One of my fish (goldfish) has lost all his color and it looks like his scales are pointing out...he's outside in the pond, but the water's fine...what do I do?
2007-07-15 15:11:00 · 5 answers · asked by Michael O 2 in Pets ➔ Fish
Scales pointing out (like a pinecone) is THE classic symptom of dropsy. Dropsy is a broad term that covers several different internal infections all of which cause the accumulation of fluids inside the fishs' body cavity. By the time it progresses tot he point of distended scales and color loss there really is no real chance of saving the fish. There s the very real chance that if left alone the fish could actually split open as it dies and infect the rest of the pond.
I would suggest you remove the sick fish as soon as possible and humanely euthanize it.
MM
2007-07-15 15:21:37 · answer #1 · answered by magicman116 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I am voting for dropsy, too. And unfortunately, it can be highly contagious so it wouldn't hurt to treat your whole pond after you pull the sick fish. We have had fairly good luck with AP Ponds anti-bacterial before. It is widely available via the internet and I have even seen it in Petco and Petsmarts before, too.
With the sick fish - you have to decide whether you are going to try to save him, or just euthanize him. Recovery from dropsy that advanced is virtually impossible, but not *completely* impossible. If you try to save him, I would put him in a quarantine tank, raise the temperature of the water and up the salt to .6%, feed medicated food, and treat with an injectible broad-spectrum antibiotic like baytril. That's a lot of time, money, and effort to put into a fish, especially for what is probably a losing proposition, but I know how it is to want to try to do whatever you need to do to save him. Try this link for more info: http://www.koivet.com/html/articles/articles_cat.php?category=16&name=Goldfish%20Information&intro=Goldfish%20Information
Hope this helps. Good luck!
2007-07-16 14:19:08 · answer #2 · answered by Poopy 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
sadly this sounds like dropsy)-: does the fish look like a pine cone? theres not alot you can do to help this condition. its not really considered a disease but a condition of the fish. he maybe suffering from organ failure or a bacterial infection. Ive heard you can turn the heat up and add Epsom salt to ease the swelling but this doesn't always work. also meds like maracyn-two can be used but usually after the pineconning starts the fish dies soon. you should remove the fish and think about euthanizing him with clove oil. taking out the fish out of the pond is best just in case if its bacterial. I'm so sorry about your fish i lost one to dropsy and i hope i never have to deal with that again. you can also QT him and try the meds and Epsom salt but theres no guarantee. please feel free to email me if theres anything eles i can help you with.
2007-07-15 22:24:33 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
michael,goldfish can loose their colour in running water,but as u have mentioned a pond,i dont think that may be the case.
then there is the age factor,is ur fish old ? sometimes during old age,fish lose colour & appear swollen or puffed out.
put it in a tank & look closely are there any ticks on it,or any skin rot,if so,isolate it & use medicine in its water for a week or so.they are available in pet shops.
atlernatively,if ur local pet store is good ,u may enquire there,they would also certainly know about it.
2007-07-15 22:25:36 · answer #4 · answered by ? 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
thats so werd
2007-07-15 22:54:32 · answer #5 · answered by Chloe 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