Fish Are Not Eating, Not As Active, Etc.

[Barlet]

1. Water parameters. (ammonia, nitrate, nitrite, PH, temp', Hardness etc)
Tank size: 100 gallons
pH: Around 6.0-6.4
ammonia: Between 0-0.25ppm
nitrite: 0 ppm
nitrate: Between 40-80ppm
kH: ?
gH: ?
tank temp: 71F

2. A full description of the fishes symptoms.
I have two fantail goldfish that I found swimming upside down one day but they were still breathing. So I put each of them into a large bowl, about a gallon in size. I also noticed that both goldfish had blood on their lips and fin joints. One of the goldfish's tails also seemed like it was torn at the ends.

What I've been doing for the past week since I found them that way, is changing the water(tap treated) within the bowls about 2-3 times daily. And with each change I would put 1/4 teaspoon of aquarium salt. I have read that for fish swimming upside down, you should feed them green peas. I did this as well, and within a few days one has seemed to have fully recovered from swimming upside down. The other is improving but a little lopsided at times. Also after a few days I noticed that the bleeding on their lips and fin joints began to disappear gradually. Right now I only see very little of it left.

So with what I've been doing now, would they make a fully recovery or require some medication? I've been hesitant on putting them back in the main tank with the others because I've read it could be contagious, even though they seem to be doing alot better compared to the day I found them.

Another thing with the some of the fishes is that they're not interested in eating. One of the fantails in the bowls seems to be eating regularly now though. In the main tank I currently have 2 blood parrots, I believe a pleco, and 3 goldfishes (another fantail and 2 redcaps). The goldfishes are eating regularly but the blood parrots don't have interest in eating. All they do is hide under the bridge decoration that I have in the tank. Sometimes when the blood parrots are out and I drop a pellet or flake in front of them, they wouldn't even move towards the food.

This all happened about a week ago. But before they were very actively swimming around and eating everything I gave them.

3. How often you do water changes and how much.
Before all this happened I would change the water in the main tank once a week, about 10 gallons each time. Right now though, I've been changing the water everyday but only 4 gallons per day.

4. Any chemicals and treatments you add to the water.
The only chemicals and treatments I've ever used is API Stress Coat, Stress Zyme, and aquarium salt.

5. What tank mates are in the tank.
So far I have 5 goldfish(3 fantails and 2 redcaps). 2 of the 5 which are in the bowls. I also have 2 blood parrots and a pleco (I think).

6. Tank size.
100 gallon

7. Finally Have you recently added any new fish?
No.


Obviously I'm a beginner.

A little background:

I know that the fish that I have are not the best group to start out with, but my father was the one who bought all these fish and acquired the tank without letting me know, about 5 months ago. And he doesn't know anything about fish keeping, so he had me doing all the work.

 

[SlyPolak]

Sounds like septicemia with the fins/body/lips showing blood streaks.... I treated with Maracyn 1 and 2 (together) when my gouramis got it and they pulled thru great... Just wait a little longer and you WILL get someone with more experience than me to help you out.

P.S. --- 10 gallons for a 100 gallon tank is nothing, you need to do ATLEAST 25% at a time.... even daily you need to do more than 4 gallons.... just a thought. GOOD LUCK

 

[Barlet]

Thank you for your reply.

Today I noticed on one of the two fantails that had blood streaks it had almost, if not, all disappeared. It is also eating properly everyday now. Does this mean that it has recovered? It is also swimming actively and appears that the fins are back to normal. Can aquarium salt every to every other day really do that? Would I still need the medication?

And thanks for the tip on changing water. I've upped my daily change to 5 per day so it will be changing 35 gallons throughout the whole week, gradually.

An update on my main tank. One of the blood parrots started to eat. How long can these fish go without eating? From what I see the other blood parrot hasn't eaten in a few days. Maybe that will hopefully change as I carry out more water changes.

 

[Tolak]

71F is really cool for the parrots, which are a tropical species. The goldfish are classified a cold water species, while they can tolerate warmer temperatures the prefer it on the cool side. The parrots are slow to eat due to the water temperature, which slows metabolism. The problem at hand is that the goldfish are suspected of having a bacterial issue, raising the tank temperature would increase the rate that the bacteria reproduce, not good for the goldfish.

The parrots should easily be able to go a week without eating on a regular basis at 71F, and due to the lower temperature & slowed metabolism you wouldn't want them to eat more than a couple of times weekly. Slower metabolism means slower digestive process; too much food is inviting constipation & bloat.

I agree with increasing the water changes, give the goldies a week or two to recover from what appears to be a bacterial issue, then slowly raise the tank temperature over a few days to around 74F While this is at the low end for the parrots it is comfortable enough if you keep the slower metabolism in mind, and not too warm for the goldfish.

Understand that 5 gallons per day is not 35 gallons through the week. An easy example is that two 50% water changes does not equal a 100% water change. If you do one 50% water change you have half old water in the tank. You fill the tank. Removing half again means you have half of 50%, or 25% of the old water in the tank. Goldfish are messy fish, I would be doing at least 50% weekly on the tank.

 

[Barlet]

Thanks for all the advice!

And some good news. I put one of the fantails back into the main tank as it had no more blood streaks, and he/she is happy as can be to be back with the other fishes. And with all the water changes I've been doing everyday really lifted up the spirits of all the fish. Before they were all sitting at the bottom of the tank, and now they're all swimming everywhere.

I have another question though.

The two redcap goldfish that I have, have some of their scales missing. And one of them has most of it missing. I don't really remember if it's ever had all it's scales either. What does this mean? Sick? Will they grow back?

 

[Inchworm]

Hi Barlet

I wish I could help advise you about your fish but neither one is my area. I can, however, make a suggestion that will help you clean your big tank more easily. If you don't have a python, get one. There is nothing like clean water to keep fish healthy. I change 1/3 to 1/2 of the water in my tanks every week.

http/www.pythonproducts.com/aqprod.html