Goldfish Losing Scales!
- Thread starter Gurglar
- Start date
Need stats for the tank, so if you could copy and paste the questions from the pinned topic above than that would help us more.
Anything new added in the past 6 weeks?
Anything new added in the past 6 weeks?
cheesy feet
Fish Aficionado
That seems pretty strange.Has he got any tank mates?
GoldLenny
Fishaholic
Found these on the net.
Another site said it could be due to ammonia levels but I have seen countless threads on high ammonia and none of them said anything about scale loss so I would lean towards a parasite. Both of the above snips claim that parasites could be involved. If it's not from obvious breeding or bullying issues and your tank is fish-safe, you might want to slowly raise the salt level to 0.3% over the course of a few days... if your fish aren't use to salt levels. Salt would also help with preventing any kind of infection while the scales grow back... which takes a while.
Test your water parameters and post results just to be sure it's not water quality issues.
Another site said it could be due to ammonia levels but I have seen countless threads on high ammonia and none of them said anything about scale loss so I would lean towards a parasite. Both of the above snips claim that parasites could be involved. If it's not from obvious breeding or bullying issues and your tank is fish-safe, you might want to slowly raise the salt level to 0.3% over the course of a few days... if your fish aren't use to salt levels. Salt would also help with preventing any kind of infection while the scales grow back... which takes a while.
Test your water parameters and post results just to be sure it's not water quality issues.
SnBMeg
Fish Fanatic
It takes about 8 weeks for scales to grow completely back, btw. Fungus is probably going to be the biggest danger, aside from the possibility of parasites.
Good luck, Gurglar! I know that you've been having troubles lately with your fish, and I hope that this guy pulls through okay!
GoldLenny
Fishaholic
Yeah... I guess I should have said more than just "infection":
From: Myron Kevus, DVM, http/www.aquarticles.com/articles/ponds/...Treatments.html ... Salt is also effective in treating injuries or infections to the slime coat of our pond fish. The slime coat is the clear, mucous, outer layer of skin on the fish. It is a vital protective outer coating that wards off infection. It acts as a liquid band-aid covering over minor scrapes and bruises so that they can heal more quickly.
Before dishing out advice we need to see what type of housing and conditions the fish or fishes are being kept in. you can tell him to add this or do that but unless the right basic care is met, nothing will help.
GoldLenny
Fishaholic
I agree about getting lots of information. I asked for it too. I've always been torn as to whether to provide some ideas that would get people talking versus not offering any help until I get all of the tank parameter issues answered. Some people do not have any of the test results and may be intimidated by the request. I'd rather get them some information, to try and help the fish, while certainly encouraging more information from them. Salt at 0.1% to 0.3% won't hurt as a short term treatment for many issues affecting goldfish. I don't recommend meds unless there has been a specific diagnosis. I think some people start using meds way too soon without knowing what the exact problem is and this leads to resistant strains of pathogens.
I'll wait for more info from the original poster at this point since it has been a few days.
I'll wait for more info from the original poster at this point since it has been a few days.
smudger72
Fish Fanatic
Sorry about the hijack here but when you say add salt,are we talking about marine salt or tonic salts?
I use tonic salt myself but any can be used as long as its not got anti caking agents in it. Buying it for ponds may work out to be cheaper.
Personally i use it as follows.
1 level teaspoon per gallon for a tonic effect = .1% this can be used over a long period of time but its never recommended to keep fish permanently in salty concentrtions over long periods of time
2 level teaspoons for stress and to help with levels of high nitrites so the gills can work better = .2%
3 level teaspoons for most parasites = .3% but not for more than 2 weeks at a time
It can be used for dips and baths at higher levels. Do not use salt for any fish under 2 inches in body length.
When adding salt do it in batches for .2% and over. So for instance if i was salting a 20 gallon tank to .2% i would add predissolved 20 level teaspoons and then again 12 hours later.
Be careful when adding salt if you have loaches or other sensitive fish. No plants at .3%
Generally a healthy goldfish can do well in strong solutions of salt but you have to judge whether or not the fish is in good health to stand it.
Personally i use it as follows.
1 level teaspoon per gallon for a tonic effect = .1% this can be used over a long period of time but its never recommended to keep fish permanently in salty concentrtions over long periods of time
2 level teaspoons for stress and to help with levels of high nitrites so the gills can work better = .2%
3 level teaspoons for most parasites = .3% but not for more than 2 weeks at a time
It can be used for dips and baths at higher levels. Do not use salt for any fish under 2 inches in body length.
When adding salt do it in batches for .2% and over. So for instance if i was salting a 20 gallon tank to .2% i would add predissolved 20 level teaspoons and then again 12 hours later.
Be careful when adding salt if you have loaches or other sensitive fish. No plants at .3%
Generally a healthy goldfish can do well in strong solutions of salt but you have to judge whether or not the fish is in good health to stand it.
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