My Ryukin has developed black tips on his fins and he seems to be getting bloated. Any thoughts?

Question

He has shot tail fins, and has always had a balance issue simply cos his body seems too big for his fins to deal with. But recently he's floating more than usual and getting these black edges on his fins.

He's always floated... well usually upside down on the bottom of the tank, but has always been healthy and hungry. I always feed all my goldfish sinking pellets, cos of the tendency to gulp. I had suspected ammonia and have taken steps to fix it. Thanks all :D

Answer 1

Barb's correct on the diet and swim bladder disease. The black on the fins usually means he's been water with a high amount of ammonia. Make sure you're feeding him properly (and not overfeeding) and that he's getting water changes (about 25% each week) when he should.

More on swim bladder disease: http://www.goldfishinfo.com/ailment1.htm#bladder

Answer 2

Ryukin and other round-bodied fish (not just goldfish either...blood parrot cichlids are another susceptible fish) are susceptible to swim bladder problems. If this problem is just starting recently where he's more floaty, try feeding him some thawed, shelled frozen peas. Swim bladder can be from constipation (due to body structure) or from gulping air at the surface. The peas act as a laxative and feeding them twice a week can keep most normal swim bladder problems at bay. The other suggestion is to feed sinking foods. If the fish is eating from the surface, he's gulping air a the same time.
If his scales are starting to poke out (looks like a pinecone), it is dropsy.
Darkening of the fins, I'm not so sure about. The only black disease I know of are the Discus Plague (obviously not that!) and blood parrot cichlids tend to have darkening of their fins and bodies when stressed but that goes away on its own.
The Ryukin may just be developing more colour? You state he has shot tail fins. Are they shot? Or short? Or getting shorter? This could be fin rot, if so.

Answer 3

I've had small amounts of this on my fish fin tips before. I think it's a little fin rot. Nothing to worry about unless it gets worse. Sometimes it happens to new fish that are stressed from being in new surroundings. It's always gone away on it's own with my fish.