Goldfish with spots

[Katherine1119]

I have a fan tail goldfish and it has been lathargic and not swimming right, sitting at the bottom a lot. It has recently developed red spots on its tail, they look like blood bumps? I just did a 50% water change and I'm going to do another 30% on Friday(3 days later). I don't know the current parameters except the nitrite which is 0ppm. Also I had a month or to ago a problem with my pleco he was constipated so I fed peas for 2 weeks and he's better now, I currently feed flakes, brine shrimp, and algae pellets. Any help would be appreciated

 

[jlk]

Hi Katherine! Welcome to AA!!! Can you please provide us with some more info so we can help you better? Tank size? Stocking? Normal water change schedule (%/#wk)? How long the tank has been setup? A pic of your sick fish (if you need help doing this, just ask!)?

Although you provided your nitrite level, knowing your ammonia, nitrate & ph levels would be of a big help- can you possibly take a sample of your water to be tested at your lfs (most do this for free)? Just make sure you write down the exact numbers in ppm & let us know how these look. Thanks!

 

[Katherine1119]

The tank is 30 gallons, I change the water normally twice a month 50%-80%, so every other week, ill try to get a pic

 

[Katherine1119]

So here's pic u can't see the spots tho , tank mates are: pleco, 3 danios, dwarf gourami, bala shark, tank has been going for 3 years never had unhealthy fish till now, the goldfish has been in there for 2 years, ill get the params tested tomorow

 

[Katherine1119]

I'm pretty sure the red spots were blood and he has fin rot, how do you treat fin rot, and does it cause the lathargic behavior?

 

[jlk]

Thank youy, Catherine! Can I ask what the temp of the tank is? Your numbers will really help as well! You do have some serious stocking issues for a 30g, especially with the goldfish in the tank but based on your pics, I can say she doesnt have fin rot. Her behavior and symptoms point to a water quality issue though and its possible she may have developed an internal infection as the result.

Are you in the US? If so, go to the Goldfish Connections site & their store and order a bag of Medi-Gold. If you dont want to order from the site, heres their phone numbers:888-864-6919/814-864-3908. If you are not in the US, we will have to figure out another course of action to take. In the meantime, I would like for you to increase your water changes until we have some idea of what your numbers are. Start with a 50+% wc today (temperature match & properly condition) and another tomorrow. Do you have any aq salt? Thanks!

 

[Katherine1119]

I've always herd that the rule for stocking is 1 inch of fish for every 1 gallon of water I'm well below that, the pleco is 6 inches long and isn't growing anymore I think he grew to the size of the tank, water temp around 78-80 degrees Fahrenheit, I'm getting the water tested today, and planned a water change for today, are you sure about the fin for? What else would cause the blood spots on his tail( idk if its a boy or girl lol), I am in the US so ill check out the site, no other fish in the tank are having problems, I started feeding peas last night thinking maybe bloat, it seemed to help a little

 

[jlk]

The 1inch of fish per gallon 'rule' is probably one of the biggest myths in stocking. You need to take a fish's growth potential, swimming space needs, and bioload (among other things) into consideration. Six 1" minnows are not going to carry anywhere near the bioload of a 6" pleco or 6" goldfish. Nor can you put six 1' minnows in a 6g because they need swimming room. A 6" pleco or goldie simply can not survive or thrive in a 6g tank and would be severely stunted if they even were able to tolerate the water conditions that would become toxic very quickly.

He/she does not have fin rot (yet) based on your pics. As I mentioned, its likely the result of a water quality issue even if the other fish do not have similar symtpoms. She may also have developed a bacterial infection as a result and this is why I am suggesting the Medi-Gold to address this. Let us know how your water looks when you have it tested and we can make further suggestions! Just make sure you take a sample of the water prior to a water change. I would also bring a sample of tap water to be tested as well.

