Sick Goldfish

[bettagold]

Tank size: 20 gallons
pH:
ammonia: i haven't done a water test so don't know the info. for this
nitrite:
nitrate:
kH:
gH:
tank temp:76-78

Fish Symptoms (include full description including lesion, color, location, fish behavior):about 3 days ago my black moor started having problems eating. He would chew the pre-soaked flake food forever and then spit it out. Yesterday and today, he's not even chewing. Just taking it in his mouth and spitting it out. Today, he wouldn't even try to eat the pre-soaked flake food. He seems afraid to eat it. No exterior symptoms, not rubbing or flicking, no red patches anywhere, no mucus, has translucent stringy poop, but had regular poop three days ago when eating. Fins are up and happy. No clamping. On the outside he looks perfectly healthy. It's very weird. I was told to do a 50% water change and add 1 tsp. of salt per gallon water. I have done that. Have not administered any meds. I have had him for one year. This is not a new tank.

Volume and Frequency of water changesnce a week, 25%

Chemical Additives or Media in your tank:1/4" gravel, some small stones, plastic plants

Tank inhabitants:1 oranda, 1 lionhead, 1 black moor [each 1" long]

Recent additions to your tank (living or decoration):none

Exposure to chemicals:none

Digital photo (include if possible):

 

[fluttermoth]

A year old fish is only an inch long?!!! Something's not right, for sure...

I would; stop feeding for a week and do 50% water changes (adding a dechloirnator, but no salt) daily if possible, but at least every other day and see how they look then.

I don't think 25% a week is enough for goldies; they are very messy fish (and a 20g tank isn't really large enough for three).

How do you maintain your filter? And it is really important you get your water tested for ammonia and nitrite at the very least, and preferably nitrate too. If you can't afford a decent liquid test kit (and don't even bother with the paper strips kind) then maybe your LFS will test it for you, but you must write down the actual numbers; don't be fobbed off with "the levels are fine", that's of no use to us.

Good luck!

 

[bettagold]

A year old fish is only an inch long?!!! Something's not right, for sure...

I would; stop feeding for a week and do 50% water changes (adding a dechloirnator, but no salt) daily if possible, but at least every other day and see how they look then.

I don't think 25% a week is enough for goldies; they are very messy fish (and a 20g tank isn't really large enough for three).

How do you maintain your filter? And it is really important you get your water tested for ammonia and nitrite at the very least, and preferably nitrate too. If you can't afford a decent liquid test kit (and don't even bother with the paper strips kind) then maybe your LFS will test it for you, but you must write down the actual numbers; don't be fobbed off with "the levels are fine", that's of no use to us.

Good luck!

When I bought him, he was about the size of a penny. Bad eyesight to say the least. I was putting him in a breeder tank and feeding him on his own at least once a day just to make sure he was getting his share of the food. The oranda and lionhead are very aggressive about food. I will be separating him from the other two with a perforated divider so that should lessen his stress levels somewhat.

I already did a 50% water change today and will do another 50% tomorrow.

The filter is washed with the tank water and I rinse everything out once a week.

Do you have any idea what might be causing him not to eat?

 

[PyroBrit]

Hmmm, the 1 inch long has caught me by suprise too. I bought a few Fancy goldfish about 6 weeks ago at approx 1 inch long and they are now almost 2 inches in size.

Can you post up a picture of your tank? You do mean 20 gallons and not 20 litres? It might sound like we don't believe you but 1 inch after a year is quite amazing.

Goldfish also like a variety of food. Along with soaking flake, you can try sinking pellets. You can buy Fancy Goldfish pellets that sink.
Goldfish also like peas. Take one pea that is cooked but cold remove the skin and chop it into tiny pieces then watch them enjoy their meal.

 

[ShaedM]

lettuce. try that, using a feeding clip or just drop it in the tank, my black moor and oranda gobble that up. Usually perks them up after.

 

[bettagold]

Hmmm, the 1 inch long has caught me by suprise too. I bought a few Fancy goldfish about 6 weeks ago at approx 1 inch long and they are now almost 2 inches in size.

Can you post up a picture of your tank? You do mean 20 gallons and not 20 litres? It might sound like we don't believe you but 1 inch after a year is quite amazing.

Goldfish also like a variety of food. Along with soaking flake, you can try sinking pellets. You can buy Fancy Goldfish pellets that sink.
Goldfish also like peas. Take one pea that is cooked but cold remove the skin and chop it into tiny pieces then watch them enjoy their meal.

He is the 'runt' of all my goldfish. I have 11 fancy goldfish, 3-4 were bought the same time as he was and he has not grown much due to 1] very poor eyesight common with black moors and 2] too much competition. That's why I moved him into the 20 gallon [yes gallon, not litres] tank. Where he has been for the past 6 months with the other two. I've kept all kinds of fish for over 25 years. Am not a novice at keeping fish but do have the occasional odd fish. The fish I had prior to moving to goldfish were albino ID sharks which I had for 25 years.

They all get a variety of foods - pre-soaked flakes, pellets [with spirulina and algae] and lettuce regularly. They're not on a restricted diet.

 

[bettagold]

lettuce. try that, using a feeding clip or just drop it in the tank, my black moor and oranda gobble that up. Usually perks them up after.

I really don't think the cause of my black moor not eating is because he's not getting enough greens. Has not one member on this site actually had a similar problem with a goldfish? If anyone on this site has had a similiar problem I would appreciate them emailing me. My fish is NOT eating, period.

