Sick goldfish?

Question

My beautiful Oranda seems to be hanging around the top of the tank. I have thrown in peas, but I can't get him to eat them -- what else could be wrong to make him do that, and is there anything else I can do? I love this guy -- he is able to swim lower, but tends to go right up to where the filter sprays water on him. Thanks!

It looks more like swim bladder to me than dropsy, his fins aren't sticking out. I will test the water again, and I have a 28 gallon with a 50 gallon filter -- is that strong enough? Poor guy. I wish he would eat one of these peas.

He looks normal, no growths or changes to him. He is not upside down, and appears in control when he swims to the bottom -- but he is staying on the top much of the time. That's what is weird. I am going to keep trying to give him peas. He seems to be swimming down more now that I have messed with the tank (put in some peas, salt and tested the water again -- it is all normal but on the verge of normal, so I may do a partial water change. It also is hard, but that could be due to the salt?)

Thanks for the advice about peas. They are cooked and I squished out the insides, but I think some skins got in there too, I will try to fish them out. Also, no I don't have a heater in the tank, I do have a bio filter.

New behavior. I turned off the filter, and he is moving around, but still tending toward the top. I don't see anything on his fins that looks weird. Thanks for all your help everyone, I am keeping a close eye on him to discern some symptoms.

Answer 1

It doesn't sound like a swim bladder or dropsy. SOme fish are just top fish and some are all over the tank. Usually if a fish is staying near the top of the tank for no reason, it is to get away from something in the water or for air.

Goldfish in general need a well 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.

It does not matter if they are cooked or raw or even skinned. they will eat the entire veggie.

You may not have enough dissolved oxygen in the tank for your fish. You need to leave the filter on. Try lowering the tank water 1/2 inch to allow the filter to dump water into your tank. Try feeding your goldfish a different green peas aren't the only thing that is good for goldies.

Eggs as well will not make your fish "float" If he is swimming normally, just staying at the top of the tank, it isn't dropsy, or eggs or even a swim bladder. It sounds more like a water problem. What is your water testing at? Ammonia? nitrates? Sucking air as well do not bloat goldfish since they have no stomachs to bloat.

Also, oranda's like other goldfish are cold water however orandas can handle warmer water as well as long as it is below 78.

Answer 2

do you have a water test kit ?? i would test the water , is there a heater in the tank , gold fish are cold water fish, and don't need heaters in the tank .. most goldfish tanks that i have seen that were successful in keeping the fish alive had nothing on the bottom of the tank since gold fish are very dirty fish , and need 3 times the amount of filtration that would normally be needed for any tank ..


about the pea's , you need to make sure they are cooked, and the skins removed , the skin is indigestible by fish , and will cause a intestinal blockage.. as for the filter you got plenty of filtering , just make sure that the filters are kept clean since the fish are so dirty..

Answer 3

A fish with swim bladder disorder will usually still try to feed.

Is your filter turned up all the way? Oranda with their fat bodies and spread tails aren't that great of swimmers. If he's behind the outflow from your filter, this may be a place where the current isn't as strong and he's just resting. Might be worth it to reduce the current and see if the behavior changes before you medicate.

Is this a new behavior, or has he always done this?

Another possibility - are you certain it's a "he"? May be it's a female heavy with eggs. Have you noticed any other fish chasing it? See photos to compare male & female vents: http://www.bristol-aquarists.org.uk/goldfish/info/sexing-fs.htm

Answer 4

yep i know it is but sometimes they can live that way for along time i have a few myself you can try to use and anibotic but it might not work but it might surpise you too worth a shot get erominin try it for 5 -7 day then do a parshal water change but dont forget too take out your carbon filiter also try sinking pellets food pellets but if he cant go down to the bottom then you cant but its worth a shot no gartees

Answer 5

He may need salt treatment. Sound like he may have dropsey

http://www.aquariumfish.net/information/aquarium_salt.htm

Salt treatment is a medicine for goldfish.

Answer 6

how is he floating? upside-down? on his side? is he bloated looking? stuff like taht helps track down wat kind of disease he has.