THe gold fish is in a 10 gallon tank with a filter. The goldfish's tails are deteriating and he is getting red streaks around his gills. He mopes around at the bottom of the tank. This is our first time with fish, so we don't know what is wrong. We have had him about a month and no problems until now. Any help is appriciated.
2007-02-15 01:50:52 · 14 answers · asked by mom of 2 2 in Pets ➔ Fish
I changed the water in the tank. The fish is doing better. he is swimming and acting more like his old self. Will get medicine tonight when my husband gets home for the fin rott. Thank you all for good answers. I have learned alot.
2007-02-15 07:58:14 · update #1
how often are you doing water changes for this goldfish? and are you using dechlorinator? depending on the strength of the filter, which needs to be fairly tough, you should be doing 20-30% water changes every week. if you're not doing this, that could be the #1 problem here.
red streaks are a sign of ammonia problems, his gills are being burnt by ammonia. ammonia comes from all the poop goldfish put out, which is why it's essential to keep on top of water changes! the fin rot goes hand in hand with bad water conditions.
invest in an API Master Test Kit, available from any GOOD fish retailer, and have a look at the results, a perfect tank should have 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite and under 50ppm of nitrate (over 50ppm is lethal).
do you have an aerator in the tank? goldfish need lots of oxygen in their tanks.
is he a common (long bodied) or fancy (unusual body shape and fancy fins)? commons will eventually need a pond to live in as they can get to around 14", and fancies get to around 12" but due to their selectively bred deformities can't survive in a pond, so need a 20 US gallon tank for one fish minimum (10 US gallon per fish thereafter).
2007-02-15 02:29:21 · answer #1 · answered by catx 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Your tank is over stocked. Your goldfish want 30 gallons for 2( 20 gallons for the first and 10 gallons a goldfish after). Your amonnia and nitrite degrees are probably severe, that could clarify the goldfish ailment. you also want a clear out. For now, do a 50% water change and both improve the tank or eliminate the goldfish. in case you do not, the goldfish and the others might want to die quickly. wish this permits!!! P.S. in case you may not get a large fish tank on your goldfish yet, a 10 gallon tank with a clear out will do till they attain 3.5 inches.
2016-11-03 12:38:59 · answer #2 · answered by lobos 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Usually the problem with goldfish is that people keep them in bowls; but you have your's in a 10 gallon tank which is, although a little small, adequate.
Your goldfish has finrot. You can treat with antiobiotics, but I suggest you try to treat with clean water and salt, first.
Do a large water change - like 50% (and do 30% water change once a week thereafter) and fill with fresh dechlorinated water. Then add 2 tablespoons of aquarium salt (disolved first in a cup of tank water). This should help him combat the bacterial infection, and heal properly.
If you do not notice any improvement within 4-5 days, you may then want to treat with an antibiotic such as Maracyn, or whatever your local pet store has available.
I mentioned earlier that a 10 gallon is okay for a goldfish - this only applies to FANCY goldfish - the smaller type of goldfish. If you have a common, a comet, or a koi, he cannot live in a 10 gallon tank, because they are pond fish capable to growing over a foot in length,
2007-02-15 02:04:03 · answer #3 · answered by Zoe 6 · 3⤊ 2⤋
It sounds like your fish might be suffering from ammonia poisoning. A salt bath will not help with this, the only thing that will help is a water change. Get a test kit, test your water every now and then to see if it has ammonia or nitrites in it. You should be doing 50% water changes once a week anyway to keep the tank water clean. Remember, fresh water fish love fresh water!
2007-02-15 03:44:06 · answer #4 · answered by Liz 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
how many fish in the 10 gallon? sounds like they have ammonia poisoning and you should change the water more often. after changing the water you might want to dose them on an antibiotic for fin rot. i use maracyn and maracyn2 in combination and it usually stops it right away but you want to keep up the meds for 5 days.
2007-02-15 05:05:01 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have a cheap and easy sickness treatment for you. I have personally used this sucessfully on my own goldfish. It's called a salt bath. The salt kills the things growing on the fish, and sanitizes wounds so they can heal. You also want ot clean your tank as thoroughly as possible. See the link for specific instructions. Good Luck! You can use table salt.
2007-02-15 02:50:16 · answer #6 · answered by lildi_32 3 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Your pet store personnel can help you. There is likely a medicine that you can add to the water in your tank to help the fish. Do what you can, but be ready. The fish could still die. I have learned this the hard way, as we have several hours of mourning and moping at my house each time one of my daughter's fish dies. Sorry, Mom.
2007-02-15 02:00:53 · answer #7 · answered by J.R. 6 · 0⤊ 4⤋
That happened to a fish I had. It was an infection that caused hemorrhages. You should go to your local pet store and explain the symptoms. They can recommend a good medicine.
Hope your fish recovers. :)
2007-02-15 02:00:53 · answer #8 · answered by april_c_a 2 · 0⤊ 4⤋
Your fish probably has ich (pronounced "ick"). This is a very common fish disease that can be easily remedied. I don't know any names of medication off hand, but you can go to your local pet store, and they will certainly have drops for its water or special food that you can give your fish. Hope this helps!
2007-02-15 01:58:47 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 7⤋
fin rot
http://freshaquarium.about.com/cs/disease/p/finrot.htm
http://www.fishdoc.co.uk/disease/finrot.htm
2007-02-15 02:25:40 · answer #10 · answered by raz p 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