 

[Katherine1119]

Ok so the tank water is nitrite:0 ppm, nitrate:10 ppm, ammonia: .10-.15ppm, ph: 7.4, I also bought the kits and tested the tap water it was all the same except ph was 8.8!!!!! I don't understand that but. Whatever, so the ammonia is a problem but I'm estimating the levels because its in between the 0 ppm and the .25ppm color on the chart it's the same color as the chart just a little bit darker

 

[Katherine1119]

Ok so the tank water is nitrite:0 ppm, nitrate:10 ppm, ammonia: .10-.15ppm, ph: 7.4, I also bought the kits and tested the tap water it was all the same except ph was 8.8!!!!! I don't understand that but. Whatever, so the ammonia is a problem but I'm estimating the levels because its in between the 0 ppm and the .25ppm color on the chart it's the same color as the chart just a little bit darker than the yellow on the chart

 

[jlk]

Thanks! Thats good news! I was expecting the numbers to be a bit scarier but there still shouldnt be ammonia in a cycled tank. Ok, for your tap ph, set out a container of water with an airstone or bubbler- if you dont have an extra, give the water a good stir every so often to help release dissolved gasses. Check the ph in 24hrs & see if it changes. In the meantime, I would just do some extra water changes and give her(or him) a full course of MediGold once you get it. If anything changes in the meantime/her codition worsens, let us know & we can offer some alternatives. Keep us posted!

 

[jlk]

Did forget one thing- do you have aq salt (or another usuable salt)? Although the pleco & bala may not be thrilled about it, they should be able to tolerate a very low level of salinity (.05% or 1.9grams/g) as long as its increased gradually. For a 30g, this would be 57grams of salt. Predissolve it in a container of tank water & add the salt solution gradually over 48hrs. When you do water changes, only add back the salt (predissolved) you remove. So, for a 50% wc, add back 28.5grams. I would prefer the salt to be higher (.1%) but your tankmates have to be taken into consideration as well.

 

[Katherine1119]

I add Epsom salt periodically in low levels it is soluble I started this when the pleco was bloated it helped out a lot, I think it saved the pleco, but I don't have aq salt, I tried to look at a package of the stuff to see what salt is in it but it didn't say so idk the difference, but the Epsom salt was recomended by my fish store( local not chain store I trust them)

 

[jlk]

Epsom salt (magnesium sulfate) is a bit of a different creature than aq salt (sodium chloride). Epsoms can help with bloating & constipation issues but its not intended for constant use & high amounts can be toxic, so use with care. Aq salt does not have be from a lfs- you can also use kosher salt, canning/pickling salt, some sea & rock salts. Much cheaper in the grocery store! Just check the ingredient list and make sure the only ingredient listed is sodium chloride (NaCl). Some salts have anti-caking agents and iodine and are not recommended for aq use.

 

[Katherine1119]

Ok I only do 2 teaspoons in the 30 gallon when the tank is off, or there is a sick fish also the goldfish is at the bottom a lot and doesn't swim as well( they never swim well anyways lol) so I think it might be a bloat type problem causing the poor swimming not related to the tail

 

[bettabill]

Hello I'm new to this advice thing but I do have some experience with koi and I am a big salt fan. Seems like if my fish start to look different I ad salt to the pond and the fish look better within a week. In the past I have tried pond treatment products but the salt seems to be the best. Basic illnesses like bloody looking fins, red spots or red looking viens (on the white koi) fin damage. Parasites are a whole nother ball game. Hope this helps you.

 

[Katherine1119]

Ya it does I also have noticed that about my tank I'm gonna do a water change now and add another 2 teaspoons of salt to the tank thank all of you for the help I hope my fish will feel better soon

 

[Katherine1119]

So did a 30% water change and a hour later ammonia levels rose to .25ppm, I tested the tap water it's at .10 just like earlier i don't understand why this happened, is it just to early to test? I'm getting pretty disappointed with this tank right now, maybe I should add some beneficial bacterial? Please help

 

[jlk]

What are you using as your water conditioner? Are you just treating the new water or the entire tank? Are you turning your filters off before doing a water change?

 

[Katherine1119]

I've never used a water softener of any kind in any tank including this one which has been running and healthy for 4 years untill last month, the filter was off, I know ppl will say that it's bad not to but