Swim ladder disorder

[MultispeciesTamer]

I've had my Kels for about 7 months now and today when I went to feed I noticed one of the two bass was having issues swimming. He still managed to get two feeders luckily. But when I went to shut off the light I noticed he had all kinds of trouble orienting himself.
I did a water change check parameter. Nitrates still little high but nitrites still 0 and ph still fine water temp good.
I know its some kinda swim bladder issue, I did a search on here that said it could also be caused by infection?

 

[kno4te]

Would suggest stop using feeders. Get the fish on a pellet. Start some Epsom salt 1 tbsp per 5g and add some prazipro and kanamycin. Hold feeding for 5 days and reasses.

There’s a sticky (I believe) for weaning pbass from live to pellets in the pbass section by gangster. Please use it and make the switch.

 

[MultispeciesTamer]

Oh I plan to get them off feeder rosey reds when I move them out of this grow out tank. They are just now getting a decent enough size that I can feel comfortable not feeding them for prolonged periods to get them to take prepared foods such as frozen prawn pieces, not gonna do pellets most likely.

I'll look into those 2 meds.

 

[MultispeciesTamer]

Also just noticed my auto correct changed swim bladder to swim ladder XD

 

[Tony A.]

Why not on pellets? I used the sticky on pellets from live and it works .
You will have your bass eating from your fingers anything you feed them. Cut up fish and shrimp are good but pellets will give them more minerals and vitamins. Then you can fill them up on meaty foods . I feed pellets in the morning and cut up "frozen" shrimp or fish at night.

 

[squint]

Did you test ammonia?

 

[MultispeciesTamer]

Did you test ammonia?

I did not, with nitrite being zero had no reason to.
I would assume if it was a chemical imbalance both fish would have been affected.
My first and most logical thought is that during the day the fish got spooked and darted either into the glass, the canopy or the heater with a force enough to throw the swim bladder out of whack and hasn't restabalized.
Second probable option since they have been feed live foods is a bacterial infection.
I have kept many fish species for many years and studied biology. But I have never had a fish with this specific condition until now.

 

[squint]

Different individuals of the same species can have different tolerances of a toxin. Testing ammonia is easier than the next step which would probably be to look for a vet.

 

[MultispeciesTamer]

Update, now laying flat on bottom of aquarium still breathing and alert. Epsom salt added. No food added. Not looking good. Meds should be here tomorrow if it survives the night.

 

[TheWolfman]

I had a similar issue with one of my bass when I was out of the country and a friend was watching my fish.I think he overfed them and it that caused his swim bladder to get out of whack. He took the fish to a pet store where they relived the swim bladder and that worked for a day but ultimately the fish didn’t stabilize after and didn’t make it.