GldfshBehFAQ3

goldfish swimming abnormally 9/29/08
Hello,
<Hello,>
I purchased a small comet goldfish a week ago and added it to an existing 55 gallon outside tank housed in a wine barrel (with a fish safe liner). The tank has a filter and airstone, natural gravel, and a variety of plants. Water chemistry is stable and I have been doing regular water changes. The other resident of the barrel is a comet which I bought almost three years ago. I occasionally feed him pellets, more often I give him peas, or let him eat plants and insects. I have lost several fish over the past few years, to raccoons and swim bladder problems and mysterious ailments.
<While I can't comment on raccoons, except to suggest putting a mesh over this Sushi Bar you've created for them, the "mysterious ailments" is much more alarming. There's really no such thing, any more than you'd expect human beings to keel over for no particular reason. In other words, if a succession of fish die across the space of a few years, beyond what you'd expect through old age (or indeed predation) then you have to review environmental conditions. Almost all mysterious ailments come down to problems with the environment. In particular, check the pH is stable and the water quality is good. Wine barrels are made from wood, and if that fish-safe liner isn't completely isolating the water from the wood, it is very possible the wood is reducing the pH (via tannins) or even poisoning the wood (through slow release of wood preservatives). Also check that the filter is working properly, and that it is adequate to the size of this pond. It is VERY easy to under-filter ponds, resulting in poor water circulation. This in turn can stress fish, particularly in summer when the temperature goes up and the oxygen content of the water goes down.>
Speaking of mysterious ailments... The new fish thrived for several days. But as of yesterday, he does not look well. It started with clamped fins. Now he is swimming abnormally, waggling his entire body a great deal to locomote, in a jerky arcing motion, rather than just swishing his tail to move forward. His pectoral fins do open a little for steering, but are not fanned out as they were at first; one seems more often tightly clamped than the other. The dorsal and ventral fins remain firmly clamped. He can swim up and down and does not list to one side or show classic swim bladder symptoms. All the same, yesterday I fed him peas; today he does not want to eat peas or anything else.
<Given these fish are mostly eating plant foods, then constipation is unlikely to be the problem, though if you have only had this fish a few days, then perhaps it is a lingering problem inherited from its time at the pet store. In any case, treating the water with Epsom Salt may help to some extent, but I'd also consider internal bacterial infections and treat appropriately, e.g., Maracyn and/or Maracyn 2. Internal bacterial infections rarely come out of nowhere, and again, it's your job to establish what stress factors might be present in the pond that have allowed this infection to get started.>
I thought the culprit might be ich and read the FAQ on ich, but he does not appear to have any white spots, scratching or labored breathing. He does hide out a bit in the folds of the liner. I don't see any discoloration, red streaks, or obvious signs of injury or infestation. The other fish seems fine. I did a partial water change and tested the water and there are no issues there.
<With respect, YOU saying there are no issues with the water quality/chemistry isn't the same thing as me KNOWING that there are no issues in that direction. Just to recap, with Goldfish you need ALL of the following: zero ammonia and nitrite, a pH level of 7.5-8.0, and hardness levels of "moderately hard" to "hard" on whatever test kit you're using. Goldfish are very sensitive to pH fluctuations, and much mortality is caused by pondkeepers ignoring this and allowing acidic conditions to develop in the pond. In other words, don't tell me the water is fine; tell me the numbers you're reading from your test kits.>
Any ideas on diagnosis and treatment? I'm hoping his abnormal swimming is a clue.
<Not much of one, unfortunately. Akin to "feeling tired" in a human!>
Thank you.
Linda

Help... Fancy goldfish... beh./hlth. 8/21/08
Hi, I bought my Son two Fish (Fancy's) last week. One of them have has a long brown stringy something!!! (looks like poo) hanging from its behind, and measures roughly about 3-4cm long. Could you please let me know what it could be, and what I should do, as my Son is very worried.
Thanks Claire
<Claire, what you are seeing is a symptom of constipation. The "strings" are compacted faeces. I'm guessing you are feeding this fish Goldfish flake. Contrary to what you might imagine, this isn't a good diet for them. They need lots of green foods; please read here:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/FWsubwebindex/gldfshmalnut.htm
Short term there's nothing to worry about, but long term constipation makes Goldfish much more prone to serious diseases and problems. Do also make sure you understand what Goldfish need to thrive. Too many people buy them without researching their needs, and consequently a miserably high proportion either die or have grim, short lives. Say "no" to bowls and small tanks, and "yes" to big tanks, green foods, and good water quality! See here:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/FWsubwebindex/goldfish101art.htm
Cheers, Neale.>

