Will go through and answer the questions you ask first.
1~What type of fish is afflicted? In addition, please describe what is wrong with the fish to the best of your ability (i.e. cotton like growth, bloated, etc.):
After checking on my fish all day as it has been an extremely hot day here in Sydney, I have notice a swelling just after my fish's two fins and some slight pineconeing of the scales. It is a comet goldfish, six years old.
2~What are your tank parameters (ammonia, nitrites, nitrates, temp, pH)? Please give exact values.
Ammonia: 0 Nitrites: 0 Nitrates: 20 Ph: 7.6 (always this). Temp has been fluctuating between 26-30 degrees celsius the past few days due to horrible weather and a broken air conditioner. That is 78-86 for Americans.
3~ How large is the tank? How long has the tank been set up?
It is 90L or 20 gallons, these is 2 fish in there. One common and one comet who is the sick one. It has been set up for just over 2 years now I think.
4~What type of filtration are you using? Please give the name and number (i.e. Fluval 304) and amount of gph if known.
It is an Aqua One, meant for a 150L tank.
5~How many fish are in the tank? What kinds of fish are they and what are their current sizes?
Two goldfish, the sick one is about 5 inches and the common is about 3 inches.
6~When is the last time you did a water change and vacuum the gravel? How often do you do this? How much water do you remove at a time?
I did a water change on Friday which included the vacumming the gravel. I also re-arranged the tank, which involved pick up a piece of driftwood in there, that had lots of gunk under it.
I do water changes ever 2-3 weeks, changing about 50-60% of the water.
7~How long have you had the fish? If the fish is new, how did you acclimate it/them?
Not new, it is 6 years old.
8~Have you added anything new to the tank--decor, new dechlorinator, new substrate, etc.?
Yes new plants and a new plastic or whatever decor.
9~What kind of food have you been feeding your fish, have you changed their diet recently?
Regular food. Goldfish pellets, frozen peas, freeze dried worms, vegetables, algae wafers.
I am so worried now. I've seen other people go through the dreaded dropsy and I am just devastated. I love my fish but I am no natural. In Australia antibiotic food is also not available and I have no hospital tank. The only other tank I have is a 9 litre or 2 gallon tank, I am currently cycling for a betta. I don't know what to do. Is there any chance it could be anything else? It is not it's stomach but it's chest area.
Oh and she is acting completely fine. This has been very sudden and she is still swimming around happily. If it is has been building up and I have not noticed, then she has still been acting fine and eating like there is no tomorrow as usual. No clapped fins or anything and very active.
1~What type of fish is afflicted? In addition, please describe what is wrong with the fish to the best of your ability (i.e. cotton like growth, bloated, etc.):
After checking on my fish all day as it has been an extremely hot day here in Sydney, I have notice a swelling just after my fish's two fins and some slight pineconeing of the scales. It is a comet goldfish, six years old.
2~What are your tank parameters (ammonia, nitrites, nitrates, temp, pH)? Please give exact values.
Ammonia: 0 Nitrites: 0 Nitrates: 20 Ph: 7.6 (always this). Temp has been fluctuating between 26-30 degrees celsius the past few days due to horrible weather and a broken air conditioner. That is 78-86 for Americans.
3~ How large is the tank? How long has the tank been set up?
It is 90L or 20 gallons, these is 2 fish in there. One common and one comet who is the sick one. It has been set up for just over 2 years now I think.
4~What type of filtration are you using? Please give the name and number (i.e. Fluval 304) and amount of gph if known.
It is an Aqua One, meant for a 150L tank.
5~How many fish are in the tank? What kinds of fish are they and what are their current sizes?
Two goldfish, the sick one is about 5 inches and the common is about 3 inches.
6~When is the last time you did a water change and vacuum the gravel? How often do you do this? How much water do you remove at a time?
I did a water change on Friday which included the vacumming the gravel. I also re-arranged the tank, which involved pick up a piece of driftwood in there, that had lots of gunk under it.
I do water changes ever 2-3 weeks, changing about 50-60% of the water.
7~How long have you had the fish? If the fish is new, how did you acclimate it/them?
Not new, it is 6 years old.
8~Have you added anything new to the tank--decor, new dechlorinator, new substrate, etc.?
Yes new plants and a new plastic or whatever decor.
9~What kind of food have you been feeding your fish, have you changed their diet recently?
Regular food. Goldfish pellets, frozen peas, freeze dried worms, vegetables, algae wafers.
I am so worried now. I've seen other people go through the dreaded dropsy and I am just devastated. I love my fish but I am no natural. In Australia antibiotic food is also not available and I have no hospital tank. The only other tank I have is a 9 litre or 2 gallon tank, I am currently cycling for a betta. I don't know what to do. Is there any chance it could be anything else? It is not it's stomach but it's chest area.
Oh and she is acting completely fine. This has been very sudden and she is still swimming around happily. If it is has been building up and I have not noticed, then she has still been acting fine and eating like there is no tomorrow as usual. No clapped fins or anything and very active.
good luck,
