Goldfish Changing Colour

[Broley]

Hi all

I have recently saved a goldfish but I myself am fairly inexperienced with goldfish so I have a couple of questions please.

The lady was keeping it in a small unfiltered bowl (about 1.5g) out of which half of the water had evaporated . She was feeding it once maybe twice a week at the most.

The changes I have made for it are as follows: I have moved him into a 10g tank which is unfortunatley unfiltered at the moment - didn't expect to end up with a goldfish. He is in dechlorinated water which I will water change several times a week until I can get a filter and get it running. I know 10g is too small but, it is all I had sitting in the garage (used it as a gerbilarium). I cleaned the tank with white vinegar and rinsed and rinsed and rinsed some more. I have no water readings for you - as again didn't expect to have a goldfish and therefore have no testing kits. I am feeding it a tiny amount of food twice a day and am removing any uneaten food with a turkey baster.

Now for my question - the fish is changing colour. It has a body length of about 2 inches and came to me a very pale white with an orange patch on its head. It is now a peachy colour all over its body but slightly darker at the base of the tale. I can also see a reddish stripe along the middle of the fish. The fish appears healthy, has a wonderfull appetite, is very active swimming in the middle of the tank and all its fins are upright with no tears. I am hoping the colour change is a good thing but really am not sure?? around the gill seem redder than before.

I know goldfish need 20g per fish after reading this site but will it be detrimental to my fish to stay in the tank size he is in at the moment? I do not have room for a larger tank but would happily rehome him to someone experienced and with the environment he needs if it is a problem - I would however like to keep him (although my daughter wont let me call him Willy!! ( after the whale))

Thanks in advance for all your help.

Oh and what would be the best sort of filter?

 

[WILDER]

Well done to you for taking the fish on, better than what he was in, but the damage might of already been done, being pale is a sign of stress, but it sounds like his colour coming back, now he has a caring owner.
Right the white patch on the head does it look fluffy or just bleached out, or is it a greyish spot with a circling of red around it, plus the red stripe on the back can you describe it abit more, well done again.

 

[Broley]

thanks for your reply The patch on top of his head is his ornamental colour - orange - sorry if I wasn't clear - I'm not worried about that at all

He is completely clear of white lurgy looking patches. He is red along what looks like his spine?, with little veiny bits near his tail but not on his fins. Earlier it looked almost an angry colour but on inspecting him just - it looks calmer and now I think it might just his body pinking up with more oxygen along his skeleton, his gills and also his head? In the few hours since posting - he has become even more peachy looking and almost glimmers now

Fingers crossed he is adapting well to the changes then - very early days still.

BTW his new tank looks pitiful - he has his original tiny castle (too small to swim through) and the thinnest layer of gravel, no background nothing - but loads more space than a little bowl

 

[black angel]

Good for you for rescuing the little guy and hope he is ok as well.
As for a filter you need to tell us where in the world you live but whatever you get should be 10 times the volume of the tank. So for a ten gallon then you will need a filter that pumps 100 gallons per hour.
In the meantime I suggest 50% each day to keep the ammonia down or get an ammonia test kit and monitor it each day. An airpump and airstone would help with oxygen in the tank and i hope it has a lid as these guys can jump.
The fish will be ok in that tank for a few months but you will need to do lots of water changes to keep the water good.
As for te markings i havnt a clue but the orange head is normal and could be a sarasa comet. I ahvent known these fish to change colour so if you could get a pic then that would be great, otherwise it could be him recovering from the bad water that would have been in the bowl.

 

[Broley]

Hi

Still unsure of what type of filter to go for - I live in Scotland. Help with that would be greatly appreciated.

I have put a mesh lid on the tank after reading it could jump out ) thank you! Unfortunatley the original hood was thrown as it was no good for gerbils - knew I should have kept it!! I am in the process of looking for a hood for the tank. Will hide all bills from hubby I think

I was thinking of buying one of the ammonia level things that go inside the tank and last for about 12 months - are they any good?? Can't remember the name - have read so much since getting my new fishy friend!

Still looking well today and more importantly is still with us Am on a steep learning curve right now!

The lady I got him from reckons she has had him for well over a year. He measures about 2 inch at the moment - will it have a big growth spurt now that he is in a better tank (for now)

Will try to get a picture uploaded - not that it will stay still long enough to take one though

sorry so many questions!! help very much appreciated though thanks!

 

[WILDER]

Well it quite a long time for a goldfish to be in such a small living area, fingers crossed that no damage has been done.
Love to see some pics.

 

[black angel]

Im in scotland as well

Heres a few to look at that would do well for your tank.
http/cgi.ebay.co.uk/Internal-Aquarium-Fi...1QQcmdZViewItem

http/cgi.ebay.co.uk/RENA-IV3-INTERNAL-FI...1QQcmdZViewItem

http/cgi.ebay.co.uk/FLUVAL-2-PLUS-INTERN...1QQcmdZViewItem

 

[Chri$]

if you're looking for a good internal filter go for the rena filstar 3. really good filters.