Goldfish sitting on bottom of tank 08/18/2008
Hi Crew,
I love your site! It has so much helpful information, but I just can't seem to find the answer to this particular question. First, I'll tell you about my tank set-up. I have a fantail, Ginger, and a calico goldfish, Bubbles, living in a 10 gallon tank. (Small, I know.) Both fish are currently about 2 inches in length. Ammonia and nitrites are 0, and nitrates are 10-20. I do a 20% water change and filter the gravel once a week. The tank is due for another water change tomorrow. For the past week, Bubbles has been spending a lot of time sitting on the bottom of the tank with clamped fins. When he does swim around, his fins are still clamped. He comes up to eat when I feed him, and his physical appearance seems normal besides the clamped fins. Through all this, Ginger still seems normal and perfectly healthy. This strange behavior has happened to a few of the past fish I've had. All those fish ended up eventually not being able to leave the gravel. They'd lay on their sides on the ground and after a few days would die. I just can't figure out what's wrong. I don't want Bubbles to end up with the same fate! Please help me! Thanks so much for your time.
Sincerely,
Annemarie
<Hello Annemarie. In a nutshell, the problem here is very likely environmental. Let's be crystal clear about the environment first: you cannot keep Goldfish in a 10 gallon tank. Period. End of discussion. They will keep getting sicker and sicker, and sooner or later something will go wrong. Putting Goldfish in too-small tanks (or God forbid, bowls) happens so often it is scary to anyone with any interest in animal welfare. Goldfish are pond fish really, and in tanks you have to make allowances for the fact that they get to at least 20 cm/8" in the case of fancy Goldfish and over 30 cm/12" for traditional Goldfish. We recommend keeping them in tanks around the 125 litre/30 gallon size at minimum; anything less is like trying to keep a German Shepherd dog in a rabbit hutch. Small tanks fail to dilute the ammonia the fish produce, so that your poor Goldfish is choking on its own filth. It can't exercise either, because there isn't space. Goldfish also need a filter. Being big fish, I'd recommend nothing less than a filter offering 6 times the volume of the tank in turnover per hour (i.e., if you have a 30 gallon tank, you'd use a filter rated at 180 gallons per hour). It's almost certain to me you aren't doing these things because fish after fish is dying in the same way. Please please please review what animals need *before* you buy them -- not doing so is animal cruelty, and I'm sure you love animals and wouldn't want to be accused of that. So, go read this first:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/FWsubwebindex/goldfish101art.htm
Once you've digested all that, feel free to get back to me with specific comments or questions about how you can improve your Goldfish tank. Cheers, Neale.>

Re: goldfish sitting on bottom of tank, More Frank Herbert ref.s 8/20/08
Hi Neale,
<Hello,>
Thanks so much for all your advice. Unfortunately, I think it's too late.
<Oh?>
Since last night, Bubbles has been hiding in an arch decoration in the tank. He won't even come out to eat.
<Far from too late... Don't give up yet. "Don't believe a man is dead until you see his body, and even then you can be wrong" -- Bene Gesserit lesson.><<Muad dib!>>
I checked the water levels again, and ammonia and nitrite are both still 0, and nitrate is 10-20. I'm planning on doing a water change and suctioning the gravel today. In my last email I
forgot to tell you that the tank does have a 100 mpg filter.
<100 miles per gallon? Do you mean gallons per hour? Given that Goldfish need at least 30 gallons, implying a minimum 30 x 6 = 180 gallons per hour filter, that's far too small a filter for any viable Goldfish system.>
I read the page you recommended. It had a lot of useful information I didn't know about before.
<Cool.>
I'm feeding Ginger mostly spinach now instead of flakes.
<Until the tank is upgraded to 30 gallons, this is rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic. I can't stress this point enough. Make space, set aside the money. Your fish will thank you, they will be happier, and you will earn much good Karma.>
She still seems to be in perfect condition.
<So far.>
I actually got Ginger quite a while before Bubbles.
<How much of a "while"? Goldfish lifespan is 20-30 years under good conditions. So unless Ginger is 20+ years older than Bubbles, time has NOTHING to do with this.>
If it was an environmental problem that affected Bubbles, I am wondering why Ginger isn't sick too if she's been in this tank under the same conditions longer than Bubbles.
<Absolutely typical. All animals, all people, all plants are genetically different. They react at different rates to similar stresses. I bet you get worse hangovers than some people, but less bad than others. Or maybe you feel the cold more than some people. Or whatever. The thing with environmental issues is that everything "seems" fine, but as sure as God made little green apples, one fish gets sick, then the next, and so on.>
Thanks again for all your time and everything else you do.
<Very kind.>
Sincerely,
Annemarie
<Cheers, Neale.>

