Goldfish problem

[fredix]

hi!
Some of my goldfishes have something strange.
Their fin on the back is dark red. They cannot deploy it, looks like it is sticked on the back.
On some others, is appearing small points of the same dark red color.

I've been able to take a (very bad, sorry) picture of the one with the most of the symptoms.
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Apart from this, they look okay. Just swim a bit slower than the others, but they can eat without problem. The problem is on the bigger ones so they are always the first on the food anyway.

Thanks to help for a cure.

[robnepper]

Please post your water parameters. Nitrites, nitrates, ammonia, for starters. Also, what is your water change frequency, feeding schedule and filtration.

Thanks

[fredix]

I stopped to measure parameters about 2 years ago. Maybe I could go buy a kit if it appears to be necessary.
Last time I did the test the water appeared to be rather polluted, but nothing alarming for goldfish. Certainly nitrates are high: I have guppies also, but all the males died. Females are okay.
I feed every 1-2 weeks and replace 10-20% water with fresh dechlored water every month or when I see the fish stressed: suckung surface or swimming head down. This happened only 2-3 times in a year, anyway.

No filtration. I have a decantation box under the aquarium but I don't use it anymore for filtration. I just use it when I change water.

I am planning to put plants but not before a couple of months. But if this appears to be due to the high nitrates I may rethink about it: I have exams actually and very little time.

The aquarium was part of an aquaponic system until last summer. I had to stop, but bacteria population should still be very sane.

[PostalPenguin]

No filtration on a goldfish tank? Prepare to get yelled at. Your fish might have septecemia or any other combination of diseases. You need to get sometype of filter, increase your water changes and start testing the water. If you dont, any solution to the current problem will only be a temporary. You should start doing >25% water changes a week.

And plants are a solution to high nitrates. However, they are not a substitute for water changes. You will also need to ensure that you have sufficient lighting to grow them.

How big is your tank and how many fish are in there? I am a student as well and taking care of my fish takes only one or two hours a week when I do the water change. Otherwise its 5 minutes in the morning and evening to feed them.

But if time is a problem I would look into finding a home for the fish since they will just keep getting sick.

To treat your current problem I would suggest PimaFix and Melafix.

[fredix]

Thanks, I'll try these products, or equivalent. Looks like "fin rot", after a bit research on Melafix.
Wow! Pictures of extreme symptoms are scary!

I know that no filtration and no plants cannot last forever, but hope this could wait a bit more if I check the quality.

Maybe I can at least restart the decantation box. Could do fine. :)

[PostalPenguin]

Depending on the size of your tank a HOB filter can be had for $20-50. This would do wonders to improve the water quality in your tank. Step up the water changes as well. Also, for plants try some java moss, anacharis or hornwort. I have anacharis and it grows about an inch a day and I give it no special attention.

[fredix]

I can put plants right now because I have a lot from another tank, but the problem with the goldfish is they eat them all :)
So I planned to grow terrestrial plants, with just the roots in the water.

[gabbyguppy]

[QUOTE=fredix]Thanks, I'll try these products, or equivalent. Looks like "fin rot", after a bit research on Melafix.
Wow! Pictures of extreme symptoms are scary!

A water change and filtration would probaby do more for your fish than anything. If you decide to use Melafix, it's best to have a bubbler going. This product can starve the water of oxygen.... poor water conditions mixed with medications can be a recipe for death.

You're fish are begging for better living conditions. Please listen to them.

Karen

[fredix]

I've got the bubbler, of course. Do you think I am a sadic, Karen?

So your advice is I get better water before giving the medication? Looks realistic.

[Wild Turkey]

Unfortunately, the levels most likely arent going to correct themselves without a filter. Stable zero ammona and zero nitrites means either theres no fish in the tank, or you have established the right amount of "ammonia and nitrite eating bacterias" These bacterias grow in the filter for the most part, and its very, very hard to keep the parameters stable without one. All fish need filters, including bettas, and thats why. They will literally suffocate on their own chemical waste without the proper bacteria.

It can grow in the gravel, and after two years you can bet it has at least some. Problem is, if you ever move the gravel (or the goldifish do) your levels are gonna spike again, so you need the filter to stabilize this tank, first and foremost. Stuff the filter with sponge media, and some of that gravel in a bag to get the bacteria growing on the media. Using charcoal is up to you, i would skip it since it sounds like you will be treating with melafix.

Just FYI stress in fish can cause all kinds of diseases and sicknesses, and makes them more susceptible to them, so its not uncommon to see problems like this fix themselves when the water problems are fixed and scheduled weekly water changes are carried out as normal. I would avoid treatment until my tank was showing 0/0/some A/NI/NA

I doubt anyone is going to yell at you about the fishes situation unless you ignore their advice. Most people with heads on their shoulders realize most fish being mis-homed are directly due to misinformation provided by the pet stores, and society in general. Its not the consumers fault, unless the correct info is given and they ignore it. Then it becomes their fault in a way.

[fredix]

I've been able to start the filtration tonight!
It is a 50l tank full of pellets.
Next step is to find a big plant to grow in there...

I will wait a couple of weeks to check if the medication is necessary or not.

[PostalPenguin]

You will probably know sooner than a few weeks if you need medication or not. However, clean water is a strong "medicine" on its own so if you keep the water clean the fish may heal themselves without the need for medication. But if in a few days your fish still aren't improving or are getting worse I would consider starting medication.

[fredix]

You are right. I'll probably not need medicals. Fishes are getting better. The one of the picture still has some red, but it can move the sin.

The funny is that the goldfishes look like to ask for healing. They put themselves head down and at this moment the guppies go to him and 'eat' the mycosis.

I have now plants in the filter tank, water is quite clear.

[Wild Turkey]

Any test results? We can tell you how far you are in the cycle process.

[fredix]

Just bought a 5 in 1 test:

ph 7
kh 15
gh 20
no3 10
no2 0.5

Nitrates & nitrites quite well. Kh & gh heavy, maybe for golsfishes it is okay. what do you think?

[Lady Hobbs]

Plants do not keep fish alive but regular water changes, keeping their tank clean and their gravel vacuumed does. Plants that lay in the tank and rot are worse than having no plants at all so they must be cared for, as well.

Goldfish in the wild get their water replenished and oxygenated thru rainfalls. Those stuck in a fish tank leave it up to us to provide for them.

[fredix]

There are no plants in the tank, if you'd read the post. Only in the decantation tank.
Okay. I'll leave it like this. Thanks for the help. Nice forum.