Whats wrong with my fish?

Question

My fish have a white spot on the tip of their "nose"..I have also noticed that the ones who have it like to swim right up against my heater..its spreading and I dont know what it could be..any ideas? Is it just ick? something else? Damn some petsmart fish....

Answer 1

The domesticated version of the wild olive-green type, goldfish have multiple genetic variations in color, body shape, size, finnage, and eye shape. They can have the colors black, brown, white, red, orange, blue, and metallic versions of those colors. A goldfish with a single tail fin (cadual fin) and normal fish-shaped body is either a comet or a shubunkin. All the rest have double tail fins and shortened, squat bodies. Some of them have head growths, bulging eyes, no dorsal fin, nasal growths, and other weird features. Koi are another domesticated fish similar to goldfish. Goldfish are cool-water dwellers, and prefer neutral pH water of temperatures in the 60's. These are often the first (and more often, the last) fish that people own when venturing into the hobby of fishkeeping. Unfortunately, because you actually need to read a book to know how to take care of fish, most people aren't successful at it and drop the hobby.Goldfish, as a species, are one huge design flaw. In the most literal sense, the first goldfish were mistakes that would not live long enough in the wild to reproduce consistently with each other. Goldfish began when a spawn of a species of grass carp that were normally muddy brown occasionally threw a mutant with bright bronze scales that reflected the sunlight and made the normally dull fish brilliant and easy to see. Fortunately for them, most humans thought them attractive and caught them to keep as pets, keeping them from being eaten like their brown siblings by humans or being easy targets for predators. But that's ancient "goldfish". Today's goldfish carry on the tradition of being flawed in design thanks to man, not nature. Only the plain "comet" goldfish that are sold as feeders, ten for a buck, resemble in any fashion their carpish ancestors and the natural durability of the species.The lionhead has been bred for a huge fleshy growth on its skull, reminiscent of a lion's mane. This is extra tissue, much like a wart on humans. This particular mutation also has been bred to have no dorsal fin whatsoever. This leads these fish to often be "weighted down" by their own heads and stand motionless, noses to the gravel, until something happens that makes it worth their time to move (usually food is about the only reason) because it is physically exhausting for them to swim unnecessarily.

The bubble-eye has been bred to have sacs of fluid under its eyes. A thin balloon of skin--no scales--gradually develops on these fish and fills with fluid as the fish ages. However, this skin is very very delicate and will burst quite easily when brushed against anything sharp or abrasive. Sometimes the sac heals and fills again, sometimes it does not and leaves the fish lopsided. In many cases, the burst bubble kills the fish, not because the bursting hurts the fish much, but because it is an open wound and a secondary infection will quite readily destroy the already delicate breed.

The pearlscale looks like a swimming golf ball with a very round body and very thick scales, low on the edges and thick and high in the middle, looking like seed pearls collected on the fish. These fish often have so much difficulty swimming that it is terribly detrimental to their health and they will rest, stomach on the gravel, most of the time. It is also nearly impossible to tell if they have parasites, a common problem in goldfish, because they are so bloated and misshapen around the stomach area anyways, any increase is difficult to detect.

Other flaws in goldfish are not so breed specific, but include huge flowing finnage that makes swimming terribly difficult for the fish, "telescoping" eyes that are more easily damaged, enlarged bodies which can increase swim bladder problems, and other, more minor, issues. The long and short of it is, nearly all fancy goldfish are incredibly impractical, improbable creatures that need a bit of extra attention to insure their health. They're marvelous little animals, but they don't make sense.I know this because I read an instruction booklet and I have a gold fish too.Well hope this helps!

Answer 2

It is more than likely ick. When my fish had it, I didnt even own a heater, so the water was somewhere around 68 degrees. There are many things you can do to stop ick, but you have to act fast, otherwise the fish will die. You can try the ick treatment formulas from a local pet store.That might help. ( remember to remove carbon from your filter when using the treatment or the carbon will eat out the chemicals). If this doesnt work then i would suggest to put the fish in another tank or a bowl, empty the whole tank, and clean everything using warm water ( the gravel you can even put into boiling water. Also clean out the filters.

Answer 3

Ick is a parasite that looks like a grain of salt and will infect every fish in the tank. I spreads rapidly. This is the fastest way to get rid of it. First ick grows when fish is stressed. or has gotten a chill. First TURN OFF YOUR HEATER. Ick multiplys in warmth, and light. Ick needs both to survive>>>>> Take that away and add medicine and it will be gone in two days! The medicine I use is quick cure< this stuff is great, It can be used in freshwater and saltwater tanks, Not safe with inverts though. They must be removed. The fish has exposed the main tank so leave that fish in there with any other fish and treat that tank. Use quick cure ( 1 drop per gallon for all fish except tetras, and scaleless fish, like silver dollars.) Turn off the heater, best to just unplug it, Turn off light for two days. Cover tank with heavy towels (so no light can get in.) Make sure you remove the carbon from your filter during treatment. Check fish each day to make sure they are getting better. After 2 days remove the towel and inspect fish well for signs of ick. If they are cured then, wait 24 hours after final treatment, then do 20% water change. syphon the gravel well. The ick fall off the fish and get trapped in the gravel and reinfest your fish if not cleaned well. Make sure you use stress coat to dechlorate the water after the water change.................I have been doing this for 20 years, This works the best! Hope it helps good luck! Julie P.S. Don't forget to replace your filter AFTER treatment is finished!

Answer 4

It's definitely ick, so hurry up and save the fish. (never buy fish from a store if you see that on any of the fish if all the aquariums are somehow connected. Look at the black mollies or any other black fish for ick).

Answer 5

sounds like they might just have white spot, treatments can be bought from good pet shops so i'd hurry as it can eventually kill them, transfer all sick fish into a hospital tank, a spare tank with a few plants pots, things for them to hide in, so they feel safe, and treat them with the solution. if the majority of the fish are sick do a deep clean of your tank and put the solution in with all of the fish!

Answer 6

Ick. Hurry and save those Damn fishies> :-(

Answer 7

I don't know what it's called but my fish had that too. If you don't treat them immediantly with medicine then they'll get crazy and sooner or later die. I couldn't save my fishes but I hope yours survives.

Answer 8

Sounds like a fungus disease we used to call "cottonmouth", it's usually a secondary infection following some sort of trauma. Treat with fungus remedies like "Methylene Blue". -------PeeTee