Sick Oranda

[juicebox]

Hello,

I have a 20 gallon tank (20g long) with an oranda and fantail. I would say that both fish are about 3 inches / 7.6 centimeters long. This morning I noticed that the oranda has a bulge on her body, right behind the gills. I am very worried! Does anyone know what this could be? She seems fine otherwise; she swims normally and doesn't sink / float, she eats normally, and her fins stay erect. The fantail seems perfectly healthy as well and has no visible bulges.

Aquarium Stats (tested while writing this post):

temperature: 72°F / 22°C
pH: 6.5 - 7
ammonia: 0 mg/L
nitrite: <0.3 - 0.3 mg/L

 

[WILDER]

You have a nitrite reading how long has the tank been set up.
Do you have a nitrate test kit the filter might not be coping with the goldfish.
Is the bulge soft like it filled with fluid, or does it look hard.
Can you load a pic up of the sick fish.

 

[juicebox]

I can't remember when I set up the tank. I want to say maybe at the beginning of 2007.

Sorry, I don't have a test kit for nitrate.

The bulge is soft.

I don't have a camera. I will try to find a way to borrow one.

 

[WILDER]

Take a sample of your tank water to the lfs and tell them to write the readings down for you.
I would add a bacterial med to the tank.

 

[juicebox]

I have Maracyn-Two; will this be ok to use or is there a better medication?

 

[black angel]

I wouldnt add anything until you have sorted the water out first.

What filter are you using? How often are water changes?

Goldies get lumps a lot and most are just harmless cysts, but some can be tumours.

 

[juicebox]

I have a Whisper Power Filter for tanks up to 30 gallons. I change about 10 - 20% of the water every week.

 

[WILDER]

Sounds like you need another filter in the tank that one not coping.
Hows the fish doing.

 

[black angel]

I agree with needing a bigger filter. The colony in the old one isnt keeping up with the waste the goldfish give off.

 

[juicebox]

Sorry for the late reply-- I was out of town for a few days.

I don't think the bulge is getting bigger, though there's a white fluffy thing on the tip. Is this possibly a fungus?

I'll see what I can do about the extra/bigger filter.