Help! Goldfish Developed Black Spots!

[millym]

hi
im up visiting my sister in scotland, and as i know nothing about coldwater fish i need your help.she has 4 goldfish (i think ones a shubunkin) that live in a pond outside. a couple have developed black spots on their sides ( spots are about 1/4 cm diameter). these spots developed over the past couple of weeks and the fish definitely never had these spots before ( the fish that have this shes had for 6 years).
is it some sort of fungus or skin infection??? if so what could we treat it with???
ive done searches but cant find anything describing something like this.
thanks

 

[Iron Man]

I'm pretty sure this is black spot. Not the black spot that saltwater fish like tangs and such get (which is black ich basically), but a type of "black spot" that pond fish get. They are parasites but they are more of a nuisance really....not very harmful to the fish. But they will infest, and I'm sure the fish don't enjoy the feeling.

I had 6 Silver Dollars that were infested with these black spots. Upon reading about it, I discovered these fish are some of the most suseptable fish, because they're raised in "silver dollar ponds" by breeders along with pacus......who can also appear in pet shops with it.

You don't read much about any cures, but I did found a Jungle product (last link) for ya that just might work.

I bought them thinking with no snails or birds to complete the cycles the spots would go away. In the couple months that I had the fish only a few spots went away.....I'm pretty sure all of them would have had I kept the fish longer.

I did a search for ya just to give you an idea of what you're dealing with.

Good luck!

http/ohioline.osu.edu/b374/b374_11.html

http/aquanic.org/publicat/state/il-in/faq/grubs.htm

http/freshaquarium.about.com/od/termsand...g/blackspot.htm

Here is the Jungle treatment;

http/www.junglelabs.com/pages/pond.detail.asp?item=53

 

[millym]

thanks very much.
it does look just like 'black spot' parasitic infection . unfortunately we cant get the jungle meds here in uk but we're going to look/ask around for a med that will help or if we're stuck theres a friendly vet who might be able to suggest something.
at least it doesnt sound life threatening the fish live in the pond all year round & have just had a cold winter so i guess they get a little run down & are more susceptible to parasites & things.
thanks again for your help

 

[Iron Man]

twas not a problem and your're right they're probably a little run down which helped cause their vulnerability to this after years of being there. They sound like real troopers. Let us know what progress you make as this kinda thing isn't widely known but needs to be.

Good luck with it!

 

[Kameha123]

another possibility..

This is something I found while surfing the web, looking for answers to another problem. But it stuck out in my mind and I'll forward it to you. Hope you find your answer.

"If you notice new black or brownish spots appearing on your goldfish, these may be ammonia burns! Likewise, you may see red lines on the tail or fins as a result of elevated ammonia. Test the water parameters, especially the ammonia level, and if the ammonia level is measurable, add AmQuel® at the rate of one teaspoon (one capful) per every ten gallons of water and/or perform an emergency 50% water change. If you don't have a testing kit available, then take a sample of your water to your local fish store and ask them to test it for you (for pH, ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and KH/alkalinity). This is usually done for free! Be sure to ask for the exact readings, so that you can provide appropriate corrective action and in the event that you need some assistance on-line, you will be able to post the results. Otherwise, in our experience, workers at the local fish store sometimes erroneously say that the ‘water’s alright', even in the face of measurable toxins. Ammonia burns will heal over time with a series of small water changes and the use of AmQuel®, in order to keep the ammonia level at zero."

 

[The-Wolf]

millym
look at the pinned a to z of common medications in the emergancy forum
find the jungle med listed, note its active ingredients and then find a UK equivalent in the list.

It does sound to me like blackspot disease
rather than ammonia burns which would've come on quicker than the stated time frame.

 

[millym]

thanks....but the recommended jungle med isnt in the pinned meds but i have found some more info that says we need an anti parasite copper based med i think ive found what we need made by a company that makes meds for koi, going to check with the local friendly vet to make sure its ok.

 

[Iron Man]

Great to hear milly! Hope it all works out for the fishies.