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Sick Goldfish, Help please?
I got 3 small goldfish about 2 weeks ago. A Calico Ryukin, an Organda, and a Black Moor. It was a new tank, 20 gallons, with an air pump, a over the side Aquaclear filter rated up to 30 gallons, no heater. All the water was treated with Stress Coat declorinator and I added fresh water aquarium salt according to the directions. The tank has not yet cycled, but I have been keeping an eye on the levels. The ammonia was starting to rise, no nitrate or nitites as of the last test.
4 days ago I noticed the fish were rubbing on the gravel and I thought I saw some white spots near the tail of the Organda (smallest of the 3) but it was hard to be sure since his tail is white. 3 days ago I saw white spots on all the fish. I determined it was Ich and started treatment right away. I added a little more salt, raised the temp in the tank, and dose the tank with Jungle Tank Buddies Ick Clear (contains "virginia green" which I come to find out is Malachite Green, and acriflavine)
It seems to be working well against the Ich. White spots are gone now. BUT, the Ryukin is NOT looking good. I had noticed at the same time I noticed the Ich that his gills looked "puffy", like they were standing out from his body some. I thought it was just stress from being sick. But I was observing the fish just now,he was hiding behind the decorations and sitting near the bottom. When He came out, I saw there are small white balls filling his gills.I thought it was some kind of parasite or something, but I can't find a picture online that looks ANYTHING like this. I have NO IDEA what this is!!! HELP?!?!
I don't think the petshop takes back fish. I realize the tank is slightly overstocked by some standards but I am over filtering and doing water changes. I replaced 6 gallons just before adding the meds. I do have a gravel siphon and test strips. Last test, the ammonia was 1 and 0 nitrates & nitrites. I'm aware the tank has not cycled yet. I've had a few tank before and I have never seen high ammonia alone cause a problem like the one the Ryukin is having. His gills are filled inside with small white round things, they kind of look like smaller pieces of vermiculite. Anyone have any idea what that could be?
And I can't get a good picture right now. I fell down a few days ago, broke my foot and sprained the other. I'm in a wheel chair and can't get around, so I can't get to my cameras or my computer in the basement. (I'm on someone else's laptop)
1 Answer
- Kylie AnneLv 71 decade agoFavorite Answer
besides your fish being sick, your tank is also overstocked, and your tank is cycling. I'd highly suggest returning at least one of the goldfish.
have you done any water changes yet? if not, I'd suggest a 50% water change and adding more treatment. get yourself a gravel siphon and a test kit for ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate if you don't have one yet. don't let the ammonia or nitrite get above 1 (try to keep it at .5). do this by small frequent water changes. once the nitrate spikes your tank has finished cycling, you can start only changing 25% of the water once a week.
really a 20gallon is enough for 1-2 fancy goldfish tops. they produce a ton of waste. I'd suggest returning the black moor, they have vision problem and shouldn't really be mixed with goldfish that don't also have vision problems.
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actually, you're not over filtering.... a HEALTHILY stocked goldfish tank needs at least a filter rated for a tank 10gallons larger than the tank they're in. so over filtering would be having a 50gallon or so filter on it, not a "up to" 30gallons filter.
anyway, I'm not saying get a refund, I'm saying vie it back. any pet store will take back a fish, especially if you don't expect your money back. it's just bad business not to..
does the stuff in his gills look anything like this?
http://www.blueridgekoi.com/images/categories/C116...
if so, it's probably columnaris.
