Help! Goldfish not eating.

[Barry Tetra]

My goldfish not eating. He is in bare bottom 20 Gal tank with another goldfish for 2 years and yesterday he dont want any food normally he will beg for food. Water param ammonia 0 nitrite 0 nitrate about 7. He might be stress due to no substrate (Also he’s one eyed blind) also theres mucus on the eye not sure if it is fungus. The questions is; how to make him eat again? Can I add substrate when fish in the tank? Is that fungus on the eye?

 

[Colin_T]

The good eye has a bit of excess mucous on it and that is usually caused by the eye being damaged and the fish produces more mucous to protect the eye while it heals.

It is not fungus.

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Are the scales sticking out around the belly?

Have you tried feeding it live brineshrimp or daphnia, or any plant matter?

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At this stage, do a big water change today and add some salt (4 heaped tablespoons of salt for every 20 litres of water). Leave the salt in the tank for a week and see how it goes.

Increase aeration/ surface turbulence to maximise the oxygen levels.

Clean the filter if it hasn't been done in the last 2 weeks.

Monitor the fish's poop. If it's white and stringy the fish has an intestinal infection and will need treating.

Hopefully the fish just had a bad night and injured its eye and is recovering, and should eat soon.

 

[Barry Tetra]

The good eye has a bit of excess mucous on it and that is usually caused by the eye being damaged and the fish produces more mucous to protect the eye while it heals.

It is not fungus.

------------------
Are the scales sticking out around the belly?

Have you tried feeding it live brineshrimp or daphnia, or any plant matter?

------------------
At this stage, do a big water change today and add some salt (4 heaped tablespoons of salt for every 20 litres of water). Leave the salt in the tank for a week and see how it goes.

Increase aeration/ surface turbulence to maximise the oxygen levels.

Clean the filter if it hasn't been done in the last 2 weeks.

Monitor the fish's poop. If it's white and stringy the fish has an intestinal infection and will need treating.

Hopefully the fish just had a bad night and injured its eye and is recovering, and should eat soon.

@Colin_T No scales sticking out, can I feed him bloodworms? Epsom or Table salt? Thanks for the help as always Colin.

 

[Barry Tetra]

@Deanasue

 

[PheonixKingZ]

Why don’t you have any substrate/live plants? @Deanasue has several goldies, ask her.

 

[Colin_T]

No bloodworms for sick fish.

I use rock salt.

 

[FishGuest5123]

@Deanasue

Never table salt. Aquarium salt at 1 tablespoon for every 5 gallons.

 

[Barry Tetra]

Never table salt. Aquarium salt at 1 tablespoon for every 5 gallons.

He just eating today, do i have to add substrate to the tank?

 

[FishGuest5123]

I would. Goldfish like to dig and explore in gravel. Don’t use sand as it can get plugged in their intestines.

 

[Barry Tetra]

I would. Goldfish like to dig and explore in gravel. Don’t use sand as it can get plugged in their intestines.

Will it make water dirtier though?

 

[Colin_T]

Gravel won't make the water dirtier as long as you wash it before adding to the tank, and use a gravel cleaner when you do a water change.

You don't need much gravel either, 1/2 inch (10mm) is heaps unless you want to grow plants in there. You just need a thin layer over the bottom so the fish can't see the glass.

 

[FishGuest5123]

I gravel vac mine.