Re: goldfish sitting on bottom of tank 8/21/08
Hi Neale,
<Annemarie,>
Very sadly, Bubbles passed away last night.
<I'm sorry to hear that.>
I'm going to try my best to keep Ginger happy and healthy. Thanks for all your great advice. I'm sure it will come in handy.
<Indeed it will.>
Sincerely,
Annemarie
<Cheers, Neale.>

Re: goldfish sitting on bottom of tank 8/22/08
Hi Neale,
<Good morning,>
I'm sorry to bother you again, but today Ginger started sitting on the bottom of the tank too. On the page you recommended me to read, I noticed it said that the temperature for goldfish should be around 59-64 degrees.
<Correct. In the wild these are warm temperate/subtropical fish.>
The temperature in my tank is about 77 degrees.
<Definitely on the warm side, but not lethal in the short term. Increasing water circulation or adding an airstone may help, and do take care to place the tank way from direct sunlight.>
Could the warm temperature of the tank, along with its small size, also be affecting Ginger?
<Small tanks change temperature faster than big ones, so even though 77F is unlikely to kill Goldfish if they're exposed to it gradually, if the temperature in your home is cooler by night and then gets really hot in the daytime, that could VERY easily be a stress factor. Even more critically, warm water contains less oxygen that cold water. Since the rate at which oxygen gets into the tank is determined by the surface area of the aquarium, the bigger the tank, the faster oxygen gets in. The reason Goldfish "gasp" at the surface in bowls and small tanks is that they are suffocating, and their gills cannot get enough oxygen from the water. So they breath water at the air/water interface where there is the most oxygen. As we have discussed, Goldfish are just not suitable for small tanks or bowls. If you think about it, these are fish that get to the size of trout, and are much bigger than, say, Angelfish. They are about the same size and mass as an Oscar. And yet while nobody would put an Oscar in a bowl or 10 gallon tank, people try to do this all the time with Goldfish. And you know what happens? They have problems keeping their Goldfish healthy. It's really as simple as this.>
I put new gravel in the tank about a week ago, too. Even though I rinsed it thoroughly, is it possible that something could still be in the gravel that
could be another factor?
<Not if you cleaned it properly. If you used detergent, that could cause irritation to the fish if not rinsed out properly. But gravel sold for fish tanks should be perfectly safe. The worst that can happen is you don't rinse away the silt, and that makes the water cloudy. But the fish themselves couldn't care less, and many species come from silty waters anyway and prefer the gloom!>
Thanks so much again for all your help and time!
Sincerely,
Annemarie
<Cheers, Neale.>

Black Moor Problems – 07/16/08
Dear Crew
I'm really sorry for being a nuisance but I really need some help. I've never had Black moors before and my friend had got me one for my birthday from the local petstore. I've had him for a month now, and for most of this time he's been velvety black. recently I've noticed him changing colour slightly and I don't know whether it's normal or not. I'm really worried also that he's sick because he has his dorsal and pectoral fins folded against his body. he's in a tank with a comet and a shubunkin, I don't have a filter but I change the water every second day. He's still got his appetite, and he interacts with me and the other fishes in the tank. I don't know what to do and I'm really confused right now. Your help would be really appreciated.
yours sincerely
Victoria
<Hello Victoria. Without knowing precisely what the colour changes are, or what the aquarium environment is like, it is difficult to say what's going on here for sure. However, from the sound of things, my assumption is that Goldfish is reacting to poor water quality by producing extra mucous. This makes its body look more grey than black. The clamped fins would be consistent with this, too. The fact you don't have a filter is worrying: despite Goldfish often being placed in tanks (or bowls) without filters, their mortality under such conditions is very high. I'd encourage you to read something on the basic care of Goldfish, and then review whether the aquarium you have matches those conditions. Very often people make the mistake of keeping them in tanks that are too small, not using filters, or using water from a domestic water softener.
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/fwsubwebindex/goldfish101art.htm
Hope this helps, Neale.>

Re: Black Moor Problems 7/17/2008
Dear Neale
thank you so much for your help. I'm taking a look at fish tanks so hopefully they might be getting a new home, but until then is it safe to use filtered water? also the black moor is changing to a bluish/brown color and I have a comet that was pure white changing to orange, are these color changes natural? yet again than you for the help.
Yours sincerely, Victoria
<Hello Victoria. There's no point to using filtered water. Better to use dechlorinated tap water. Do big, regular water changes (I'd say 50% per week, at least). Using filtered water would get very expensive doing that, to no advantage! Goldfish like hard water, so water from a domestic water softener is bad, too. Black Goldfish sometimes turn bronze/green, and changes from white to orange happen too. Goldfish all start off as green when young, and then change colour as they get a bit older. Sometimes their genes make other changes happen too. But do make sure you understand the difference between a fish changing colour and something like Finrot, which causes bloody patches to appear on the skin and fins. Goldfish are lovely, tamable fish that genuinely enjoy human company. So spending a little time and money giving them a good home will pay you back handsomely in the long run. Good luck, Neale.>

