What do I do about my goldfish?

Question

I have four 12cent feeder goldfish I put in my tank just to get it ready for my swordtails. Now two of them are sick. One is a brownish-gold & tan, and he's turning all tan. The orange-gold one is turning white. Their both pooping PINK. What do I do?

Edit: I don't plan on feeding them to anything, they are just in there to get the tank all set.. like someone said on here. He was dead on ^.^. But I want to know what it is they have in case it comes back when i put the fish I actually care about in there.

Answer 1

This is my system of treatment and it has worked well for many years.

First step:
20-25% water change with gravel vac. Most likely your poor water conditions contributed to the outbreak of ich.

Second step:
Raise temperature (no more than 1° per hour) to 85°.

Third step:
Add aquarium salt (not table salt) in the amount of one rounded tablespoon per 5 gallons. If you have scaleless fish, reduce that to one rounded teaspoon per 5 gallons, as they don't tolerate salt.

Fourth step:
After 24 hours, a second 20-25% water change. Add more salt. If you took 5 gallons out in the change, put another rounded tablespoon in. Adjust for your situation.

Fifth step:
Wait 24 hours.

Sixth Step:
A third water change of 20-25% and replace salt removed.

Good Luck!

Answer 2

feeder fish are kept in notoriously poor conditions, and as a result they may have a disease or defect that is causing this. I recommend salting the water, raising the temp to about 75 degrees (slowly! No more than 1 degree per hour), and calling a pet store or vet that treats exotics for more advice. (There are some vets who treat goldfish, believe it or not!)

At any rate, there is probably something very wrong with these fish and it's probably not your fault. They may have been fed chemicals to make them look healthier than they are for all you know.

Next time you buy feeders for your swordtails, go to a locally-owned pet store instead of a chain pet store. Locally owned stores often breed their own feeders, and if not they actually have access to better sources for healthy fish than chain stores do (like fish shows and whatnot).

Whatever you do, DO NOT feed the golds to your swordtails, and seperate the sick ones from the healthy ones. Good luck!

Answer 3

Do you have any indications of sickness other than the color change? Young goldfish WILL change their color, usually usually to something lighter. The orange/gold to white sounds just like a normal color change. I'm not sure what color you're considering "tan", but I think it might be a darker orange-brown turning into a "yellow" gold.

Here's a link that documents the color change in a "black" moor: http://thegab.org/Articles/ColorChange.html

As to the color of the poop, what color is the food you're giving your fish - normally the poo is the same color as the food: http://www.mu.edu/~buxtoni/puregold/disease/technique/technique.html#JoAnns_diagnosis_by_poop

Apart from water changes due to higher ammonia and nitrites, I don't see that you have any problems (at least not from the info given).

Answer 4

It sounds like you just set up the aquarium and the feeder goldfish were sold to you to establish the nitrogen cycle. That means that your tank is cycling, producing ammonia, and or nitrites, and this is what happens to fish in an aquarium before it is completely cycled....THEY DIE!! Test your water every other day, you should see an ammonia spike, then a nitrite spike, then your aquarium should start showing nitrates. Once the nitrates start showing up the aquarium is cycled and ready for fish.

Answer 5

Their sick, get some "Pond Health guard" and put in a few drops. But be aware this may not cure them.

Make sure the tank or bowl is cleaned regularly.

Answer 6

Wow Well There Is Nothing Really I Guess Buy More They r Cheap But Srry If This Doesent Help

Answer 7

Let them die because you wont want to feed your swordtail a goldfish that has antibiotics in its system go for neon tetras as food they are kept better i do that with my arowana i feed him more expencive fish like baby parrot fish because they are kept very well

Answer 8

There probobly dying. Go to the pet store and ask for advise.

Answer 9

clean the tank regularly and check the oxygen(machine)

Answer 10

call a fish center