Urgent _Need Help With Dying Rescued Fish

[fishnovice]

Just rescued small goldfish kept in the worst conditions possible -1.5 years in tiny 1inch diameter max bowl with NO FILTER. Even after a water change today (embarrassed owner said) the bowl was so filthy with dark brown murky water I literally couldn't even see the fish!Water was foul,with bits of decaying plants, lots of poo and smelt like raw sewage. Put fish in plastic container to take home (1 hour bus journey) and diluted bowl water with 33% tap as I didn't think water had enough oxygen in it to last 1 hour. Fish currently floating in plastic container with lid on in bucket of week old water from my routine tank change. Fish not moving but if still alive, should I tip it into bucket of relatively clean clear water? Remember reading on this forum about Old Tank Syndrome and that fish kept in filthy tanks for years can die if suddenly put in clean water. Don't have any dirty water apart from that bucket,what should I do - tip in filthy water+fish from plastic container into bucket? Also will have to isolate fish if it survives the night as I don't want to infect my own healthy fish but don;t have spare quarantine tank (could use bucket?)What obvious signs of disease should I check for?

 

[fatheadminnow]

I would do the drip method of acclimating. Get a siphon going from a small hose from a bucket of clean, temp matched dechlorinated water and tie a very loose knot in it. Instead of having the water shoot out of the siphoning tube, it just drips. Allowing the dripping water to fill the the container that the gold fish in is. Do this for about an hour to 2 hours. This *should* allow the fish to adapt to the new water without stressing it too much.

Obvious signs of disease would be any deformation of the body, very large head compared to body, ripped fins, pine coning scales, very bloated stomach, long, white stringy poo, listless body movement/behavior.

Hope he gets better!

-FHM

 

[fishnovice]

Thanks for your prompt reply and advice. I had to put him in the bucket once the temp was equalised as the plastic container is only around 800mls so can't use drip method (used it successfully before for large plec)and I was afriad he would die in filthy foul water with little oxygen if he was in there much longer.Fish seems to have revived in cleaner water and moving its fins and tail. My kitchen smells like a drain now!That water was really disgusting.Wasn't able to examine the fish as the water it was in is like mud. Fish is very small for its age, less than 2 inches including tail. Badly stunted i'm afraid, may have other health problems too.I'll watch out for those signs of disease you mentioned.I'm just worried new fish may have something contagious as its tankmate (yes there were 2 goldies in that tiny unfiltered bowl!) died but I don't know how long ago.

 

[danb]

Thanks for your prompt reply and advice. I had to put him in the bucket once the temp was equalised as the plastic container is only around 800mls so can't use drip method (used it successfully before for large plec)and I was afriad he would die in filthy foul water with little oxygen if he was in there much longer.Fish seems to have revived in cleaner water and moving its fins and tail. My kitchen smells like a drain now!That water was really disgusting.Wasn't able to examine the fish as the water it was in is like mud. Fish is very small for its age, less than 2 inches including tail. Badly stunted i'm afraid, may have other health problems too.I'll watch out for those signs of disease you mentioned.I'm just worried new fish may have something contagious as its tankmate (yes there were 2 goldies in that tiny unfiltered bowl!) died but I don't know how long ago.

You should have given the person you got them from a right good punch. Pisses me off people that disrecpect animals that cannot help themselves because we took them from their natural habitat, the least we can do is make sure their conditions are as comfortable as possible.

 

[betta989]

you should not keep it in a bowl they should have 1 for each 10g im sorry i had the same idea a wanted one but i didnt get one

 

[Equilibrium]

I would save forget the Old Tank syndrome, if its gonna survive, it defo will not in any diluted crappy water he came in. Put him straight into freshwater (Dechlorinated!). Does he look diseased? If not you should know goldfish are very hardy fish and will survive being putting straight into freshwater! To ease along acclimation into his new environment add some aquarium salt (Not Marine Salt) to the water this will help him produce a new slimy layer over scales and will help any damage done by the waste water he was living in! Good Luck

 

[fishnovice]

Thanks for your support everyone. This is my 3rd rescued goldfish, the 2nd in 5 days!It's by far the worst case of fish abuse though. The other came from a very small bowl but at least the owner did frequent water changes and the water was clean and clear, not smelly mud. It looked lively and healthy so I put it in with my other rescued goldie and they are getting on fine now. This last fish may be diseased though so I'll keep it in the bucket with another 100% water change tomorrow to get rid of the smelly sewage it came in and add salt as Equilibrium suggested. If it's still alive after a week and looks healthy it can join the other two. Don't worry I have a spare 4ft tank planned for them all eventually but as they were kept in very small bowls and high temperatures indoors in overheated rooms, it will take a while to get them used to a huge coldwater tank.

 

[fishnovice]

UPDATE - goldfish still alive though not moving much and near bucket bottom. Either scared as not used to light (was in filthy dark brown water) or swimbladder problem. What do you guys think? Dis 75% water change this morning snfd will continue to do so till it's in 100% clean water

 

[fatheadminnow]

I would say just keep doing what you are doing, and try to get the fish in 100% clean water!

-FHM