Sick Goldfish

[aimeec]

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Tank size: 60L/2Ft
pH: 7.3
ammonia: 0
nitrite: 0
nitrate: 30ppm
kH: ?
gH: 190ppm
tank temp: 22C
Have been testing fortnightly since he first got sick.

Fish Symptoms (include full description including lesion, color, location, fish behavior):
One of my Goldfish, Frankenstein, about 6 months ago started gasping at the surface, and lying on the bottom occasionally. So after consulting this forum and the internet, I treated the tank for Flukes using Prazi. His condition didnt improve greatly, but after reading more about flukes, many sites mentioned that the fish may require a month or 2 recovery time if its gill were damaged. So a couple of months later, he is reasonably better.

But about 2 weeks ago he started lying on the bottom again, and gasping alot more than he has been. So I treated for flukes again, but Frankenstein just got worse and worse. He now cant swim, and is struggling around the bottom of the tank and looks bent(he occasionally straightens out and swims a short distance). He has a black smudge on his head that only appeared this morning.

There are no white spots, red streaks, Cotton fungus looking stuff, velvet gold specks - just trying to cover all the other diseases I have read about.

My other goldfish, Wolfgang, seems to be perfectly fine. He occasionally gasps but I think he is just being a copy cat because he only does it after frankenstein goes up to the surface. And he is perfectly fine at the moment.

Im pretty sure Frankenstein is going to die but I want to make sure Wolfgang will be ok, and when I buy another Goldfish he will be ok aswell.

Volume and Frequency of water changes:
25% per week to 2wks. But definately weekly I use a Battery powered vac with a bag to suck up all their poo.
Chemical Additives or Media in your tank:
chorine remover,
Since getting sick - Prazi and now Melafix
Tank inhabitants: 2 Goldfish (4cm, 5cm), plants
Tank Condition: I have had a brown slime algae problem which I havent been able to get rid of but recently it has been under control.
Recent additions to your tank (living or decoration):
no Additions for 6 months
Exposure to chemicals: no
Digital photo (include if possible): yes

I appreciate all assistance. Thanks.

 

[Schmill]

Sorry I can't really help, but he doesn't look good does he

Hopefully someone else will be along soon, but thought I'd ask, do you have any filter on this tank? If so what? How often do you clean it and how do you do it?

With the gasping etc I might have been tempted to suggest putting an airpump and airstone into the tank incase it is oxygen problems, but see what others say too.

Good Luck

 

[aimeec]

Thanks for your reply.
It has a canister filter. Cleaned every 2 months. and the filter output makes a fair bit of surface movement.

 

[Schmill]

Was the filter cleaned recently? (or indeed a long time ago?)
Just trying to think of anything that might have affected the tank recently.

 

[aimeec]

it was about 2 months ago.

I have been trying to think of anythign that has chnaged, but there isnt anything.

 

[WILDER]

Your tanks overstocked.
The first goldfish alone needs 20 gallons then 10 gallons for every other goldfish added.
They are massive waste producers so need double the filter to the tank size.
Are you sure your water stats are correct.
Also you should be doing a water change and gravel vac once a week.

Black patches are ammonia burns that are healing.
Is there enough aeration in the tank.

I kept to fancy goldifsh and it hard to keep up with the mess and mine were in a 40 gallon so can't see
your water stats being as they are.

Signs of gilll and skin flukes are
Laboured breathing or gasping near the surface of the tank.
Flicking and rubbing.
Sores on the body of the fish.
Opaque body with excess slime.
Red inflamed gills, or pale gills with excess slime.
Weighloss sometimes.
Swimming in a jerky movement.
Spitting food out.
Erratic swimming.

 

[aimeec]

I am sure my water stats are correct.
My filter is a 1200L/hr canister filter.

I think that my filter output creates adequate surface movement (as I said in a previous post). my LFS demonstrated to me how much surface movement was good.

Frankenstein doesnt have excess slime or sores and his gills look normal.

Any other ideas?

 

[WILDER]

Fish can labour breath with bacterial infections aswell.
Dosn't look good in the pic i'm afraid.
Resting to onside can be bad water quality to bacterial infection.
What made you think they had flukes.
What test kit are you using.

 

[aimeec]

Gasping at the surface, weightloss, not being enthusiastic about food, but sstill eating abit.

test kits are Aquasonic dropper liquid, which are australian made.

I know it doesnt look good for frankenstein, but I am also trying to make sure Wolfgang will be ok.

If it is a bacterial infection, is it contagious? treatable?

 

[WILDER]

If fish do have flukes you have to retreat to kill the young parasites as they hatch so the cycle dosn't continue.
Also flukes cause bacterial infections.
Weighless can be old age, not feeding enough, external parasites, internal parasites, fish tb.
So the goldfish lost weight, did he go really skinny, you say his spines bent as that can be fish tb to internal parasites.
Not sure if flukes bend the spine.
Whats it look like when he goes to the toilet.

If the other fish is gasping something wrong.
is the med out of the tank.
I would get your water tested at the lfs and tell them to write the readings down for you.
Also I would invest in a pump and airstone.

Lying on bottom and gasping (near death; heavy bacteria, parasite or dinoflagellate infection)
----Swimming to top, then sinking to bottom

He's dying i'm afraid.

 

[aimeec]

I followed the instructions on the bottle.

Poo looked OK previously but I havent seen him poo for about 3 days.

He isnt freakishly skinny, but he lost his little fantail pudge that he has always had.

 

[WILDER]

Never treat a tank till you know what the fish is suffering from.
Gasping can be many things it can be toxins in the water, overdose of meds, bad water quality, parasites, lack of 02, bacterial.

So the goldifsh lost weight, then started to gasp and lay on the bottom of the tank.
if he's poo normal I doubt its internal parasites.
Gave you a list of fluke systoms and the fish didn't really show many symtoms.
Usually fish tend to flick and rub when a parasite involved.
If the fish wasn't eating they will lose weight.

 

[aimeec]

went to LFS - both our tests say the same thing.

he thinks it is a bacterial infection but didntrecommend anything.

 

[WILDER]

How is the fish doing as he looked in a bad way.
Anti internal bacteria med by interpet.