Okay, this is a Goldfish question. Why are my fish dying and their bodies get in a curvy position? It's so sad

Question

This happens when I wash the tank and yes, I have indeed used soap but I rinse well. Ummm, but even adding new fish, they die and their bodies do curve. Why is this? Anyone that can help me out I really appreciate it. :)

Answer 1

I can think of a few reasons - but first, how big are the fish and how big is the tank?

Does it look like the spine is curving? Or post a photo? This could be fish tuberculosis (incurable), or a parasite called cammalanus. Would like to know more before I try to diagnose.

If you post more info here, I'll check back in a bit!

ADDITION: Okay, nothing new. here's what I can give you without knowing more.

The first two links are for fish TB - please read as this is infectious to other fish and may be transmitted to humans!

The last is for cammalanus. Unless your fish are small (on the order of 1 1/2 inch or less) or you want to do a dissection, you'll never make this diagnosis without seeing the parasite. If your fish is inactive for a little while, the worms will poke out the anus, looking like little red threads. These cause significant intestinal damage and cause the affected fish (if small) to contract their muscles so tightly that the spine is permanently deformed. This is also contagious to your other fish.

(To Venice Girl, and others - you might want to look this up sometime - probably a lot of cases of cammalanus is misdiagnosed as fish TB. It can be cured with an antihelmitic available in farm supply stores. It's an obscure parasite in modern aquarium literature, and I only came across the info because I once bought a female betta that had this and happened upon an old aquarium reference that mentioned the infection around the same time - otherwise I may not have made the connection. Later I got a shipment of guppies that had it, so I was prepared that time!)

Answer 2

There are more symptoms to tuberculosis than a curved spine, but a curved spine, as a disease, can only be attributed to tuberculosis, unless it is genetic. If this is Fish TB, there really is no sensible cure. Traditional treatments, such as adding salt and raising the temperature, are ineffective and in the case of the raising temperature may even be detrimental. The bacteria grow better in warmer water. They have no problem with salt either; they can infect saltwater fish as well as freshwater. The only way to cure the infected aquarium is to immediately remove infected fish as soon as they show any symptoms. Any other susceptible fish should also be removed. But, as you keep getting this, I can't believe it could be TB, unless you're continuing to buy the fish at the same store and they have a whole contaminated tank.
As a side note, you can never, ever rinse a tank well enough of soap. Trust me, as a beginner, I learned the hard way with that one. Don't use soap for two reasons. One, you cannot get it all rinsed out and two, you simply do not need to clean a tank that well. Cleaning a tank squeaky clean destroys all of the beneficial bacteria that grows in the gravel, filter, plants and decorations that is so essential to the health and well-being of the fish. A simple 25% water change, siphon the gunk from the gravel and rinsing the filter, plants and decorations in the old water is all you need to do. You need to learn about the nitrogen cycle, proper water changes and cleaning of your tank and I think you will see a much longer survival rate in your goldies. Good luck with your goldies!

Answer 3

This can be from many many reasons.
First of all when you are removing the goldfish from the bowl you are placing them in extreme amounts of stress, because i imagine you are doing this daily since you have no filter.
Second the bowl is properly cycled and you just keep changing the water conditions causing even more stress on the fish
Third you are using a bowl which restricts their growth and overpopulates easily
I dont think there could be a disease in the tank since your past fish died and you washed the tank
What you want to do is buy a 10 gallon aquarium tank with a filter and a light and throw a few goldfish in there
Also NEVER i repeat NEVER use soap, because the chemicals will always stay in the tank they wil not go away does not matter how much you rinse.

Answer 4

It doesn't really matter. Tropical fish food is safe for your goldfish, but goldfish food has things in it that are beneficial to your goldfish that may not be in ordinary tropical fish food. Read the packages and ask some preofessionals about it.

Answer 5

Sounds like the soap isnt thoroughly cleaned out, Also it could be that when u clean the tank out, U MUST put a little of there old water back to keep the biological ballance correct, Do you use chlorine crystals, If not get them , they take the chlorine out of the water, good luck

Answer 6

Well, unfortunatly, if you're using a bowl, you're stunting their growth, causing spinal deformations and death. Goldfish are pond fish, and even fancy goldfish need at least 20 gallons to live happily, as they get to be 6-8 inches long when fully grown.