Re: Black Moor Problems 7/18/08
Dear Neale
Thank you very much. I'm hoping that soon enough they'll both be back to normal, its odd that the shubunkin hasn't been affected at all. thank you again, all your help is greatly appreciated!
yours sincerely
Victoria
<We're happy to help. Keep reading, and keep enjoying your fish! Cheers, Neale.>

Goldfish... sys. – 07/10/08
Hello crew,
I have seen a lot of similar questions about peoples' goldfish, but I wanted to make my goldfish's symptoms more specific. He was fine a few days ago, but now he just lays down on his side or stomach on the bottom of the bowl. And it looks like he's making an effort to try and swim but only one of his fins is moving, so when he swims its almost like he's uneven. For example, when he tries to go up near the surface of the water only one fin will move and this causes him to twirl around or something like this. He still seems very aware as well, if my sister or I go sit near his bowl he comes over and sits closer to us. Every once and a while when he goes to the surface it looks like he's a bit better, but its almost as if he gets tired really quickly and just goes back to lay down. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you,
Lee
<Hello Lee. The problem here is Goldfish do not live long in bowls. Forget everything you have seen on TV. Bowls are "goldfish killing machines" and most die within months of being placed in them. You absolutely must keep Goldfish in an aquarium. Juveniles will do well in tanks around the 75 litre/20 gallon size, while adults (which reach 20-30 cm/8-12 inches in length) invariably need something larger, around 125 litres/30 gallons being a good choice. In bowls they slowly get poisoned by the ammonia they produce, and the lack of oxygen in the water suffocates them. Please also understand Goldfish are sociable, and should be kept in groups of at least two specimens. But don't under any circumstances add another one to your bowl! Instead, read this article on Goldfish care, and then go buy an aquarium no smaller than 75 litres/20 gallons.
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebIndex/goldfish101art.htm
Otherwise your Goldfish is doomed and will die. Hope this helps. Cheers, Neale

Re: goldfish 7/10/08
Thank you very much for all the advice. My fish is doing much better today, I'm not exactly sure what happened. I will definitely buy an aquarium. Thanks again!
Lee
<This sounds promising. But please don't delay buying an aquarium for too long... if I was you, I'd put it on my "to do" list for the weekend. And don't waste your money on a little 10 gallon system. For Goldfish, you need a fairly big tank because they grow very quickly and make a lot of mess. Cheers, Neale.>

My zippy goldfish, pond 7/4/08
Hello - I have been reading your threads, hoping to find an answer to my very simple question...
<Did you?>
I purchased two "feeder" comets from my LFS approx. one month ago. They currently live in a 40 gallon pond on my deck with several water lettuce, water hyacinth, a vigorous water lily, some parrot feather, moneywort and a hornwort plant.
<This is a lot of plant life for such a small volume... likely shifts water quality a great deal... too much, diurnally>
I made a filter for them from things l had at hand, and it seems to be working like a dream. The filter/pump empties into a small fish spitter and the little eco system seems to be working quite well. I do a 10% water change once, sometimes twice a week (I use the pond water to water my container garden on the deck), have put a few barley pellets in to keep the algae down (so far, I haven't seen any, at all) and my pond gets about 6-8 hours of sunlight a day.
I feed my two gold fish one tiny little sinking pellet a day (they are only about an inch in size, each - but have grown a 1/4" since I got them!) and they seem to be doing well. They especially seem to enjoy hanging out among the roots of the floating plants.
My spitter sits on three concrete blocks, which also provides some shade/hiding spots for them.
<Sounds good>
My question is - when I do see them out from under the plants, they are SUPER zippy. They swim about at an accelerated pace, and I'm wondering if they are a bit stressed, or afraid when they are not under cover. The only time I have seen them slow down is when they are nibbling the worst or nibbling at their food. Although one appears to have grown a bit larger (and I'm thinking its female) and will often push the other around when there's food, they follow each other about the tank and tend to "hang out" under the plants together.
I do not have nitrate or ammonia testers, but I do test the ph (its currently at about 7.5-8.0)
<This is too large a "swing"... In part what I alluded to at first>
These are my first fish (I plan to have a 100 gallon pond for them for next summer when they get a bit bigger), and although I've quite enjoyed the research I've conducted so far, I want to make sure they are doing well, have fish-happiness and are healthy.
<I see>
Thank you for your assistance.
-Leanne (and Hugo and Zero)
<Well, the "zippiness" may be nothing to be concerned about. With warm/er water conditions, goldfish tend to be more active. As long as they are eating, appear fine otherwise, I would not be concerned. Do keep up with those weekly water changes. Bob Fenner>

