PENEJANE Posted October 28, 2005 Report Share Posted October 28, 2005 my youngest daughters comet isn't looking to good. When I first got them they were swimming about happily ( one fish for each daughter). The other one is still doing fine but this morning when I woke up this fish was sitting on the bottom and breathing very slowly. This is the fish that when the lady at the pet store caught it she squished it against the glass and I said to her that I didn't want that one now as it was missing scales but she said it would be fine just add some melafix to the water which I did when I got home. This was a good couple of months ago when I got these fish. But over the last fortnight or so I have noticed that its not opening its tail out (fan tail) and it seems stuck in one position and the ends have turned black. I noticed that the filter still had the carbon pack in it and it would be past its 3 months date so I took that out thinking that the carbon wasn't working any more and putting toxins back into the tank. If the fish is going to die I can handle that but would like to know why if anyone can shine some light on this for me. With the scales missing it never got an infection or open wound. It has now left the bottom of the tank and is now lazily floating behind the filter breathing still slow. any help appreciated. Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caper Posted October 28, 2005 Report Share Posted October 28, 2005 Did you do a water change? Have you treated with melafix since you noticed the trouble? Is he eating? Gee, what do you all think...if the lady did indeed injure the poor fish, wouldn't it had trouble long ago? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PENEJANE Posted October 28, 2005 Author Report Share Posted October 28, 2005 well I went and got her another one this morning, I do water changes weekly since it is a small tank. It wasn't eating yet it was eating fine last night. I did water test and everything was fine. I guess its just one of thoes things. But she is happy with the new fishy that she picked out and now we got the problem of picking a name for it lol. cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caper Posted October 28, 2005 Report Share Posted October 28, 2005 So did the sick fishy go to fishy heaven???? Could be as you just one of those things, don't you just hate those though :evil: I'm glad your daughter is pleased Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PENEJANE Posted October 30, 2005 Author Report Share Posted October 30, 2005 yes the fish went to fishy heaven when it started to swim on its side but now my other daughters fish is doing it which is whats puzzling me. Water test came up all clear but it now seems as if its got a blister type thing on its head between its eyes. It will swim down to the bottom of the tank and hold there for a little bit but then float and bob at the top. This is really puzzling me. The tank has a filter and plants in it. I did notice that this fish wasn't as well as it could have been when the other one died. Would a 100% water change help? considering its goldfish and then add some stress coat and/or melafix? cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted October 30, 2005 Report Share Posted October 30, 2005 Have you considered constipation? Do a 50% water change at most, never do 100%, then don't feed for a couple of days. When you do, feed them a pea (or 2) cooked and shelled. See if this helps. I am really against people adding meds or chemicals merely because they have no idea what is wrong with the fish but figure it won't harm. It may do! Melafix is an antibacterial so it is inappropriate to use if your fish does not have a bacterial infection. You say the water tests came up clear, what tests did you do? What size is the tank and what size are the fish. I assume these 2 fish are the only inhabitants? The blister may be damage from it hitting the gravel or damaging itself on something. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PENEJANE Posted October 30, 2005 Author Report Share Posted October 30, 2005 The test I done are pH and ammonia. They are two small comets (body will fit inside a $0.20 piece). Their tank is a 1.5 gallon (5.7 ltr "I think") hexagon tank. I will do a 50% water change tonight and stop feeding as you said and then give them a pea. I shall let you know how things go cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PENEJANE Posted October 30, 2005 Author Report Share Posted October 30, 2005 Well this morning things are looking a little more sad. The fish is sitting at the top of the tank breathing very slowly and bearly moving. It has three tails and one of them is looking kinda frayed at the edges. Is there anything I can add? I think what has caused this is that I left the carbon stuff in the filter way past its run out time and it has deposited toxins back into the water which has affected both fish as they looked as if they were getting affected wtih something not long after I got them. The replacement that I got on the weekend is doing fine but I have removed the carbon from the filter ages ago but I think that it may be to late for the other fish Once I have replaced this and they die off again I won't be getting any more goldies! lol cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted October 31, 2005 Report Share Posted October 31, 2005 If you suspect a buildup of toxins, do daily water changes. They should improve. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PENEJANE Posted October 31, 2005 Author Report Share Posted October 31, 2005 the gold fish died this afternoon when I got back from trading in some guppies to get another goldie. I will keep up with every 2 day water changes for the next week and see how things go with the new fishies cheers for all your help Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mustcooktea Posted October 31, 2005 Report Share Posted October 31, 2005 Hi Penejane Sorry to hear about your fish. My thought is that since the tank is still fairly new it may not have finished cycling. Did you seed the tank? I ask because I know it took a while for my daugher's goldfish tank to cycle because it was unheated (slower growing bacteria). If the tank was cycled it may be that the nitrates were building up fairly quickly in a tank that size so weekly water changes may not have been enough. I suspect that may have been the cause of one of my son's first goldfish's death. That tank was about six months old but I didn't have any test kits at that time. Best of luck with the new fish. MCT Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PENEJANE Posted November 3, 2005 Author Report Share Posted November 3, 2005 Ok something isn't right here..... The new fish that I got for my daughter is now showing a couple of patches of this fluffly stuff (looked on net and sounds like fungus). I don't have the money to run out and get meds to treat it. I have salt (aquqrium salt), stress coat and malachite green. I have read that malachite green will help with external parasites and fungal infections. But on the bottle that I have it says to raise the temp to 28*C. I can't do that with goldfish. Will any of these help? It looked under the weather yesterday so I done a water change and it perked up after that but today I have noticed these patches. Yet the scales are still there (from what I can see). How can I help this wee guy/girl? We are heading off tomorrow for a weekend away and I don't really want to come back to dead fish. Cheers for any help on this one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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