faeryrose
Aquarium Advice Newbie
I have a 4 year old common goldfish (Crowley) in a 50 gallon planted tank, who is suddenly not doing so well. He was "rescued" from my daughters classroom tank when he was very very tiny.
Water parameters seem to be good (Ammonia=0, Nitrites=0, Nitrates=20, pH=7.0, Phosphate = 0 (I think* the colors are hard to read). I'm using API liquid test kits. I don't test as often as I should, but when I do it always seems pretty stable. I do 25% water changes every week or two, and treat the new water with Seachem Prime. I also put in Seachem Gold Trace during water changes.
Right now he is listless at the bottom of the tank, often lying "bent over" on his side. When he tries to swim it's very erratic. Sometimes he's able to sit still or swim very slowly in an upright position, but not often, and he tends to "tip" over.
I moved him to a smaller 5 gallon hospital tank when I noticed his behavior a couple of days ago, and am only treating with small amounts of aquarium salt (to prevent infection as he scraped off some scales on a rock in his big tank, probably when swimming erratically) and epsom salts (thinking that might help with possible swim bladder issue or internal infection?)
I do NOT notice any other symptoms - no red spots, white spots, white patches, red streaks, fins look great and have NOT been clamped at all. Nothing hanging off of him. No weird lines or ulcers. No overactive mucus coat. He looks totally normal other than the not swimming around. He tries to eat but can't seem to orient himself to get to the food. I've managed to hand feed him a shelled, cooked pea soaked in garlic juice.
The hospital tank is a 5 gallon, no sand or rocks or decorations, one sponge filter, one small hang on filter and one air stone (from his big tank - which has multiple filters and air stones). I started the hospital tank with his normal tank water, and I've been doing very small water changes every couple of hours (2 quarts at a time) on the hospital tank during the day.
I've read that laying on his side bent over is a sign of nitrate poisoning, but he doesn't have any other symptoms that I can see. I have no idea how to tell if it's a bacterial infection since there are no outward signs. I really don't want to medicate him if he doesn't need it, but I don't have any clues what to try next. I do have several options in the "medicine cabinet) if I end up needing them, but I've never had to use medicines before.
It's been 2 days of this so far. He's normally incredibly active and responsive. He normally eats shelled peas, omega one goldfish flakes, or Sera Goldy Color Spirulina pellets, and of course he is constantly eating the plants in the tank.
Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated.
Water parameters seem to be good (Ammonia=0, Nitrites=0, Nitrates=20, pH=7.0, Phosphate = 0 (I think* the colors are hard to read). I'm using API liquid test kits. I don't test as often as I should, but when I do it always seems pretty stable. I do 25% water changes every week or two, and treat the new water with Seachem Prime. I also put in Seachem Gold Trace during water changes.
Right now he is listless at the bottom of the tank, often lying "bent over" on his side. When he tries to swim it's very erratic. Sometimes he's able to sit still or swim very slowly in an upright position, but not often, and he tends to "tip" over.
I moved him to a smaller 5 gallon hospital tank when I noticed his behavior a couple of days ago, and am only treating with small amounts of aquarium salt (to prevent infection as he scraped off some scales on a rock in his big tank, probably when swimming erratically) and epsom salts (thinking that might help with possible swim bladder issue or internal infection?)
I do NOT notice any other symptoms - no red spots, white spots, white patches, red streaks, fins look great and have NOT been clamped at all. Nothing hanging off of him. No weird lines or ulcers. No overactive mucus coat. He looks totally normal other than the not swimming around. He tries to eat but can't seem to orient himself to get to the food. I've managed to hand feed him a shelled, cooked pea soaked in garlic juice.
The hospital tank is a 5 gallon, no sand or rocks or decorations, one sponge filter, one small hang on filter and one air stone (from his big tank - which has multiple filters and air stones). I started the hospital tank with his normal tank water, and I've been doing very small water changes every couple of hours (2 quarts at a time) on the hospital tank during the day.
I've read that laying on his side bent over is a sign of nitrate poisoning, but he doesn't have any other symptoms that I can see. I have no idea how to tell if it's a bacterial infection since there are no outward signs. I really don't want to medicate him if he doesn't need it, but I don't have any clues what to try next. I do have several options in the "medicine cabinet) if I end up needing them, but I've never had to use medicines before.
It's been 2 days of this so far. He's normally incredibly active and responsive. He normally eats shelled peas, omega one goldfish flakes, or Sera Goldy Color Spirulina pellets, and of course he is constantly eating the plants in the tank.
Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated.