Okay, I have a tank with some feeder fish and a fantail. I'm just about done treating my tank for a horrible case of ich, with the temp up to 88 degrees and using Rid-Ich. I changed 75% of the water, not adding any more salt as I was also using a 1% salt method. (1 TB/gallon).
One of my feeder fish started turning brown a week ago, like oil jammed into the scales or something. Now it is almost completley covered in black, and my other fish are turning brown too, including the fantail. I do water changes every day, took out my filter cartidges but still have pmp on. I took out all plants and only have a couple rocks in there while I'm treating the ich.
Does anyone know what is causing the brown spots? I've heard it "might" be salt burn, but I have changed a ton of the water, and the fish are twice as bad today as yesterday! Wouldn't they be better without the salt in the water?
Can anyone help me?
Heather~
2007-05-04 14:46:22 · 10 answers · asked by teddikisses 2 in Pets ➔ Fish
Is the brown/black under the scales? It may be a case of salt burn, and it would be somewhat progressive. Think of this like a bruise. The mark may start out small, and enlarge for a couple of days before it begins to fade. The marks can also be an ammonia burn (although you seem to be doing water changes, this can reflect recent exposure of ammonia, not what's currently in the tank - the dark is a sign of healing)or be caused by physical damage (just like a bruise from being poked). They may also be a part of the normal coloration - goldfish may undergo several color changes during their lifetime.
I would also consider a parasite attached to your fish. Fish lice and larval flukes are brown, but would be raised above the scales. See these photos of a fish louse in a close up: http://www.koisite.be/images/Ziekte/argulus-sp.jpg and on a fish: http://www.sera.cz/07/0739b.jpg
Also see this photo of fluke larvae on an infected fish: http://www.michigan.gov/images/BLACKSpot1_19699_7.jpg
2007-05-04 18:27:06 · answer #1 · answered by copperhead 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Try searching yahoo for info on velvet disease. Sounds like it could be what you are describing. It causes the fish to turn a rusty color and starts as oily looking spots. Goldfish are prone to it. Adding salt and turning off the lights will help kill the parasite that causes velvet. You need Copper sulfate from the pet store to kill it completely.
But, There also is a thing that happens to them after healing from ick or other stuff where their backs turn almost black and then in a few days it goes away. That is just the healing process
If it were salt burn -- only add your small amount of salt mixed with water, never directly into the tank to avoid the salt burn. Goldfish don't need salt but can tolerate the small amount that you add. I am sure you know this , but, salt does not evaporate so if you have a 10 gallon tank, don't add ten spoons every time you change water, only add back as much as you take out to keep it consistent. So if you change out 1 gallon of water, you only need enough salt for one gallon. The salt actually will help replenish their slime coat and keep them healthier.
Hope this helps.
2007-05-04 15:26:05 · answer #2 · answered by Jennifer P 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't know why they're turning brown but the same thing happened to my fantail and I wasn't doing or going through all the meds that you described. The fish acted normal but the brown was seeming to creep through his whole body including fins. About a week and a half to two weeks later the brown started to subside and the fish never skipped a beat. I always wondered about this and was wondering if it would happen again. Hasn't yet...been 'bout 8 months. The fish is doing great except for a damn bichir I put in the tank that's fraying it's fins; but that's another issue.
2007-05-04 15:06:56 · answer #3 · answered by Bryan R 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
your fish is not turning brown, it's turning gold! the light-colored parts are actually turning gold then eventually red, depending on the diet and tank condiions. the face and back appear to be turning darker only because the rest of the body is turning lighter colored. before longm the light colored parts will become golden!!!! this is a normal occurence for some goldfish although others might turn red right from the start, specially the red and white ones
2016-05-20 23:06:50 · answer #4 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It no use for you to changed the water everyday, when you changed the water, what you have to do is just add the anti chlorine into the water before you put the goldfish inside and goldfish is doesn't need the salt water.
2007-05-04 16:12:14 · answer #5 · answered by ballerina 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
i would not put anything and make sure the fish tank water is always at room temp. dont worry it happened to me too, there is nothing to worry about.
-good luck
2007-05-04 15:14:50 · answer #6 · answered by .:g@bii:. 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
gold fish dont need salt water try normal tap water
they could be in shock as you are changing the water every day is there chlorine in the water ?
2007-05-04 14:56:43 · answer #7 · answered by scooshy 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
it's probably a sea fish that's needing sea water?
idk im not a fish fan
2007-05-04 15:48:00 · answer #8 · answered by Tiffany 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Somethings wrong take it to the vet.
2007-05-04 14:50:45 · answer #9 · answered by angelsloveslight 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
it may be natural goldfish get spots or change color completley
2007-05-04 18:39:54 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