Goldfish problem

[missyintx_99]

I have a fancy goldfish that is my little girls and today I noticed a really strange looking spot near the anal fin. Its really red and looks raw, like a scrap but yet not exactly. It was in my tropical 30g community tank. I've moved it to another 30g tank that only has 2 yo-yo loaches inhabiting it. Readings on this tank were taken on the 1st and everything looks good, the nitrates are trace, but falling.

I have no idea what this could be. For now, I've pulled all the filters and added some Melafix to the tank. Am I on the right track here or is there something different I should be doing?

 

[AquaNut]

Hi Missy

What do you mean by 'pulled the filters'? If you mean you pulled the carbon from your filters, that's okay. If you mean you removed your filters entirely, uh oh! You don't want to do that, as the filter media is where most of the nitrifying bacteria that break down the fish wastes into nitrates lives. It's hard to say whether or not this is something for melafix. If it really is just a small abrasion, melafix will probably heal it up in no time. However, I'd keep a close eye on it. If it doesn't look like it's improving by tomorrow (2 melafix doses), I'd try an antibiotic like tetracycline. The 'red' part makes me think there could be some infection brewing. Good luck!

 

[missyintx_99]

Hello AquaNut! (How about an update on Chester B. ?)

I just pulled the carbon out.

I'll see how its looking by tomorrow evening. If its not better, then what the heck, I'll have to go get a third (or is it 5th or 6th) med.

I have 3 tanks that I'm having to treat for different problems. My Jaguar cichlid died yesterday of an extremely fast fungus (I guess) of some sort. So I'm treating the whole tank to hopefully prevent losing my Oscar and Texas.
Then I still have my GT in a quarantine/hospital tank treating with Hexamit for an internal parasite that has been hard to get rid of. Started him on Neomyacin I think it was, have been thru one round of Hexamit and am currently on the second round. If this doesn't get it, then I don't know what to do from there.
And now, the Goldfish.
The guy that owns my favorite LFS says he gets this from everyone, including in his store every time the seasons change here. (Meaning Winter to Spring and Summer to Fall) I'm telling ya, I think I'm gonna go broke just buying the meds for all my fish.

 

[AquaNut]

Ugh. I hear ya. There seems to be a bad case of fish loss goin' around lately. Hopefully you're not going to lose any more, though!!! I'll keep my fingers crossed that they all perk up for ya.

As for Chester, he's looking better and better all the time. He still doesn't eat a whole lot, but he's taken a great interest in my angelfish, who are located in a 45 gallon tank next to his. The two angels and Chester stare at each other most of the day and occasionally get so worked up that they start ramming the insides of their tanks. lol I'm hoping to have him in his new tank by the end of next week. THAT should really perk him up.

 

[missyintx_99]

I've gone ahead and added some more Melafix to the tank tonight, but its not looking any better. It looks like its spreading to the other side.
The more I look at it, its not going to be easy but I'll try to describe it....... it looks like the scales are sorta sluffing off, leaving the skin raw looking and maybe something white and fuzzy developing on some parts of it.
Any other ideas?

I'll try to get some pics of it tomorrow.

 

[missyintx_99]

Well, just wanted to update on the goldfish.
I continued with the Melafix and fed her some antibiotic flakes for a few days and she's nearly back to 100% now. Nothing else in the tank she was in (my 30g community) has had any signs of whatever this was. I'm thinking that perhaps another fish was picking on her but the only thing anywhere close to her size is another goldfish and the pleco.
I've still got her quarantined for a few more days, but she seems to be well recovered now~

 

[AquaNut]

Yayyyy!! With all the fish losses lately, I'm happy to hear your daughter's goldie is doing better. Good work!