My goldfish is flipping out 7/3/08
Hello!
<Hello indeed!>
New here!
<Welcome!>
We had two goldfish for about 3-4 weeks. This morning, one was dead. I took him out immediately, checked the filter (looked like it needed to be replaced and so I replaced it), and cleaned the tank.
<Be careful here; replacing all the filter media will re-cycle your tank>
The fish that is alive has been swimming super-fast all over the tank...not upside-down at
all. He swims back and forth, up and down...almost like he is trying to come through the tank.
<He may well be trying to escape...toxic water conditions>
He also seems to swim in the front of the tank, not in the back at all. His mouth is gaping very very often as well (I don't recall it doing that before). I've put some food in the tank but he doesn't go to the top to eat it as he always has. I noticed him this evening picking at the bottom of the rocks.
I don't want him to die either. I feel terrible about the one dying (they
were a gift for our daughter when she learned to swim underwater). We are not ready to replace the other fish if this one isn't going to make it and continue a death cycle!
Here are some specifics: 2.5 gallon tank (I know now after reading other posts),
<In this case rather than replacing a fish, consider replacing your aquarium. A goldfish needs at least 15-20 gallons to prevent rapid build-up of nitrogenous wastes, and swimming room, etc.>
whisper filter- medium, he doesn't have cloudy eyes nor does his body look damaged or discolored, the food we have is Wardley Goldfish Flake food,
<Do read re goldfish nutrition on wetwebmedia.com; this food will not suffice in the long term.>
I have not tested the water (didn't know about that until reading some other posts), he is about 1.5" long and I did not attempt to give him a minced pea.
<The pea is a laxative, generally. Vegetable matter is always appreciated by goldfish, though. I would recommend purchasing some test kits if you wish to continue with aquaria- avoid the dip strip variety, as they tend to be of widely questionable accuracy. Also continue to do some reading on WetWebMedia re aquarium husbandry, water changes, feeding, etc.>
We are not familiar with caring for goldfish and thought that it wouldn't be daunting aside from feeding them and cleaning the tank. With one dead, I want to make sure the other one doesn't die because of something I did wrong.
<Understood. Many of us come in to this hobby without the faintest of what we're doing- who thought keeping ecosystems in glass boxes could be so complicated, eh?>
Any advice you can give is greatly appreciated. I read lots of posts before bugging you so I apologize if you answered this for someone else already.
If you have, do you have the direct link to that posting?
<I would just use the index to find some of the pages on basic freshwater aquarium keeping. Do a few small water changes on your goldfish's tank to keep him alive in the meantime, and research, research, research before setting up an appropriate aquarium for the fish you and your daughter ultimately wish to keep. You will find the time and money invested will repay you thousandfold times in enjoyment and health- both for the fish and your sanity!>
Many thanks for your time and consideration,
<No problem, Lisa. Why don't you drop by our forum at bb.wetwebmedia.com as well; many knowledgeable people there who would no doubt be happy to answer setup questions, product questions, etc as you continue on this odyssey>
Lisa
<Benjamin>

Re: My goldfish is flipping out - 7/3/08 7/7/08
Hello!
<Hello again!>
Thank you for your speedy reply! I meant to update you earlier than this on the goldfish. He seems absolutely fine now. Perhaps I was freaking myself out about his behavior being that I haven't own fish in 16 years (and that was one angel fish and two kissing fish). He hasn't been swimming at the speed of light and is now using the whole tank (I use the term "whole" loosely being it's small). Maybe he was freaked out that the other fish died.
<Glad to hear things have calmed down>
He is IN LOVE with peas. I gave him a little bit of one pea one night and he couldn't wait for more! I also bought some sinking pellets. I saw him swim immediately to eat one but spit it out just as quickly. I'm not sure if that is because it's too hard. I don't see them the next morning which makes me think he waited for them to soften before eating them (does that make sense?).
<Goldfish are quite fond of their veggies. Check information on wetwebmedia.com, or ask for recipes for goldfish foods on our forum at bb.wetwebmedia.com to learn how you can produce your own nutritious, economical foods for your fish that he will relish as much as the peas>
Anyway, I know you said peas are a laxative to fish. Does this mean he should not eat them regularly? He really loved the pieces I put in the tank and if he can eat peas regularly, I am happy to give them to him (or other vegetable matter). I'm going to look at the area of your site you recommended to see if the answers about peas and other vegetable matter is discussed there.
<Yes, information about goldfish nutrition is available>
I'm asking the questions in more of a rhetorical form...however if you're looking for a way to kill a few minutes and want to reply, that's fab too!
:-)
Thank you so much for all of your advice and your website!!!
<You're most certainly welcome>
Lisa
<Benjamin>

