- Ron
  rcoleman@cichlidresearch.com
  Cichlid Research Home Page <Http://cichlidresearch.com>


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: They float

Answer
Hi Carissa,
 The floating pellets may be your problem.  The fish gulp air when they grab the floating pellets and that is what causes the fish to float.  You need to get sinking food and that just might cure the problem.

-- Ron
  rcoleman@cichlidresearch.com
  Cichlid Research Home Page <http://cichlidresearch.com>