My Goldfish Is Dying - Help

[vic fish]

Hi

I know this is a forum for tropical fish, but I was hoping you can help me with my goldfish.

I am new to fishkeeping and have had 2 goldfish for 1 week. They are very small, about an inch long.

One hasn't been right since I brought it home and has slowly been getting worse. His tail has always been drooping and now he hardly moves and doesn’t eat. His body is bent in the middle and he usually lies on the gravel. Every so often he moves and swims a little, then stops moving and falls to the bottom of the tank. I used to think his tail was broken or something - it looked as though he was trying to move with his belly not his tail.

The water quality has been tested and is all ok. My other goldfish is very healthy.

I don’t think I can save him but do you know what is wrong? Can fish feel pain? I feel so bad watching him.

I thought about flushing him down the toilet but would that guarantee a quick death?

 

[Colin_T]

Although this is labelled Tropical Fish Forums it deals with all sorts of aquarium fish, including goldfish, tropical and saltwater. There are also sections for other aquatic inhabitants like frogs and snails and puppy dog tails

Most problems with goldfish arise from poor water quality. If the tank is only newly set up (less than 1 month old) then chances are the filters haven't established yet and there is ammonia in the water. Ammonia is produced by anything that breaks down in water. Over time the filters develop colonies of good bacteria that eat the ammonia and convert it into less harmful substances like nitrite and nitrate.
During the first month you want to keep the feeding down to once every few days and do partial water changes (20-30%) every few days. Make sure you use water that is free of chlorine. The water changes help to keep the ammonia levels low and reduce the stress on the fish.
When you do water changes use a clean bucket that hasn't had any soaps or detergents in it.
Try doing some water changes on the tank and cut back the feeding. You can add a bit or rock salt or swimming pool salt to the tank, about 1 heaped tablespoon per 20litres. This can help the fish to relax a bit.

Never flush a sick fish down the loo because they stay alive for a while. Also don't flush dead fish down the loo because any diseases they are carrying can survive the water treatment process and end up in the local creeks and streams where they affect native fish.
If you have to euthanase a fish you can put it into a small container of water and pop it in the freezer. As the temp drops the fish slows down before freezing. If you add some Clove Oil (available from health food shops) to the container with the fish in, the fish will pass out (become unconscious) and be out when it freezes. You can also whack the fish on the head to kill it but that can be messy.

 

[freddythefish]

You should never euthanase a fish by freezing it or hitting it!
Look at this site...http/www.theaquariumwiki.com/Euthanasia

Also DONT GIVE UP HOPE...just keep trying!!! never give up on a fish unless you know what it is that is wrong and it wont recover...this is not the case with you...you have no idea!

 

[Juice]

Best way I beleive is to place in ice water. Freezer will slowly freeze the fish. Ice water is already cold. I put them in ice water with clove oil. But dont give up, keep up the water changes get an airstone or something.

 

[ALW]

Look at this site...http/www.theaquariumwiki.com/Euthanasia

How would decapitation hurt the animal before it dies, it would be dead before it felt anything