What Is My Goldfish Suffering From?

[mariska]

My goldfish has been living in a 5 gallon tank alone for over a year. About 2 months ago the water became very milky looking. I changed the water by about 75%. It didn't go away. So I left it alone and didn't worry until recently. My Goldfish developed a large red spot on his back. I thought it was blood but then it looked like it was climbing up his back fin. Now he has little brownish areas on his fins, gills, under eyes and on back.
I thought it was fungus and started treating him with malafix. He got worse. Then I bought a few testing supplies to check the water. No Nitrite. Safe Nitrate. The Ammonia levels are off the chart!!!
I did a large water change to try to take out some of the ammonia and stopped using malafix. I've been testing the water each day for 2 days and doing 20 % water changes. The Ammonia levels don't seem to be going down.
How can really get rid of the ammonia?
And how can i tell what my goldfish has? Is it fungus after all? Is it a bacterial disease? Is it ammonia burn?
The pet stores don't know. No one seems to be able to tell. HELP!!

 

[*Fishkies*]

It's ammonia burn. I have had experience with this with my goldfish. Goldfish need a minimum of a 20gallon tank. They produce a lot of ammonia and waste. You will need to do at least 45% water changes daily to control his ammonia in that little tank.

I would consider getting a larger tank if youcan or return the goldfish.

 

[shang hi]

i would say do a 85% water change and do atleast a 60%then next day, then next day do 25% twice daily for about a week or two (untill ammonia reeds 0ppm), after this every other day do a 10% water change untill the fish has healed.

ill will write what i saw in pratical fishkeeping in the "new to the hobby" section it will be called Goldfish 101, this should make it clear what goldfish demand.

 

[*Fishkies*]

ill will write what i saw in pratical fishkeeping in the "new to the hobby" section it will be called Goldfish 101, this should make it clear what goldfish demand.

There's something like that written in the Goldfish section already, maybe it should just be duplicated up to the New to the Hobby section....

 

[mariska]

Thank you for everyone's help. The ammonia has gone down quite a bit now and in a couple days I think it should read 0. How long do you think it will be before he's healed though? Is there anything other than water changes I can do to help him heal?
If I buy a 20 gallon tank for Goldie will he get gigantic? He's already 6+ inches long!

 

[shang hi]

yeah, that would be easyer than me writing out another.

 

[*Fishkies*]

Does he have a fancy tail? His he long and slender?

Take a look at a few of the articles below...

Types of Goldfish
Goldfish in Tanks


Good Luck. His burns should heal as long as the ammonia is maintaned. You may also consider adding some extra slime coating protectent, such as aquasafe.