Hello,
Hoping someone has an idea..this is a bit long, so I apologize in advance!
I have a 10 year old goldfish in a 29 gallon tank with a fluval filter, and 1 fresh plant that's been in the tank for more than a year.
The fish has been flashing on and off for the last 4-5 years, with no explanation as to why. The water quality is ok - zero ammonia (has gone up slightly at times, but with a water change it is ok again - but maybe that's the problem?) and appropriate ph.
The flashing was intermittent, maybe a few times a week to start, but the fish would wind up hitting the sides of the tank and the rocks on the bottom (small stones). His mouth area began to get red. We took him to a veterinarian, who gave antibiotics for a while, with no apparent result. He decided it must be a neurological problem, and I'm not sure what to make of that.
That was a few years ago - since the flashing has continued, maybe once every two days, but recently it's gotten worse, and now his mouth isn't healing well anymore. In the beginning it would become completely white again, to match his "skin" color, and now it remains fairly red, and a very small part has turned black, as though the skin is dead (this is on the side of his mouth). He can still eat, and move his mouth, but I would imagine it's painful, and every time he flashes he hits it again, making it worse.
Is there something to do??!!!! Am I missing something he could have? I don't know what to do anymore and I don't want to see him in pain.
Thank you!!
Hoping someone has an idea..this is a bit long, so I apologize in advance!
I have a 10 year old goldfish in a 29 gallon tank with a fluval filter, and 1 fresh plant that's been in the tank for more than a year.
The fish has been flashing on and off for the last 4-5 years, with no explanation as to why. The water quality is ok - zero ammonia (has gone up slightly at times, but with a water change it is ok again - but maybe that's the problem?) and appropriate ph.
The flashing was intermittent, maybe a few times a week to start, but the fish would wind up hitting the sides of the tank and the rocks on the bottom (small stones). His mouth area began to get red. We took him to a veterinarian, who gave antibiotics for a while, with no apparent result. He decided it must be a neurological problem, and I'm not sure what to make of that.
That was a few years ago - since the flashing has continued, maybe once every two days, but recently it's gotten worse, and now his mouth isn't healing well anymore. In the beginning it would become completely white again, to match his "skin" color, and now it remains fairly red, and a very small part has turned black, as though the skin is dead (this is on the side of his mouth). He can still eat, and move his mouth, but I would imagine it's painful, and every time he flashes he hits it again, making it worse.
Is there something to do??!!!! Am I missing something he could have? I don't know what to do anymore and I don't want to see him in pain.
Thank you!!