I have a 20 gallon tank which until now has been home to a comet goldfish (3" long + tail, I've had it close to 1 year) which my 3 year old son brought home from school, and a 4" pleco.
Two weeks ago, I added two 2" fantail goldfish, which I rescued from a 2L chlorinated goldfish bowl! I knew my relatively small tank wouldn't be great for that number of fish, and that regular and fancy goldfish don't always do well together, but I felt they would be better off than in the fishbowl.
After about 8 days, the old comet goldfish started swimming erratically, occasionally showing something like spinning disease, and occasionally drifting with fins clamped. This did not strike me at first, because I have seen similar behaviors from it occasionally in the past as well.
Yesterday, my power went out, and the fish did not have a filter or air pump for about 24 hours. During that time, the 2 new fish began drifting as well, and even when they swam, it was with the top fin clamped. It has been more than 24 hours since the power was restored, but they have not improved. Today, both of the fantails spent most of the morning drifting vertically near the top of the tank, frequently with their mouths out of the water. They barely swim, and one one of them ended up behind the heater in a corner of the tank, I had to help it get out. When I did a water change, the other one got caught by the very weak siphon I was using - something I have never had happen in all my years of fishkeeping.
None of the fish have any visible injuries.
The pleco has also been behaving differently than in the past - but not necessarily negatively.
It used to spend almost all its time under an artificial log at the bottom of the tank, coming out only at night, and even then, rarely. In the last two weeks, it has frequently come out during the day, and usually latches on to the front or side of the tank, moving around often. I even see it actually swimming on occasion - actually swimming in the open water across the middle of the tank, not hugging the sides - something I have never seen any of my 4 plecos do.
20 gallon tank
160g/hr waterfall-type filter (hanging on the side of the tank)
50w heater
minimal artificial decor
72-74'F (fluctuates over the day)
0 ammonia
0 nitrite
<20ppm nitrate
unknown gh
Two weeks ago, I added two 2" fantail goldfish, which I rescued from a 2L chlorinated goldfish bowl! I knew my relatively small tank wouldn't be great for that number of fish, and that regular and fancy goldfish don't always do well together, but I felt they would be better off than in the fishbowl.
After about 8 days, the old comet goldfish started swimming erratically, occasionally showing something like spinning disease, and occasionally drifting with fins clamped. This did not strike me at first, because I have seen similar behaviors from it occasionally in the past as well.
Yesterday, my power went out, and the fish did not have a filter or air pump for about 24 hours. During that time, the 2 new fish began drifting as well, and even when they swam, it was with the top fin clamped. It has been more than 24 hours since the power was restored, but they have not improved. Today, both of the fantails spent most of the morning drifting vertically near the top of the tank, frequently with their mouths out of the water. They barely swim, and one one of them ended up behind the heater in a corner of the tank, I had to help it get out. When I did a water change, the other one got caught by the very weak siphon I was using - something I have never had happen in all my years of fishkeeping.
None of the fish have any visible injuries.
The pleco has also been behaving differently than in the past - but not necessarily negatively.
It used to spend almost all its time under an artificial log at the bottom of the tank, coming out only at night, and even then, rarely. In the last two weeks, it has frequently come out during the day, and usually latches on to the front or side of the tank, moving around often. I even see it actually swimming on occasion - actually swimming in the open water across the middle of the tank, not hugging the sides - something I have never seen any of my 4 plecos do.
20 gallon tank
160g/hr waterfall-type filter (hanging on the side of the tank)
50w heater
minimal artificial decor
72-74'F (fluctuates over the day)
0 ammonia
0 nitrite
<20ppm nitrate
unknown gh