 

[ShaedM]

lettuce. try that, using a feeding clip or just drop it in the tank, my black moor and oranda gobble that up. Usually perks them up after.

I really don't think the cause of my black moor not eating is because he's not getting enough greens. Has not one member on this site actually had a similar problem with a goldfish? If anyone on this site has had a similiar problem I would appreciate them emailing me. My fish is NOT eating, period.

hmmmm what about live food? Black moors i've found to be very fragile goldfish i've had a few of them and thankfully the one i currently have even tho is small, nips back and is a strong swimmer, but unlike the oranda and fantail he doesn't east as fast. Is your black moor looking for food amongst the gravel? or is he just swimming about?

 

[fidjet2]

Have you found out the ammonia nitrite and nitrate levels yet?

 

[Squigs]

Hi! I've got some fantail goldies but I'm a newbie to all this so my experience may not be any good to you. The only two times when any of my goldfish weren't eating were 1) bad water quality - one died because of this and 2) stress - when they were moved from their crowded tank into the new one.

I hope you don't mind me throwing a couple of ideas... I've read elsewhere that you can use a syringe to the fish so maybe you could try that?

From my experience of my fish dying I'd probably recommend you get your water tested as well.

Sorry I can't be of much help.

I hope you find out what's wrong and your goldie gets well soon.

 

[fishyfeet]

what are the tank readings?, what filter do you have, did you cycle the tank, how do you clean the filter, it could be ammonia poisening if you dont keep the filter bacteria alive, without reading its impossible to rule things out, sound like a internal infection again reading are vital to tell, i would stop all feeding, change 30% water everyother day, test your water TODAY and add melafix for a start, that kills 99% of bacteria and doesnt affect your filter media.
If you delay your fish could die, its been ages since you posted this and yet you still havent done a water test, i always have stuff in the cupboard to test and treat all major problems and i do this the minute i see a problem, firstly do a water test, secondly do a major water change and check filter, thirdly treat tank if and depending on the water test it needs to be done, do not ramdonly add meds to the tank, diagose first then treat. di

 

[bettagold]

what are the tank readings?, what filter do you have, did you cycle the tank, how do you clean the filter, it could be ammonia poisening if you dont keep the filter bacteria alive, without reading its impossible to rule things out, sound like a internal infection again reading are vital to tell, i would stop all feeding, change 30% water everyother day, test your water TODAY and add melafix for a start, that kills 99% of bacteria and doesnt affect your filter media.
If you delay your fish could die, its been ages since you posted this and yet you still havent done a water test, i always have stuff in the cupboard to test and treat all major problems and i do this the minute i see a problem, firstly do a water test, secondly do a major water change and check filter, thirdly treat tank if and depending on the water test it needs to be done, do not ramdonly add meds to the tank, diagose first then treat. di

Thanks for everyone's comments. The water has been tested and the only reading that was off was the amonia at 7.2. because there was uneaten food on the moor's side of the tank. That has been removed by doing a 25% water change. My 50 gallon tank was also tested and the levels all around are OK.
So it' not the water.

He is separated from the other two so little to no stress. He does search the bottom of the tank but as usual whatever food he takes in, he spits out.

I'm beginning to think he has an internal blockage of some sort. He is hungry, goes for the food, chews and spits. Sometimes he seem afraid of the food and swims away. It's extremely frustrating when there's nothing I can do to save him. I'm pretty sure he will waste away.

Unfortunately, I'm away this weekend and don't want to medicate him until I return. So if my little moor makes it through the weekend, I'll use the Melafix.

 

[fidjet2]

what are the tank readings?, what filter do you have, did you cycle the tank, how do you clean the filter, it could be ammonia poisening if you dont keep the filter bacteria alive, without reading its impossible to rule things out, sound like a internal infection again reading are vital to tell, i would stop all feeding, change 30% water everyother day, test your water TODAY and add melafix for a start, that kills 99% of bacteria and doesnt affect your filter media.
If you delay your fish could die, its been ages since you posted this and yet you still havent done a water test, i always have stuff in the cupboard to test and treat all major problems and i do this the minute i see a problem, firstly do a water test, secondly do a major water change and check filter, thirdly treat tank if and depending on the water test it needs to be done, do not ramdonly add meds to the tank, diagose first then treat. di

Thanks for everyone's comments. The water has been tested and the only reading that was off was the amonia at 7.2. because there was uneaten food on the moor's side of the tank. That has been removed by doing a 25% water change. My 50 gallon tank was also tested and the levels all around are OK.
So it' not the water.

He is separated from the other two so little to no stress. He does search the bottom of the tank but as usual whatever food he takes in, he spits out.

I'm beginning to think he has an internal blockage of some sort. He is hungry, goes for the food, chews and spits. Sometimes he seem afraid of the food and swims away. It's extremely frustrating when there's nothing I can do to save him. I'm pretty sure he will waste away.

Unfortunately, I'm away this weekend and don't want to medicate him until I return. So if my little moor makes it through the weekend, I'll use the Melafix.

did i read correclty that the ammonia was 7.2?!? if so that tank needs to have a 90% waster change. 25% won't do much at all.....this is most likely what is causing your fish to be sick........
If it was 7.2.....that would mean that it IS the water

also and with your 50gallon the water results are AROUND OK...what AROUND mean?

 

[fishyfeet]

yes i think its def the water, and if you leave him in there all weekend i dont hold out much hope for him, treating after all that exposure to ammonia wont really help, you should test the water often and find out why you have such high ammonia levels, what are the nitrite and nitrates.

 

[HayzH]

7.2???