My goldfish appeared to have hurt his head yesterday, it was red and sore looking. I cleaned the bowl and changed his water. This morning he had a white substance beginning to form over the wound. He is approx 3 years old. Does anyone know what this is and how I could treat it? (Don't really want it to die as my young son quite likes it)
2006-08-23 12:43:55 · 17 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Fish
It is healing up, it should be OK
2006-08-23 19:10:06 · answer #1 · answered by halloweenpumpkinuk 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Hi, my dad used to put fish into a bucket for an hour after dissolving an alka seltzer in the water, the fish always seemed to clear up.. saying that though, 3 years for a "standard" goldfish is a really good life. In my experience, buy a new goldfish, and explain where the old one went, it's a good way to introduce the idea of mortality.. we used to tell my son that the fishies had gone off to a big goldfish ocean full of unlimited food!
Also, for longetivity, consider a bigger bowl/tank with filter.
Tests have proven that goldfish have a longer than the reputed 3 second memory!
Hope this helps
X
2006-08-23 13:08:31 · answer #2 · answered by Xopher 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
GOLDFISH CANNOT LIVE IN BOWLS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Baby/juvenile fancy goldfish need 10 gallons PER fish and baby/juvenile long bodied goldfish need 20 gallons PER fish. An adult will need atleast 50-60 gallons PER fish. You are teaching your son that it is ok to be cruel to animals. Goldfish also have lifespans of 30 years an grow to be 12-14 inches in length. Keeping a goldfish in a bowl is equal to keeping a dog locked up in the closet under the bathroom sink or a child in a closet.
The poor fish is already going to die anyways from living in pure hell for 3 yrs.
The white substance is either a fungus from the poor water quality, or its the goldfish's slimecoat thickening up to cover the wound.
2006-08-23 16:29:44 · answer #3 · answered by lady_crotalus 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It sounds like a fungal infection. Look in your local pet store. Most stores carry good meds you can put in the water. Just make sure that you put the right amount in for your amount of water, and stay away from cure-all meds, they can kill your fish. I would try to take any ornaments or rocks out of the tank that the fish could have bumped his head on, goldfish have poor eyesight. Also, I wouldn't say that your fish is old, I had a goldfish that lived for fifteen years. Good Luck!
DO NOT JUST PUT A TEASPOON OF MEDS IN AS SOMEBODY JUST SAID! You can kill your fish! (Sorry for yelling) Prevention is good for after you cure your fish, but it won't cure it now.
2006-08-23 12:56:22 · answer #4 · answered by Maedhros 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I see that you put your gold fish in the BOWL. That's the mistake. Goldfishs usually live in fish pond or anywhere cold. They like cold water. Maybe your bowl is too small for him now and he needs swiming space.
Try to get a fish tank and give him oxygen. He will be happiest fish in the whole world.
2006-08-26 15:25:25 · answer #5 · answered by okkarkyaw01 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's a young fish. I have kept them for loads of years.
Salt is an emergency cure - The fish has a secondary fungus infection following an injury.
The propriatory cures are good if you follow the instructions exactly - go for a Fungus cure.
And buy a tank - bowls aren't really good for fish - too small a surface area.
Hope your fish survives! Good Luck
2006-08-24 10:04:00 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
It could be bacteria of some sort that formed over the wound. You could use a broad spectrum antibiotic in the water, but that might be a bit much for a single fish.
2006-08-23 16:20:21 · answer #7 · answered by sly2kusa 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
If the fish has white spots all over him, it's a disease called "ICK" and you have to buy tablets at any pet store or even wal-mart to drop in the tank to get rid of this. It will kill all of your fish if that's what it is. It's very contagious to other fish. You also have to take everything out of your tank, including all the tubing, pump, rocks, etc. and either get new ones or rinse them very very thoroughly with vinegar and water. ICK is a headache to treat!
I hope for your sake and your fish's sake it doesn't have that!}
2006-08-23 13:22:29 · answer #8 · answered by ladygodivva2004 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Get yourself down to the local pet store. Explain to them or better still take a pic on your phone or with a digital cam. They will know what to do. My local pets at home is wonderful and are now used to me coming in with my camera with pictures of various ailments.
Good luck.
2006-08-27 00:27:09 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
whenever i have a problem with my fish or they get ill i take a photo of the problem and take it to my local aqautics store. they are always really helpfull. I not brave enough to take it to the vet, but don't want them to die.
i'm glad i not the only person that has got attatched to a fish.
get better soon fishy
2006-08-24 10:00:09 · answer #10 · answered by beanie 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
you need to buy a substance to put in the water to prevent fungal infections and so forth - any pet shop will sell it - add a teaspoon and you fish should perk up in no time. x x
gud luck
2006-08-23 12:55:41 · answer #11 · answered by Helen 4 · 2⤊ 1⤋