My Oranda's very strange behavior 6/27/08
HI, My name is Whitney.
I have a 30 gallon tank operating on a TopFin filter system. I have always kept Oranda's in the tank with a couple of plecostomus. I was having some trouble with the fish, and discovered that all of my toxicity levels were off,
<What do you mean by this?>
so I started over with the tank. Once it was clean, cycled and all toxicity levels were back to normal I purchased a new Oranda.
He is small but quickly adapted to the water. A week later I purchased another one, but this one is about 3-4" long (our small one is about one inch).
At first the small one was a little scarred, but in no time they were both doing great, in fact they seemed like friends.
I then noticed that the plecostomus was being aggressive towards
the large Oranda
<Happens>
and had removed a couple of scales, so I immediately removed the plecostomus and put in some MelaFix to help the fish.
<This may arrest biological filtration>
Once he got better I did some water changes to get the MelaFix residue out and ensure that all toxicity levels were appropriate.
I test the water frequently, and with the exception of the hard water here in Las Vegas, everything checks out perfectly every time.
So here is my problem.....the large Oranda, who prefers to eat sinking pellets, and loves them, apparently also loves to do headstands.
<Mmm, not good>
He does not float, sink or have any problem swimming, but he likes to put his face against the pebbles and stick his fin in the air, perfectly vertical.
At first I just figured this is how he sleeps, but now it is happening very frequently. When he chooses to swim, he swims fine and looks good,
but he rarely does. The other fish is perfectly fine, and often lays next to the other on the bottom of the tank.
There is still no aggression, no other signs of a problem, and all water toxicity levels are perfect. I don't know what to do and it seems to be very strange.
Anything you could tell me would be great.
Thank you!
<This sort of "gas bladder" anomaly can be due to "just" genetic disposition, but is very often linked to improper nutrition. Please read here: http://wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebIndex/gldfshmalnut.htm
and the linked files above... BobF>

Calico fantail goldfish fighting, env. 6/24/08
I had four calico fantail goldfish in a 10 gallon tank for about a year now.
<Need much more room... had you read...>
One of them had been sick for a long time, and eventually lost his tail?
<Env.>
And died about two months ago, leaving me with three in the tank. Recently, I have noticed the two bigger fish bothering and pushing around the fish who is a little smaller natured. I immediately felt bad and put the small fish into a separate, 2 gallon tank, which is way too small.
<Yes>
I was wondering if it was common for fish to do this? They have been living in the same tank for a year, and this just started happening. Should I try and put him back in the tank with the other two?
<Due to crowding mostly... likely nutrition secondarily. Read here: http://wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebIndex/gldfshsystems.htm
They, you need a larger world. Bob Fenner>

HELP! Black Wen going see through! 6/10/08
Hello,
<Howdy>
I am in need of some professional advise asap! I have a forty gallon tank with a 60 gallon filter with four fancy goldfish. One of my goldies is a panda Oranda with a black Wen. A couple days ago I noticed his Wen was becoming see through and I could see some red underneath the flesh of his Wen. It has slowly gotten worse and now a lot of his Wen is now see through. I searched and searched but could not find anything that would cause this. In a panic I went to the LPS and I bought some anti-parasite medicated fish food and parasite clear tabs and the ladies said I could use them together. My gut said to only use the food so that's all I've done tonight as I have an off feeling about using both at one time. Any suggestions would really help! Thanks!
<Mmm, this loss of coloration in hoods is actually not that uncommon... is NOT pathogenic... I would remove whatever medication you're using... pronto... by water changes, carbon use... as this/these are more deleterious than useful here. Many such instances are simply a matter of genetic/developmental expression... and will pass (re-color) or not depending on deterministic principle/s and environment... Otherwise, optimizing water quality, reducing metabolite build-up and maintaining good nutrition is all that can be done. You are not likely to find much detail re this condition on the Net, but there are references to it in good books on fancy goldfish culture. Bob Fenner>

