swimming erratically also having big ammonia and nitrite prob.?

Question

I am new to the world of red cap orandas but when Mufasa arrived at the store I just couldnt part with him. when he is actually swimming he seems to be fine but at rest he is always upside down. I dont know if this is normal or not. i test the water reguarliy and change the water if any thing is off on the test. he is in a 20 gal long with one other oranda less than half his size. mufasa is about 2-3 inches not including the tail. Please help

Answer 1

An pair of important things to know is how long you have had him and what you regularly feed him. From the info you have given I would suspect a constipation problem or a genetic malformation of the swim bladder. As the previous answerer says, skinned peas are a popular way to get the goldfish the fiber it needs to help "get things moving" again. Be sure to feed the fish fresh vegetables regularly to help avoid this problem as most fancy goldfish are quite prone to the problem.

Assuming this doesn't work and you have only noticed the problem for a few days, it could be a swim bladder infection. Medicated food and treatment with a good antibiotic (I strongly recommend Furanace for internal infections) should clear this early stage infection rather easily.

Assuming neither of those things work to correct the problem you are basically left with a genetic malformation. The fish would never be "normal" but could be expected to live many years yet.

Hope this helps

MM

Answer 2

As long as his scales aren't sticking out (dropsy!!!), it's a swim bladder problem. All of the rounded fish are susceptible to it. It affects their buoyancy. The only thing I've done that WORKED (if caught early enough and if it isn't a genetic defect!), is to feed the rotund type fish thawed, shelled frozen peas a couple of times a week. If it's a genetic defect, he will die early. I'm sorry :(
If he is constipated or has gulped too much air at the surface, the peas should work. If you feed them regularly, it shouldn't recur. If you're having ammonia and nitrite problems, the tank hasn't cycled yet. Once the nitrites spike, you should see no more ammonia and then nitrates will slowly kick in..then cycled. Is this a newer tank? It normally takes about 6 weeks from the initial fish adding to cycle. Goldfish also are huge bioload violators. It's always best to get a hang on the back filter that's one size up from your tank to help with their messy ways.
Until you've fully cycled..just keep doing 25 - 30% water changes. Ammonia is toxic and will burn fins, skin, eyes, and worse...gills. Nitrites are also toxic and prevent the fish from converting oxygen and they die from suffocation.

Answer 3

If possible, isolate him and withhold food for 2 or 3 days and then feed him a cooked pea with the skin removed. That should cure the constipation problem.

Also, DO NOT add any more fish until your tank has finished cycling. You stand a chance to lose all your fish if you can't keep the ammonia and nitrite down. What are your current readings for ammonia, nitrite and pH? You need to be doing daily water changes if necessary to keep the ammonia and nitrite under .5 ppm.

Answer 4

Yes and no. Some orandas are "top" heavy and bottom light. If he isn't swimming upside down all the time, he could be constipated or have a swim bladder problem.

Goldfish need specific diets to remain healthy. they need a balanced diet. When choosing a fish food choose one with high protein (48% or better) and low fat (5% or less)

You can supplement their diet with things like Lettuce, mustard greens, turnip greens, collard greens, spinach, peas, endive, seaweed, cukes, kale, chard, broccoli, lima beans, green beans, etc. and feed aquatic plants (e.g. duckweed, azolla, salvenia, etc) or hair algae daily.

For their Carotenoids which are a family of pigments the fish can't make themselves and are obtained as part of the diet. These pigments result in red, yellow and orange colors. Fish have cells called chromataphores. Those cells convert lutein and carotenes into astaxanthin which is the red pigment.
sources include, brine shrimp, krill, spirulina, marigold flowers, paprika, sweet red peppers, yams, carrots, pumpkin

Watermellons and oranges are also good as well as proteins like chicken (chicken livers) beef (livers and parts) and pork as well as worms and bugs.

The veggies do not have to be cooked or skins removed. They will eat all of them. Keeping a well balanced high protein low fat diet will keep your fish happy and healthy.