wordhappy

Just noticed that Sanya, my blackmoor, has fraying (but not chunks out of) one of his quadruple caudal fins. What could this be? Also, the orange has a white lump that looks like a rogue piece of food, in the middle of one of its caudal fins. The calico fan appears to have all fins intact. All three fish are currently swimming about together in a mini-school, chasing their reflections and probing the gravel for food. They are very active, although when not doing this, Sanya is still extremely lethargic and hanging out behind the filter. I haven't had good health myself lately and I am starting to get really exhausted with this, especially the carting buckets of water about! I just want to have all the knowledge in my head already and not have to ask everything all the time! And I can't stand the thought my fish might be suffering. I want to give them a good life. <

I don't see gill flicking. Right. Got to take some decisive action. Going to put in the Prazi now after a 30-40% water change. I have had an offer of a larger tank from a friend so will check that out and if it is suitable I suppose I will just have to start from scratch in the new tank once the fish are better. At least this will mean I have a hospital tank if needed. Thinking positive here. < : ) Also, should I take the contents out of the filter (I don't have an air pump) for some or all of the time during medication?

Thanks BikBok. I'm still trying to understand the cycling. I have read enough about it that I really should understand it by now. Is it a matter of leaving some crud under the stones to turn to nitrates, but not so much that it poisons the water??

Thanks very much. I suspect flukes because the calico came from the pet shop with clamped fin and the others have got sick since it arrived. I am quite new to fish though so this could be flawed thinking. The tank has been up and running about seven weeks. I bought a Nitrate testing kit today and it read just now at 0. I'm going to try putting the prazi in in the morning.

It's called Droncit (50mg Praziquantel), and the vets got it in for me knowing I wanted it for the fish tank... I am just cautious, as I note that on fish forums I've read people seem to have praziquantel designed for fish specifically. I don't know if these things would have something in them that's not good for fish.

Hi all, I have just got some of this, which says on the packet it is for cats and dogs. Pet shop advised me to use 250mg/100L of water "for three days" - was wondering what might've been meant by the "for three days" bit? Does that mean do a big water change each day (if so, how much?) and that dose of prazi each day? I have a 38L tank with one natural plant and three small (about 4cm/1.5inch) fancy goldfish (a comet-bodied orange with a quadruple fan tail, a blackmoor, and a calico with a tri-fan tail). They have been a little under the weather and I suspect some sort of parasitic situation. The problems started about three weeks ago when I introduced the calico fan - who had a clamped fin, which I didn't know was a sign of illness. The other day the orange was flashing a little, and developed a couple of lighter coloured scales. I had a .25-.5 ammonia reading so I did a 70% water change, focusing particularly on getting deep under the gravel, took some of the gravel out, and the flashing stopped immediately. The blackmoor (my favourite - such a friendly little monkey!) has been hanging out at surface a lot and generally acting weird. Sometimes he gulps, sometimes he just hides behind the filter, sometimes he bottom-sits, but always when you talk to him he seems to 'wake up', swims over, wants to know what it's all about, then hangs out and does fish stuff with the other fish for a while. All the fish are sociable with each other, but the blackmoor of late frequently hangs out alone. The calico still has clamped fin, but only from time to time. I suspect that fish of starting the problems. Chemical situation: pH 7.5ish, nitrites = 0, ammonia now = 0, and yet to test nitrates (only bought that kit today). I'm just learning. The main thing I want to know is that this Prazi is safe, and how to dose it. Do I crush it or dissolve it first or bury it in the gravel or what? It wasn't made for fish so I have no packet instructions to work with. I like these fish and don't want to do the wrong thing! p.s. I know, I know, I need a bigger tank. I'm working on it. Can't afford to just go out and buy one. <

Hey @mcrudd, I'm new here and I just happened to stumble across this thread. I am where you used to be. I am at the start of the long road of needing to lose weight for breast reduction surgery. I'm sorry to hear you had complications. Sending good thoughts your way.