Lethargic calico goldfish, system unsuitably small, nutrition lacking, water unlivable nitrate-wise... 06/06/2008
Hi WWM Crew,
I have a calico goldfish, Flash, that I have had for about a year and five months. Flash is living in a ten gallon tank with a fantail, Ginger, that I got two weeks ago.
<... need more room than this>
Both fish are about 2 inches. They've been getting along just fine, but in the past week and a half Flash has been very lethargic. He stays at the top of the tank and his fins droop and kind of fold over (especially tail). He seems to swim okay, but sort of floats up sometimes. Ginger appears normal. When I feed Flash, his appetite is still normal. I changed 25% of the water last on May 26.
<I would do this weekly>
I tested the water levels: nitrate=20-40,
<Much too high... polluted>
nitrite=0-.5,
<Must be zero>
total hardness=150-300, alkalinity=120-180, and pH=7.2-7.8 (ran out of test strips, but last week ammonia=0). Also, before I got Ginger I had another calico, Lightning, living with Flash. Awhile after Lightning died, Flash sat at the bottom of the tank (depression after Lightning died?),
<Perhaps>
but he could swim just fine to eat. Once Ginger arrived, Flash didn't sit on the bottom anymore. Could Flash sitting on the bottom previously have anything to do with his problem now?
<Mmm, yes...>
Before I got Ginger, I was feeding Flash "Jack's Aquarium & Pets Goldfish Flakes" twice a day.
<... need more than this dried food...>
Lightning was sitting on the bottom, so I thought he might have been constipated; I decided to feed Lightning and Flash just once a day. After Lightning died, I continued to feed Flash once a day. Could his weak, lethargic behavior now be a result from me feeding him only half as much as before?
<Maybe a contributing factor>
Just today, I realized that some of Flash's waste was white (a little see-through) and kind of stringy. This is the longest I've ever had a goldfish and I want to keep him healthy! Thanks for your time and can you please help me?!
<Oh yes... can and will>
PS-Just a little more info: Over the past several years I've had several goldfish. Only two are in the tank at a time because ten gallons is pretty small.
<Really impractical... too small to be stable, stay relatively unpolluted twixt maintenance on filters, dilution of wastes via water changes... Had you read...>
Most of these fish died the same way. They'd float at the top for around a week, and then would lie on the ground on their sides and would die soon following this stage. None of these fish were around more than a year. Do you think there's just something wrong with the water I dechlorinate from the tap?
<... Please start here: http://wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebIndex/gldfshsystems.htm
and onto the linked files above. Your system is unsuitably small, nutrition lacking, water unlivable nitrate-wise... Bob Fenner>

Re: calico won't eat 06/06/2008
Hi again WWM Crew,
I just sent you an email on June 5 about my lethargic calico goldfish, Flash. I told you he still had an appetite; he doesn't anymore. Because Flash seemed weak, I decided to try to feed him a few fish flakes tonight. The flakes passed right in front of Flash, but he refused to eat them. I'm getting worried! Again, thanks for your time, and please get back to me as soon as possible!
<... reading. B>

Re: lethargic calico goldfish 6/6/08
Hi WWM Crew,
I just wanted to thank you for getting back to me so quickly. You gave me wonderful advice, and I'm going to start using it immediately! Very sadly,
Flash passed away last night. I guess it was just too late, but with your advice I know I can keep Ginger healthy!
Thanks again,
Annemarie
<And happy I hope/trust! Cheers, BobF>

Goldfish sitting on the bottom!? 6/3/08
Hey everyone,
I have a 30 gallon goldfish tank with two stunted comets and two fantails (I wrote in a question a little while ago about the stunted fish, and you guys were great. I'm really sorry for bugging you again). My question is about one of my fantails. He was sold to his previous owner as an Oranda and was kept in a filthy ten gallon with five other fish. I've had him for about seven months and in that time he has not grown at all. He's about an inch and a half long, with no hood, huge eyes, a funny shaped body, a bent back, and two dorsal fins (or one that was split, I can't tell). Kind of a funny looking little fish. Although odd, he has always been one of the most active of my goldfish, always cruising the tank looking for food.
For the last couple of days he hasn't been nearly as active. He just sits on the bottom of the tank for a couple of hours, then gets back up. In fact, he is spending more time each day laying on the bottom.
He is not gasping, his fins are up, and is eating regularly. I'm wondering what is wrong with him. I had another fantail a couple months back that exhibited the same behavior and ended up passing away. All of the other fish are normal, happy and healthy.
I just did a 35% water change and he is still spending a lot of time laying on the bottom.
<Mmm... this sitting... is not a good sign>
I just checked the water and the ammonia and nitrites are at 0ppm. The tank gets a 30-50% water change once a week.
<Good>
They are fed a small amount of pellets twice a day, as well as treats like romaine, brine shrimp, and marine algae.
Any help would be wonderful. He may be funny looking, but he's a great little fish.
Also, I have an African cichlid tank (lake Malawi). It' gets a 25% water change once a week. Right after the change, I notice a spike in the aggression among my fish. They go at each other for a while and then calm down, especially my largest male. By night time, they all have at least one rip in a fin or a missing scale. Is there any way I can cut back on this spike? By the time they all heal, it's time for a water change again!
<Good observations and relating... I do see the same behavior in/with my African Cichlids and water changes as well. The goldfish I suspect are having trouble with gas exchange... basically a lack of oxygen... Likely due to increased temperature with the warm season and a "coating" of oil on the surface of the water caused by foods... I would add aeration/circulation, particularly something that will disrupt the surface (like an added outside hang-on power filter).>
Thanks so much!
Jessica
<Welcome. Bob Fenner>

