Fan-Tailed Goldfish

[GamesFan88]

Help!

We bought some fan-tailed Goldfish in the middle of Feb and something is going wrong. They both started out looking as if they're scales were being worn off.. tails looks roughed almost as if they were stuck to he filter for a while or something. Now.. they've got white around their eyes and a few white spots on their body. Reminds me of ick.. but I can't get a good enough pic to use for you all.

 

[Ninjouzata]

Sorry you're having issues!
 
Unfortunately I have no idea what it could be..hopefully someone else does.
 
In the mean time can you fill this out:
 
"Tank size:
pH:
ammonia:
nitrite:
nitrate:
kH:
gH:
tank temp:

Fish Symptoms (include full description including lesion, color, location, fish behavior):

Volume and Frequency of water changes:

Chemical Additives or Media in your tank:

Tank inhabitants:

Recent additions to your tank (living or decoration):

Exposure to chemicals:

Digital photo (include if possible):"
 
Also did you cycle the tank? I know you say you can't get a good enough picture but keep trying, and may be a good idea to do a water change as well.

 

[attibones]

Is the white stuff more like a fungus or sand or salt grains? As ninj has already said, more information would be very helpful.

 

[GamesFan88]

Tank size: 10 Gallon
Picture of tank: http/tinyurl.com/otcboss

Tank Temp: 70F


For the pH, alkalinity, gH, Nitrate, and Nitrate test results, click the following link: http/tinyurl.com/nsjkc9d
I don't think it tested the ammonia level, though.

Fish Symptoms (include full description including lesion, color, location, fish behavior):
They started off with just a faded look to their color.. kind of like when you've been in the bathtub too long. Then their fins started to look as if they were eating on each other (they're not though).. and one of them had a white patch on his head and around his eyes. Now the same one had a red spot show up on the side of his body which has no turned to a black spot (and its on his fins as well). They'll be swimming normal and suddenly jerk rapidly and take off fast.. now they're floating around toward the top.. not much movement.

Volume and Frequency of water changes:
Haven't changed the water yet.. the filter is a little nasty and stinks.

Tank inhabitants:
Two fan-tailed Goldfish

Recent additions to your tank (living or decoration):
Just the fake plant and building from the first day.

Exposure to chemicals:
None.

Digital photo (include if possible):

1. http/tinyurl.com/o69q7z2
This picture contains "Aqueon: Water Conditioner" that I bought and used when I first filled up the tank. It's suppose to make the tap water safe. It also shows "Jungle: Start Zyme" that I bought tonight. It says that it breaks down organic sludge build up that can cause ammonia and nitrite poisoning, low oxygen and pH levels, and cloudy water.

2. http/tinyurl.com/n66nhop
This picture is of the fish that has the black spots on him. You can see one of them on his side looking down at him in this pic.

I don't think the picture shows it but there is some green spots started to show up on the little buidling.. like algea.

 

[attibones]

Okay. You need to invest in a liquid test kit. The sort you've got are terribly unreliable.

Next, start doing daily water changes of at least fifty percent.

Also you either need to rehome or upgrade your tank. These guys need 30 gallons at least for a single one. You should add about fifteen more gallons per fish. They are very messy fish with heavy bio loads. They are large, too. They just aren't suitable for your tank, I'm afraid.

 

[AshleyGracie]

Ok, i'm going to start by saying i'm not very experienced here. I've only been keeping fish a couple of years and there are people here who have been keeping fish longer them I've been alive but I have learned a huge amount since joining this site so I will share what I know in a nutshell until someone else steps in because I feel very bad for your fish.
1. The tank you have is way to small for those fish. From what I know about gold fish, yours will grow to 10 inches or more. Plus goldfish are super dirty fish so need more water and more filtration the others their size.
2. Have you cycled your tank? There is a great section on this site with all the instructions you need to go through this process and a ton of people to answer any questions.
3. You haven't changed your water yet? Even in a cycled tank water should be replaced by about 20% at least once a week. But in an uncycled tank your looking at water changes once or twice a day.

Now for what might be going on with your fish. Once you read the cycling information it will make a little more sense but I'll try to explain. Fish create waste (pee, poo, co2) this waste crests ammonia. Ammonia burn fish kind of like acid. Cycling builds bacteria to convert ammonia to nitrite which makes it hard for o2 to travel through the blood stream. The cycling also creates bacteria to convert nitrite into nitrate which isn't as harmful in smaller amounts but if left to build up it can harm. So that's where the weekly water changes come in to get rid of nitrate.
So basically, and anyone correct me if i'm wrong, the extreme amounts in your tank right now and causing your fish to become very ill and most likely near death.
To save your fish you really need to start changing your water. Asap!

 

[GamesFan88]

That's very unfortunate as right now.. I cannot upgrade the tank.
I live in an apartment and we are not allowed anything beyond a 10g. I wish I could find someone with a bigger tank to give them to.

 

[Ninjouzata]

Agreed with Atti. Please know we're not trying to be harsh, just letting you know what is best for the fish.
 
Unfortunately I have no idea what the stuff on them could be

I think once you get the water more clean for them it should help though.
 
The green lots on the decoration are likely algae like you say, I wouldn't worry about that really right now.
 
If you can't upgrade then I suggest you take them back to the store or post them on craigslist.

 

[GamesFan88]

I appareciate everyone's help and don't think for a second that anyone is being harsh. I am a daddy of two 3 year olds and want to learn as much as I can because it is because of them that I have this tank in the first place.

So.. can I just put the fish into something else and redo all the water and then add them back? I don't care to do this once a week if that will help until I can find someone who can take them.

 

[Ninjouzata]

Do you have a siphon? It'd be good to vacuum the gravel while changing the water.
 
In an uncycled, small tank, with these 2 very messy fish, you will be wanting to do water changes much more than once a week. I agree with atti on doing 50% daily. I know that seems a lot but waste builds up fast

 

[GamesFan88]

I have a TopFine gravel vacuum, will that work?
I can deal with changing 50% of the water daily?? just gotta add it to those morning chores. lol

 

[Ninjouzata]

That should work, yep! And glad to hear that.
 
Your LFS may take them back or you can try putting them up on craigslist. Hope you can find a new home for them soon.
 
When you do we can help you figure out a stocking for that tank, there are some very pretty nano fish that would work in there

 

[GamesFan88]

thank you so much for the help and I will keep you all updated.
I don't have a local fish store.. aside from walmart (where I got the fish) which is a 35 minute drive. the tank and everything else came from pet smart which is a 2 hour drive.

 

[Ninjouzata]

Oh my quite a drive! Maybe you could call petsmart and see if they'd take them? That way you won't drive all the way up there and then be told no.
 
You could try asking wal-mart but..not sure if they'd take them back or not Suppose craigslist is the most promising option.
 
Good luck!