My goldfish has a growth? help?

Question

I have lots of goldfish in my tank, one of them is nearly ten years old and for the past year he has a cotton like growth on his head. I have treated it with so many medications. Sometimes bits fall off but they grow back soon after. He seems happy enough but how can I help him or will he be okay if he just lives with it?

Answer 1

I agree with copperhead. There could be a number of things affecting your fish. I would have said carp pox however you said it is more cotton like and not a pimple like and has had it more than a year.

My first question is, what kind of goldfish is he? Some species of gold fish develope a type of white scab on the wen (cap)

If the white fuzzy stuff looks like cotton, and start to break up into strings after a while, it's headgrowth. The white lumps may also look like fungus. If it starts to spread over larger than normal areas, If the whiteness covers more than 1 square centimeter and/or takes a distinct bread mold-like appearance, you have fungus.

Answer 2

A white cottony patch can be a few things, and not always a true fungus. You'll have to make a positive ID in order to get the right treatment.

I'll pass on a website where you can get more info on causes and treatments - I'd suggest you start with these three: Saprolegniasis, Epistylis, and Columnaris.

http://www.fish-disease.net/diseases.htm

Answer 3

Chips and vinegar