Stunted goldfish questions. 5/28/2008
Hi everyone,
First off, you maintain a wonderful site here. It's been amazingly helpful.
<Ah, good>
I have a 30 gallon tank with two small comet goldfish and two fantails (one pom pom and one small, very odd looking Oranda). The tank has 0ppm ammonia and nitrite and gets a 30% to 50% water change once a week.
<Very good>
They get fed a small amount of pellets twice a day, as well a treats like romaine and brine shrimp occasionally. All my fish seem active, happy, and healthy.
<The best>
My question relates to the two comets and the Oranda. Their previous owner kept them in a ten gallon with three other goldfish. The water was changed very infrequently and I can only guess at the state of the water quality. Needless to say, it wasn't very good. When I got the three goldfish, they were about and inch and a half long. I've had them in the 30 gallon for about six months, and the only thing that has grown is their tails. They have not put on any weight or length. I was wondering if they ever would? Do you think they were stunted?
<Is indeed possible. I have encountered both situations... in which previously "challenged" goldfish (et al. species) did not grow much further at all, and where they did resume>
I am in the process of setting up a small pond in my backyard that I would love to put the comets in, but I worry about leaving such small goldfish outside.
<Mmm... not likely a problem. And if anywhere, they will resume growth in a pond setting>
Also, one of them sometimes gulps at the top of the tank.
<A natural behavior. Not to worry>
Like I said, my ammonia levels are at 0, and none of the other fish in the tank ever do this. Do you think his gills were damaged by the time spent in a dirty habitat or am I just over reacting?
<Perhaps a bit of both>
I've gotten way too attached to these little guys and any advice would be wonderful.
Jessica
<You're doing fine... Enjoy your aquatic charges. Bob Fenner>

Don't understand my goldfish's behaviour and... Reading 05/23/08
Hi,
I have been looking for answers for a few days now and I think yours is the site to help me. I have a small tank 20 litres tank with 4 small ( 2" maximum length) goldfish in it.
<... needs more room/volume...>
Before these little guys I had 3 large ( 4"fish ) and they were doing really well, never any problem, but were too big so I found them a new home.
<Good>
Now my small fish, whom I thought would do better, due to the fish / water ratio are poorly. 1 of them stays all the time in the plant we have , head down, hardly moving but comes up for food. No idea why it is doing this, could it be spawning , or trying to spawn ?
<No...>
Secondly, 2 of the fish have a milky, mildewy look to their skin and their tales are shredding ( the skin between the 'ribs is disappearing ) and they can 't swim very well as a result. What could this be and how do I treat it?
<Environment... water quality...>
Any help and advice is most welcome as I am attached to little beasts.
Thanks in advance
Susanne from Portugal
<Read here: http://wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebIndex/gldfshsystems.htm and the linked files above. Bob Fenner>

Odd behavior 5/16/08
My son has two regular/feeder goldfish. We have had them for 3 years. One has grown very large, and the other one has only one eye (It came this way from the store). Both are very interesting and enjoyable to watch. Three days ago, the large one started picking up a rock, that is about 2 inches around, and "throwing" against the tank. Some facts: he has always picked up gravel from the bottom of the tank and spit it out, never "throwing" it against the tank. The tank is 55 gallons. The fish get fish treat pellets and regular goldfish flakes. Nothing has recently changed (tank cleaning, moving, food, etc.).
The first day this behavior started my husband eventually moved the rock. The next day that rock, in addition to two more rocks, were back to the corner of the tank where he continued to "throw" the rock. This goes on throughout the day. I want to know why he is doing this? Does he enjoy it? Is he bored? Is he nesting? The one eyed goldfish just watches and swims around him. The big one also often chases the small one around the tank. Help. I would hate for anything bad to happen to these fish. They truly are like family, they have been with us for so long.
<Greetings. Nothing to worry about here, though very, very odd for Goldfish. Cichlids are notorious for their landscaping abilities, and will often move surprisingly large amounts of sand or pebbles about the aquarium. Goldfish don't build nests, and normally scatter their eggs about during a rather frantic spawning dance through the plants. Contrary to myth, Goldfish are relatively smart animals, and widely used in animal behaviour experiments. So this may simply be a "play" behaviour of some sort, or perhaps a displacement behaviour. Your tank is nice and large, but you might consider adding some big plastic plants (tall ones, ideally) and perhaps a few rocks so that the fish have places to explore and investigate. In addition, you might try hand-training your fish: this teaches your fish to interact with the people outside the tank (by begging for food, usually!) and also you can try feeding them in a more fun way, moving food about so they have to chase it or swim to the top. Anything that makes life more fun is a great idea with large fish, because they often are quite smart animals. You could also add a couple more Goldfish: the more pals they have, the less bored they'll be. Cheers, Neale.>