Common Goldie: missing scales?

[jollysue]

My 6" common goldie feeder fish looks like it's missing about 4 scales in different spots on one side. He is with a 5" orange and a 2 1/2" blue oranda in a forty usg long tank. He appears fine. Eager when he spies me. Active and eating. None are hanging at the top of the tank to breath. There is a bubble wand and Penguin 250 (double filtration chambers and bio-wheels) with black diamond activated carbon and Chemi_Pure filtration.

I am inclined to assume he knocked over a decoration in his eagerness. I am getting ready to take him to the lfs, but not if he is damaged. He needs more room. He is very vital. Should I treat him with Melafix for a cycle?

If I am suppose to be in a coldwater emergency forum or something, can you transfer me?

 

[WILDER]

Could he of scraped the scales off on an ormament or gravel, any whiteness between the scales, where the scales are missing any whiteness or fluffy appearance.

 

[Fella]

Hey sue


best thing to do I would say would be test the water. Whenever I've come across scales looking a bit dodgy, it's because the water is a little too poisonous.

Nitrites and Nitrates are usually to blame. I used to think it was ornaments too, but usually it's the other.

It's good news that he's active and eating too

 

[jollysue]

Thanks for the repies.

I had neglected the coldwater tank for about 4 weeks. I just changed water last weekend and cleaned the filter, adding and changing around filters.

I will check stats, do another water change, check stats, get back to you.

I have to do another supply run for the sick neons now.

No whiteness, or fluffies. He had been pooping big turds that floated.

I just fed them all a big helping of daphnia today and cucumber last night. I haven't seen any more big turds.

I also have been adding some snails to help clean up a bit. Algae getting going strong. The snails don't seem to last good with the goldies. Maybe not enough left overs and too many snackings.

 

[WILDER]

Any sign of flicking and rubbing on objects, are the gill red and inflamed or pale, snails can carry parasites, where they from.

 

[jollysue]

No, I don't see problems with the gills or breathing. Just the few scales missing (not inflamed or showing any infections of any kind--gill or scales) and a poop machine. He is still pooping, it's just changed to daphnia color.

As I said the scales are only shiny a few places on one side. The other side shows no abnormality.

As for the source of snails. Where do snails come from? They traveled with plants from the lfs over many episodes. They traveled the last couple of days to the goldfish from a tank where they are allowed to grow for clown snacks during Saturday night football. There have been no additions to the snails for a month or so from any plants and they are in a tank with serpaes of long adoption.

No flicking or scraping.

 

[WILDER]

Just keep an eye on him, some people get snails from river or streams then add them to the tank, they they get on here wondering why there fish are ill with parasites, just wanted to make sure.lol.

 

[jollysue]

Yeah I work in a group home with teen boys. One is Southeast Asian with a fish addiction. He picks up wild fish everytime he goes fishing and brings them back to put in the house tanks. Most recently he brought bullfrogs to take home to eat. But before that it was crawdads from the lake into the large house oscar and frontosa tank. You should have seen the look on the lead supers face when I menioned the possibility of disease from wild caught critters.

So should I treat with Melafix or wait to see if anything starts to look inflamed or infected? It is 40 usg and my serpaes need a constant supply of the stuff.

 

[black angel]

Keep the water clean and keep an eye on him. Goldies can get really excitable and get knocked around by the other fish as well.

 

[jollysue]

Thanks. Yes, he knocks everyone around including himself. Excitable is an understatement. He wags like a puppy when he sees me coming.

As I say he really is getting too big for the space. And actually I think he is a she, but

The orandas don't have a chance to knock him around. They are too slow.