Paradise Fish partial paralysis

Question
Hi Karen,

I have a male albino paradise fish who I've kept for abour two years.  Until now he has lived in a 25L bowl with 3 white clouds and has been  seemed very happy and active.
In the past he is a little quieter in the winter when the water temperature drops but this year he has been very sluggish.  I have now moved him into a heated 40L tank and he has immediately pepped up but he struggles to swim and seems very unbalanced, he swims around for a moment and seems to have a lot of energy but then he floats back to the bottom and 'keels over'.
Can you give me some advice?

Many thanks
Maddy

Answer
Hi Maddy,
I apologize for getting back so late. My internet has been down for several days. I hope everything is ok.

Sounds to me like it could be a swim bladder issue. You should look into this article which describes the different types of swim bladder problems in fish and their treatments.

http://flippersandfins.net/SwimbladderDisease.htm


In short, the swim bladder is a special organ that controls the fish's balance. Many things can interfere with its normal function. The most common being intestinal issues from improper feeding. But certain individual fish are more susceptible to swim bladder disorder than others. Water quality problems can also cause stress on the fish's body which in turn could aggravate the swim bladder.

Make sure his water quality is good. No ammonia or nitrites. Low nitrates (at least below 20) and perhaps even try a 30% regardless. Keep a close eye on him.

I hope all goes well!
Karen~