unsure what's wrong with my Black Moor

**mylycanslove** · 10-02-2010, 04:52 PM

so there is something wrong with my black moor...not sure what. he is not eating and is not swimming much. the best way i can describe it, he is shedding his scales. pics can be found here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mylycanslove/.
i have started a Lifeguard All-in-One treatment for him, after cleaning his tank. i will keep posted on how he is doing.
any further advice would be greatly appreciated
thanks

**gm72** · 10-02-2010, 05:24 PM

We won't be at all able to help without some basic information.

1. Water parameters
2. Tank size and tank mates
3. Tank maintenance/water changing schedule and parameters.

Please post these and it will greatly help us help you.

**mylycanslove** · 10-02-2010, 05:26 PM

idk what you mean by water parameters.
the tank size is 2.5 gallons and he lives alone.
water and filter are changed every 1-2 weeks

**gm72** · 10-02-2010, 05:38 PM

Ah yes, one of these.

There are significant problems here. Black moors are inherently dirty fish. Your tank size is inadequate.
Is the tank cycled?
We are looking for parameters for nitrAte, nitrIte, and ammonia. How much water do you change?
If you are changing out the entire filter you are in a perpetual state of cycling and your fish is doomed.
Please read the free Ebook located in the menu to your left.

**mylycanslove** · 10-02-2010, 05:42 PM

idk what you mean by cycled.
i change the entire tank. how much should i be changing and how often?

**Pleco380** · 10-02-2010, 05:44 PM

Youcan't just put the fish in the tank. It must go through a nitrite spike, ammonia spike etc. When that settles down it's cycled. Goldfish need bigger tanks and the tank isn't cycled so that's probably why the fish isn't doing so good.

**mylycanslove** · 10-02-2010, 06:05 PM

i will try to get him a bigger tank soon. how big should it be for a single fish? and how long does the tank have to cycle? and how much and how often should i change the water? i have been reading the ebook, but i want to understand for my fish. i want him to get better. i dont like that he is hurting and sick :(

**Pleco380** · 10-02-2010, 06:11 PM

For a goldfish a 30g or more is best but you might be okay with a bit smaller temporarily. Once the tank is cycled a weekly water change is a good schedule but don't remove all the water. The tank will have to cycle for a few weeks until the water parimeters are good. If you know someone else with an established tank they might be able to give you some used biomax so the tank is quickly cycled.

**smaug** · 10-02-2010, 06:13 PM

He needs a minimum of a 10 gal.Dont handle him with your hands anymore for any reason,there bulgy eyes can be damaged no matter how careful you are.The ebook has the info you must learn.quit cleaning the filter,get that 10 gal tank now,there is no time.Make sure to get a hang on back filter capable of at least a 20 gal tank.Dont take any advice fro the pet shp people,they are just there to sell you things.Do you use water conditioner after every water change?