My goldfish has recently developed black edges on his fins - when we got him he already had a black streak at the front of his dorsal fin, but now his tail and front fins as well as his rear fin have developed thin black streaks on the edges. Does anyone know what this is? It doesn't seem to have the same symptoms as fin rot and I can't find any ailment with this as a symptom... Please help!
2006-10-29 05:13:55 · 15 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Fish
He's definitely not old as I've only had him a couple of weeks, and hopefully therefore not going to die! I did do a partial water change yesterday so will see if it improves...
2006-10-29 05:22:22 · update #1
Color change is perfectly normal but they rarely turn black unless they are healing, usually from ammonia burns. Nothing you can really do now just make sure the water he is in now has zero ammonia and nitrite. If the tank is new read up on cycling a tank, while its cycling the ammonia and nitrite can get high so you will have to do water changes to bring them down.
2006-10-30 03:07:15 · answer #1 · answered by Nunya Biznis 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Yes, it is probably fin rot. And, I can tell you that it is due to overcrowding, poor water quality and a lack of filtration/aeration. Because goldfish produce high levels of waste, they need a minimum of 10 gallons of water per fish. Your bowl, no matter how "roomy," is still too small. It also has no filtration or aeration. Filtration is necessary to remove the waste that they produce. It also helps remove that excess food you're allowing to remain in the tank, which you shouldn't do. Aeration is necessary because goldfish need a huge amount of oxygen because of the waste they produce. You need a bigger tank for your goldfish. If you can't afford a 10 gallon aquarium, one of those plastic storage containers will work great until you can afford an aquarium. Good for you for using spring water. That is a good start and, clearly, it made a difference in how your fish responded. You don't have time to properly cycle your larger tank, so you will need to fill it with spring water and also get some stress-coat and a ph stabilizer of 7.0 for goldfish. Then you need to get some Maracyn or Maracyn 2 and administer it according to directions. Treatment can take up to 8 or 10 weeks, so a lot of patience, diligence and persistence is required to get your fish back to health. In the meantime, while you're nursing your fish back to health, learn about cycling water and get a good 10 gallon tank cycling with a proper filter. For goldfish, you need a pump that pumps 10X the water for the size of the tank. So, if you have a 10 gallon tank, you need a pump that pumps at least 100 gph. You also need to learn how to feed and what to feed. You also need to remember to remove all the food that the fish doesn't eat after five minutes. Good luck and take care!
2016-05-22 05:30:15 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Don't worry it's normal, goldfish can change color. I had 1 that was 1/2 black and 1/2 orange and a few months later is was compleatly orange. I think it has to do with the light change like camoflage...
2006-10-29 05:18:02 · answer #3 · answered by pharfly1 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I heard from a "pet store" worker that it means they have a virus and the other person said it was from them getting old. My goldfish had the same thing, i changed the water and the black was gone within a few weeks..
2006-10-29 05:19:30 · answer #4 · answered by little fairy lady 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
This is nothing to worry about, goldfish do change colour now and again, it's something to do with their melolin, I have a goldfish that looked exactly like nemo, but after a couple of years lost his silver and turned all gold, now he is changing back again. so don't worry.
2006-10-29 05:17:50 · answer #5 · answered by angelswings 3 · 4⤊ 1⤋
it might have something to do with there genders one of my fish were orange and my other fish had black fins
2014-09-14 03:22:57 · answer #6 · answered by jah43000 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
goldfish can change colour as they get older. usually black or white, this is nothing to worry about.
2006-10-29 08:17:30 · answer #7 · answered by the boss 1 · 1⤊ 1⤋
i bought one with black tips on all fins cause it was so cute but 3 months after i had him it disappeared so sad but he is still healthy
2006-10-29 15:22:54 · answer #8 · answered by tamah 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
i had gold fish do that and nothing happened they just changed colors and lived 3 yrs+
2006-10-29 05:48:31 · answer #9 · answered by Me 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
in some fish the alfa male develops brighter,more and different colors. maybe thats it. hope your fishs ok.
2006-10-29 05:18:48 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 3⤋