Blind Celestial Goldfish - Lethargic

[nessar]

I have a celestial goldfish that had a run-in 9 months ago with a missold ghost shrimp that turned out to be a predatory long-armed shrimp (which was promptly rehomed!). He made a slow but good recovery but I'm pretty sure he is blind or almost blind, as he bumps into things a lot, has difficulty finding food and his eyes are no longer celestial - one looks almost like a normal goldfish's and the other telescope, with both pupils being misshapen/torn. His nose is also slightly deformed. 
 
The problem is that he seems lethargic - he has periods of swimming around looking for food (which involves lots of looking for food on the surface or sucking up gravel, not sure if this is okay?) but also spends a lot of time either quite still or resting on the gravel. He prefers to rest under the filter for some reason. 
 
Celestial goldfish aren't great swimmers, so I'm not sure if this coupled with his blindness is causing his periods of resting, or whether he is ill? He has done this since his accident, but at first I put it down to him still healing, which took a long time. He didn't rest so much before his injury, but then he also had a friend then, who sadly died a couple of months after the attack. I haven't gotten him a new friend as I didn't want him to have to compete for food or get bullied, and the tank isn't that big. 
 
He was being fed Love Fish goldfish pellets (sinking) but for the last week I've been feeding him Aquarian goldfish pellets (floating) as he can find the food more easily. I also feed Hikari algae wafers and Tums (for calcium for the snails and shrimp) 2-3 times a week.
 
Tank details:
 
Tank size: 60 litres
pH: 7.6
ammonia: 0
nitrite: 0
nitrate: 50
tank temp: 20-22c
Volume and Frequency of water changes: 66% every 2 weeks
Tank inhabitants: 1 celestial goldfish (approx 2.5 inches nose to start of tail, 3.5 nose to tip of tail), 2 white cloud mountain minnows, 2 ghost shrimp, some ramshorn snails
Exposure to chemicals: none recent, except Prime (water conditioner)
 
So to recap, my questions are: any ideas as to why he is seeming lethargic? and is constantly sucking up the gravel looking for food okay?

•  

 

[fluttermoth]

I'm so sorry you haven't had a reply, nessar.
 
How is the fish now?
 
He does sound like he might be lonely; goldies are very social, although your tank is really on the small size for two. Your water looks fine, although I'd like to see the nitrate a bit lower. I'd up your water changes to 50% a week, if you can.

 

[This Old Spouse]

The tank is very small for goldfish and for WCMMs too. I agree with fluttermoth about the water changes. It can only help.

 

[fluttermoth]

Oh, i forgot to say; yes, it's quite normal for goldies to pick at the gravel. They are grazers by nature, so it's nothing to worry about.
 
Keep up with the floating food though, it's much better for these more 'extreme' type fancies. lightly cooked, deshelled peas might be better for him than the algae wafers.

 

[nessar]

Hmmm yes I wondered if he was lonely. Another goldie isn't really an option in the tank he is in though, I guess? I think it's too small. Are there any other species he would socialise with? Something like a variatus platy maybe? I don't want more fish if there is no benefit to him, as it just increases the bioload and the competition for food, but I'd be open to a smallish fish if it would help him. I'm also  bit worried about potential bullying, as he is not a strong swimmer due to his shape, and of course he is blind too.

 

[fluttermoth]

Yes, your tank is really too small for another goldie. On the other hand, fancy goldfish don't do well with any other kinds of fish; they can all out compete them for food, very easily.
 
Another celestial/bubble eye is your only option when it comes to tank mates, tbh