Why are black spots/splotches appearing on my Gold Oranda goldfish?

Question

Well, First I went to a aquarium shop and ALMOST bought 3 goldfish, until the cashier told me that 5 were lucky! So ya! Then I cleaned the tank (a Waterhome 3) and filled it with blue gravel. After a few days with my fishies, I had to clean the tank, 'cause it was getting dirty! I put my fish in a bowl for awhile until it were clean. However, my oranda's didn't seem "normal" in there they kept going upside down but were breathing normaly. So I put them back in, thinking that they would be okay in the morning. But I woke up at 2:00 a.m. and they were all "different looking" in the corner of the tank. I stired it a little and it seemed that they were fine after......The next morning, I saw they were fine, but 1 had died.....After 1-2 weeks, 1 of my Goldfish were growing black splotches, but dissapeared in less than 3 weeks, but was passed on to my other Oranda!!! After 9-11 days the second Goldfish died. Is this a disease, old age or something else.....Pppplllleeeeaaaasssseeee answer!:((

Answer 1

Black patches can be an indication of ammonia poisoning in fish. Goldfish are massive waste producers, and along with the waste, they produce ammonia. In a tank that's been set up for several months, there are bacteria in the tank that will convert the ammonia to nitrite (also toxic to fish), then to nitrate (not toxic in reasonable amounts). By putting all these fish in a small tank that's just been set up, there's no bacteria to eliminate the ammonia yet, so your fish are feeling it's affects. You should do a partial water change (around 1/3 of the water in the tank) as soon as possible to lower the ammonia level, and another 1/4 tomorrow.

You're getting a lesson here about the reliability and quality of the information you can get in some pet stores - most are out only to make a sale. They really shouldn't encourage customers to buy additional fish, or buy fish without adequate housing. Your goldfish may be small right now, but they have a potential to grow to be 5-10" (fancy varieties) to up to 18" for commons (single-tailed types), and they should have a lifespan of 20+ years. A single goldfish should be allowed 20 gallons of water, with another 10 gallons for each additional fish. Another "myth" you'll hear is that they only grow to the size of the tank they're in - not true!

I'm adding some links to the bottom - one to look up info on "black patches" and reasons for color change, one with info on cycling an aquarium (building up bacteria to control ammonia), and two others with general goldfish info (housing, feeding, diseases, etc.) that you might find useful in the future.

Answer 2

Black spots on orandas are always one of four things:
1. Normal colour change - probably not the case because 2 have died and it's being passed between fish.
2. Shimi - a Japanese term for the spots that are related to melanin changes (like human freckles) but are not natural. This is caused by water problems.
3. Melanophore Migration - something irritating the skin that came and went like a parasite, bad water quality, etc..that left a scar (would look like someone simply brushed on some India ink)
4. Fish lice - looks like freckles. Upon really looking, they're disc-like little things and they won't stay on the same fish from day to day.

Out of all these, it sounds like #2 is probably the most likely. How big is your tank? 10 gallons per goldfish is recommended, so a 50 gallon would be good. You don't have a heater, I presume, as these are coldwater fish. How old is the tank and what kind of filtration? They produce a LOT of ammonia through waste, messy eating and breathing like most bulky fish do. That is the reason for the recommended tank size. If you have them in something too small, the bioload is surely overpowering your filter, especially if it's new and the fish are dying from "new tank syndrome". Was the filter/tank cycled before adding these fish?

Answer 3

I looked up that kit you mentioned and looks like its only 2.5 gallons. You can only safely keep one goldfish in that, and then, its not ideal for it since a goldfish will eventually need 10g of water all to itself, especially an oranda, being a fancy type of goldfish. your fish definately started to suffocate because there were so many of them in that small space, and thats where all your problems started. The small tanks are hard to keep fish healthy in and if all yours lovely orandas end up dying you'd be better off puting one colorful male betta in it. Bettas are very hardy fish and much more suited to smaller tanks.

As for the specific reason for the dark spots, I am uncertain. I had a run-in with something similar. I inherited a bunch of clown loaches that had developed dark frekles on their skin and black streaks in their fins from beeing kept in poor water. Even after caring for them properly they never lost those spots. Its probably just something that happens to fish when they aren't in a happy environment.

Answer 4

it truly is amazingly alarming to me. Our dermis as quickly as we get decrease or skinned we finally scab over. properly while goldfish are laid low with amonia poisoning its like a chemical burn. Their form of healing is the blistered areas turn black. in spite of in case you have a longtime cycle something could desire to of happened to reason a bump. i could get your water examined asap! Black isn't a steadfast color on goldfish, maximum black turns to orange or white. Goldfish certainly transforming into this color certainly isn't standard. Do you have suited media on your clear out? Did you place something on your water that could desire to of bumped your cycle? Did you wash your media in chlorinated water?

Answer 5

Could be fungus. Buy medication at your LPS. (local pet store)