goldfish problem?

Question

I have a 3 year old goldfish thats swimming with his head down and he has a lump behind his gill only on one side, on that lump his scales are standing up. I looked up dropsy and that doesn't look like what he has, i also looked up swim bladder for the fact that he's swimming head down but that doesn't explain the lump on the one side. I just recently had a goldfish die but his entire body was swollen to the point he was having a hard time swimming, we never figured out what was wrong with him.

Answer 1

This is a really tough problem to diagnose to be honest. Without being able to see the fish and the progression of the disease as well as the fact that it's an internal problem makes it practically impossible to be sure what's going on with your fish. I just wanted to warn you that all of this is based on an educated best guess scenario.
With the rapid progression you described before, I would say you are dealing with an internal infection. Fish swimming in a head down attitude are often suffering from a swim bladder infection. Protruding scales usually indicates an accumulation of fluids in the fishes body, which is almost always caused by an infection. So given all of those things, I'm inclined to go with an internal infection and probably an infection of the swim bladder as the cause. I would suggest treating ASAP since the disease seems to progress fairly quickly.

If that were my fish, I would treat with Furanace brand antibiotic. If that were unavailable, I would use Maracyn TC (or any other Tetracycline) as a second choice. Adding a antibiotic medicated food is also a food idea. If the food is unavailable you can make your own by dissolving one of the medication tablets in about a gallon of water, then soaking some type of dry or freeze dried food that your fish normally eats in that solution for a few minutes before feeding.



That's what I would try in your position, but also please be aware that treating internal infections of fish is difficult at best and odds are not in your favor to be totally honest. If
something else appears that might help with the diagnosis, please drop me an email.


MM

Answer 2

I believe this is a gentic disorder with goldfish that is caused by a stunted growth. The problem is that the goldfish is growing out but is not growing in length. the common diagnosis is the scales sticking up. they can sometimes live for many years like this.

It may also be dropsy, a disease that I am not completely familiar with so instead of giving bad advice I have included a link which explains it and gives remedy's to help cure your baby.