Help- What's Wrong With My Fish?

[dreamteamgirl]

So sorry if this is in wrong place, but I am very worried about one of my fish
He is at top of tank, and seems really lethargic- the other 2 keep coming and butting/nipping him a little then he swims a little but soon comes back to the top
Is he dying? is there anything I can do for him?

 

[nano55]

sorry to hear about your poorly fish. im affraid im not much help as im fairly new myself, but from my limited experience i do know that the experts on here will neee a bit more information such as:
what fish i
s he, are there any obvious symptoms other than his lazyness such as changes in colour, size, spots bumps etc...

hopefuly someone will be able to help you with a diagnosis, and this info may speed the process up.

 

[dreamteamgirl]

hi and thanks
He is a calico coloured goldfish type fish- I think it is called an orando?

It is going to sound silly, but it is almost as if he cant keep himself down and just keeps floating back to the top. He seems to be struggling to breathe too as his little gills are really moving a lot.

No difference in size or colour, but poor thing is only 2 weeks old (or rather only been here 2 weeks) so I dont know very much at all!!

 

[Tuxyu3]

What size tank is it in?
What species are the other two fish?
Do you have a filter and is it cycled?
Have you performed any water hanges and if so, how often and what size are they?
What do you feed your fish and how often?
How large are the fish?

 

[dreamteamgirl]

Hi it is 30L. other fish are a black one, I dont know the name, but bug eyed and another one the same as the poorly one

Tank has a filter and a pump, and no water changes yet
I feed flakes provided by fish shop, was told 1 flake per fish 3 times per day, but I generally only do twice a day
Fish are teeny, goldie ones are small than a one knuckle of my (girl sized) thumb and black one is a little bigger

 

[phoenixgsd]

have you tested the water for ammonia or nitrites? i guess if you havnt done any water changes then its a fairly new uncycled tank? i suggest you do a immediate large water change, useing temperature matched dechlorinated water, then please read the link in my signature on fish in cycling, untill you can test the water and know what your dealing with, a large water change often helps

 

[dreamteamgirl]

Hi
Yeah the tank is pretty new. Has been in use 5 weeks now, but only 1.5 weeks with fish in. Ran for 2 weeks empty then tested, was fine, but due to timings of impending Halloween party left 1 more week and restested at zero's by pet shop, so bought 2 fish. Then had fish in it and got water retested last week, and was still at zero levels. That was Wednesday it was last tested which is when last fish (not poorly one) was added.
Will do a big change in morning as now 2am!
Just really hope fish is still alive then!!
Thank you

 

[NewBea]

I've made the same mistake. Ran tank fishless for 2 months thinking that it would do the trick and when I went to the fish shop they said the water quality was fine. Only I found out from this site that I should have put ammonia in the water to actually achieve fishless cycling. If there is no ammonia in the water the good bacteria never has the chance to develop and when the fish gets in the ammonia spikes all of the sudden and there is no bacteria to break it down. So now I'm forced to do fish-in cycling.
I followed instructions from fish books and I too had thought that changing water every 1-2 weeks will be enough but they don't warn you that when the ammonia goes up, you really need to do 25-50% water changes every day! My fish done the same thing around the week 1,5 week mark (hiding, not eating, gasping for air at the surface, looking all lethargic) and they were suffering ammonia poisoning.
I only managed to sort them out because I had great advice from the experienced guys from here!
You need to get an API master test kit so you can start checking the water yourself for ammonia and nitrite the 2 main things that can harm your fish (the kit will actually test nitrates as well as ph) You really can't rely on the fish shop testing the water as they are getting it wrong - like they did with mine and so many other people here.
And in the mean time change water every day which would dilute the ammonia/nitrite in the water. I did 25% every day then every other day after a week and my fish were back to normal: happy, swimming in the middle, coming to the front of the tank when I sat there watching them and ate nicely.
Also you should reduce the amount of feed they are getting - more food = more pooh = more ammonia just until your water is settled. I read that fish can easily go for 2-3 days without feeding and being hungry is miles better than being poisoned.

 

[MrsM]

Tank is far too small for a goldfish and the other black fish....a single goldfish needs at least 150L of water, tank is most likely uncycled...google cycling a tank! We all make mistakes, best to do a large water change, ammonia is probably whats killing your fish

 

[dreamteamgirl]

Well I went down and got water tested
The levels were all spot on, which is weird, but good I suppose.

I have done a 30% change then added some swim bladder infection treatment, plus changed the filter which was looking a bit brown.

I guess i will just have to wait and see now- Thanks

 

[PrairieSunflower]

You should never change the filter (I assume you mean the filter sponge). The sponge is where the good bacteria grows that keeps your tank healthy and in balance. If it is becoming gooey with muck it should only be squeezed out in a bowl of old tank water.

Removing or changing the sponge means you will put your tank back into cycling.

 

[Flute]

I've moved this over to the Emergency Section for you

It's always worth getting people at fish shops to write down your water results, as it is often much easier for them to just tell you the results are fine rather than having to explain what problems there are and how you should deal with them.

 

[dreamteamgirl]

You should never change the filter (I assume you mean the filter sponge). The sponge is where the good bacteria grows that keeps your tank healthy and in balance. If it is becoming gooey with muck it should only be squeezed out in a bowl of old tank water.

Removing or changing the sponge means you will put your tank back into cycling.

Oh well this is all VERY confusing!! The Biorb website says it should be replaced every 4-8 weeks?

 

[dreamteamgirl]

I've moved this over to the Emergency Section for you

It's always worth getting people at fish shops to write down your water results, as it is often much easier for them to just tell you the results are fine rather than having to explain what problems there are and how you should deal with them.

Thank you.
They did 4 tests and compared colours to the ones on walls. they were lovely and spent a good 20 mins on it with me, but I didnt think to ask for numbers,just followed their advice of 25% water change today, another 20-25% on Wednesday and another next Saturday before a repeat water test next Sunday.

Nitrate (the really bad one) was the lightest colour and matched the ideal box, as did amonia. The nitrates? I think it was that is the less dangerous/ poisonous one was just heading into the 2nd box, but still officially matched to the first box. The PH was in 2nd box but he said that was fine for this area?

Calico is still hanging round listlessly at the top- really hoping the medicine works soon!!

 

[PrairieSunflower]

You should never change the filter (I assume you mean the filter sponge). The sponge is where the good bacteria grows that keeps your tank healthy and in balance. If it is becoming gooey with muck it should only be squeezed out in a bowl of old tank water.

Removing or changing the sponge means you will put your tank back into cycling.

Oh well this is all VERY confusing!! The Biorb website says it should be replaced every 4-8 weeks?

Yes, products are notorious for that. They basically just want you to buy more of their products. A sponge only needs to be replaced if it starts coming apart... and that can be years. It will never be nice and white like the first day you put it in, it will take on a beige/brown color and stay that way.

If you have now thrown away your first sponge, you have begun a new cycle and you will need to do daily water changes to protect your fish from harmful ammonia levels building up.