Turning Black?

[lneill84]

I didn't see a goldfish section on here, but I have a bubble eye goldfish, named Chuckie, who is turning black. He was completely orange in color and now the pigment has started to turn, and he's about 1/2 black 1/2 orange. He's always been a weird fish, sits on the bottom and chills, but he's been "chilling" a lot more lately. Any ideas of whats happening with him? Water is fine, everyone else is fine, and he doesn't have any marks, blemishes or anything else.

 

[The-Wolf]

it is perfectly natural for goldfish to change colour

 

[WILDER]

There is a coldwater section it's further down the board, a fish can change colour, but something telling me something not right with yours, need more info.
On size of tank in gallons or litres, how many fish are in the tank and which type, also can you post water stats in ammonia,nitrite,nitrate, and ph,.
Black patches also can be due to ammonia burns that are now healing, plus when he lays on the bottom is it on the gravel to one side.

 

[lneill84]

There is a coldwater section it's further down the board, a fish can change colour, but something telling me something not right with yours, need more info.
On size of tank in gallons or litres, how many fish are in the tank and which type, also can you post water stats in ammonia,nitrite,nitrate, and ph,.
Black patches also can be due to ammonia burns that are now healing, plus when he lays on the bottom is it on the gravel to one side.

I've had Chuckie almost 2 years. It is a 55 gallon tank, with 3 other goldies in it, a telescope, oranda and fantail. They are all healthy, acting normal, eating, and perfect colors with no blemishes, spots, etc. He first changed color just on his bubbles, it looked like the actual scales were changing. It then started on his tail and he is now completely black and orange. He's always been a weird fish, and hasn't been the healthiest from day 1. He got sucked up into the filter, which from my understanding, shouldn't happen with a healthy fish. That was the first month i got him. His tail grew back completly. He's always hung out on the bottom, and isn't much of a swimmer. He's also always eaten on the bottom, which the others don't and from what i read, unusual for goldfish. I have consistently checked my readings, and all have been normal since this week. I have readings from last week and here's from about 10 minutes ago
Nitrate-40ppm (higher than last week)
Nitrite-0.5ppm
pH-7.2
Ammonia-0.25 (higher than last week)

 

[WILDER]

Your tank isn't cycled and by the look of the reading it needs another filter, i keep goldfish and they are massive waste producers, and i run two filters in my tank.
Does the fish look bloated and can he maintain his balance in the water as it sounds like a bacterial infection, what do you feed the fish.
And i would recommend a water change to get them levels down, as ammonia can cause black patches on fish.

 

[lneill84]

Your tank isn't cycled and by the look of the reading it needs another filter, i keep goldfish and they are massive waste producers, and i run two filters in my tank.
Does the fish look bloated and can he maintain his balance in the water as it sounds like a bacterial infection, what do you feed the fish.
And i would recommend a water change to get them levels down, as ammonia can cause black patches on fish.

Its weird, because it was fine a week ago. The blackness started 2 months ago or so, and everything was normal. He doesn't swim a whole lot, but hangs out on the bottom, but swims normally. He doesn't look bloated at all. They get Omega One goldfish food and a piece of lettuce clipped on the tank once a week-should I change that? I have a double filter and it gets changed every week. I will do a water change tonight, what else can i do? What else should i be looking for in regards to a bacterial infection? Is there anything else i can do?

 

[WILDER]

What do you mean the filter get changed every week, do you mean the filter floss.
What filter are you using how many gallons does it turn over an hour.
Goldfish need excellent diet as they are prone to swim bladder problems, they need frozen foods and veg in there diet.

 

[lneill84]

What do you mean the filter get changed every week, do you mean the filter floss.
What filter are you using how many gallons does it turn over an hour.
Goldfish need excellent diet as they are prone to swim bladder problems, they need frozen foods and veg in there diet.

I have heard the frozen pees are good for them-what else can i do? Should i be giving them more lettuce a week? I don't have any plants in there because of the bubble eye, but would putting live plants in there be ok? Its a double filter, called Second Nature. It was in my dad's 55 gallon, but i swapped it with my dad so the golds could have more filtration. All the specs are at my dad's office for it.