blorkiemom
Aquarium Advice Freak
I've got a black moor goldfish who's been with me for a couple of years, always healthy and hardy (he survived the newbie learning curve). His tail has always been beautiful--longer than his body. Last Saturday I realized with horror that part of his tail is gone! --around 3/4 of an inch. The edges are whitish (no fuzzies) and uneven but not split. His other fins are fin (though his dorsal is droopy) and he's eating fine, though maybe a little less active than usual. His pal (oranda) is fine.
I've been treating with melafix for 4 days; he doesn't seem to be getting worse but I'm not seeing clear improvement, either. Does this sound like fin rot? (I've never dealt with a case before.) Could it be the otos (see below) either nipping at him or stressing him out? Should I QT him and use maracyn or something? --or wait longer for the melafix to work?
Any help greatly appreciated. Carrot is my oldest fish and I would be very sad to lose him.
Tank info: 29G; Penguin 330 (I think--double bio-wheel); bubble wand. Planted.
Fish: 1 black moor, 1 oranda, 3 dwarf otos.
Water: ammonia 0; nitrites 0; nitrates ~20. pH 7.7, Temp: ~78
Weekly 20% water change with light vacuum.
Recent changes: a few months ago I moved the GF from an 18 to the 29. I added the otos about three weeks ago. (I have never seen them near his tail, though of course I can't watch every minute.) The only other recent change was that I added some wisteria.
I've been treating with melafix for 4 days; he doesn't seem to be getting worse but I'm not seeing clear improvement, either. Does this sound like fin rot? (I've never dealt with a case before.) Could it be the otos (see below) either nipping at him or stressing him out? Should I QT him and use maracyn or something? --or wait longer for the melafix to work?
Any help greatly appreciated. Carrot is my oldest fish and I would be very sad to lose him.
Tank info: 29G; Penguin 330 (I think--double bio-wheel); bubble wand. Planted.
Fish: 1 black moor, 1 oranda, 3 dwarf otos.
Water: ammonia 0; nitrites 0; nitrates ~20. pH 7.7, Temp: ~78
Weekly 20% water change with light vacuum.
Recent changes: a few months ago I moved the GF from an 18 to the 29. I added the otos about three weeks ago. (I have never seen them near his tail, though of course I can't watch every minute.) The only other recent change was that I added some wisteria.