Very Sick Goldfish, Urgent Help Needed

[sallyann]

ok, just got back from having water tested, here are then readings, Ammonia, 0.45. Nitrate, 0.45, Nitrate, 10. PH. 8.0.
Have been advised to do 25% water change asap, which I have just done, going back in tommorow to get water tested again, to see if its better.
Might have to get one of these testing kits, £21.99 from pets at home, is that about right price wise, checks everything.
Could not get meds reccomended, specialist shops only, the fish does have his dorsal fin up today and is trying to swim around tank sometimes, not breathing as laboured,.

 

[Miss Wiggle]

OK, It's a water quality issue then.

Have a read of this topic which will explain what all the different levels are and explains why you need to test for them.

http/www.fishforums.net/content/New-to-t...eady-have-fish/

you should definatley get yourelf a test kit as you need to test daily at the moment, just the petrol you'll use getting to the fish shop every day will add up to more than a test kit probably! £22 isn't terribly priced, you can get them cheaper, go down to about £15 in some places but there's always going to be variations.

If you can then find the API fresh water master test kit then that's your best option IMO. Alternativley the nutrafin mini master test kit is good. Basically though if you make sure it's a liquid test kit and it tests pH, ammonia, ntirite and nitrate then that should do.

the crucial thing for this fish is keeping the water quality spot on, so 25% water changes at least once a day, you can do twice a day if you like or bigger changes. this should minimise the ammonia and nitrite in the water which is what's causing him to become unwell.

the problem being that you've got poor water because you've not got enough good bacteria in the filter, the anti bacterial medication you're using is designed to kill bacteria. This means it can also wipe out the filter bacteria that you need.

Have you got something else you can put the fish in temporarily, just like a big mixing bowl or something like that? if so then when you are doing your water changes i'd take water from the tank and put it into the temporary 'tank', dose it up with medicine to the correct level, then put the poorly fish in there for an hr, add fresh water to the tank and then when the hours done put the poorly fish back in the tank.

that way he's getting exposure to the medication, water in the tank is kept as clean as possible and the filter bacteria aren't exposed to an anti-bac med so they have the strongest chance of flourishing as possible.

look through the yellow pages for fish shops in your area and call them all to try and find some myaxin though, you could also try contacting your local vet who may be able to prescribe something

 

[sallyann]

OK, It's a water quality issue then.

Have a read of this topic which will explain what all the different levels are and explains why you need to test for them.

[URL="http/www.fishforums.net/content/New-to-t...eady-have-fish/"]http/www.fishforums.net/content/New-to-t...eady-have-fish/[/URL]

you should definatley get yourelf a test kit as you need to test daily at the moment, just the petrol you'll use getting to the fish shop every day will add up to more than a test kit probably! £22 isn't terribly priced, you can get them cheaper, go down to about £15 in some places but there's always going to be variations.

If you can then find the API fresh water master test kit then that's your best option IMO. Alternativley the nutrafin mini master test kit is good. Basically though if you make sure it's a liquid test kit and it tests pH, ammonia, ntirite and nitrate then that should do.

the crucial thing for this fish is keeping the water quality spot on, so 25% water changes at least once a day, you can do twice a day if you like or bigger changes. this should minimise the ammonia and nitrite in the water which is what's causing him to become unwell.

the problem being that you've got poor water because you've not got enough good bacteria in the filter, the anti bacterial medication you're using is designed to kill bacteria. This means it can also wipe out the filter bacteria that you need.

Have you got something else you can put the fish in temporarily, just like a big mixing bowl or something like that? if so then when you are doing your water changes i'd take water from the tank and put it into the temporary 'tank', dose it up with medicine to the correct level, then put the poorly fish in there for an hr, add fresh water to the tank and then when the hours done put the poorly fish back in the tank.

that way he's getting exposure to the medication, water in the tank is kept as clean as possible and the filter bacteria aren't exposed to an anti-bac med so they have the strongest chance of flourishing as possible.

look through the yellow pages for fish shops in your area and call them all to try and find some myaxin though, you could also try contacting your local vet who may be able to prescribe something

Hi Miss wiggle,
Thanks for advice, did a 25% water change last night, and went back to shop for re testing this morning, here are the results,ammonia 0, nitrate 0, nitrate 10, PH 7.6, which is much better, I also tested my tap water just now, it was 8.4, very high, to think I have been adding that to the tank for 10years, with just safe water in it!!
The fish is very quiet this morning, still breathing, not looking good I'm afraid, I can use a large bowl for meds, good idea, not due more medication until sunday though.

 

[Miss Wiggle]

get all the meds out of the tank (do several large water changes) and give him baths every day in water medicated to the right solution. you're dealing with a v advanced infection here, being totally honest (no point being anything else) the chances of recovery are slim. It's unlikley that just following the usual instructions for the meds will work, have to go above and beyond a bit IMHO.

while the stats are fine now after a water change i expect that they will rise back up over the next day or so. it looks like your filter is underperforming so you either need less fish in the tank or a stronger filter. Obviously the former may be the case if goldie doesn't pull through, if he does though you need to look at long term improvements for them.

 

[sallyann]

ok, will do that starting today, is it ok to use the tap water with that reading, how can I bring it down?

just to add I did boil some tap water today, and have left it to get to room temp in the room that the tank is in, would that help? and do i still need to add safe water

 

[Miss Wiggle]

just use the tap water, the pH from the tap is less harmful than the ammonia and nitrite in the tank. just take it straight from the tap, add the water conditioner and add to the tank.


not sure why you've bioled the water?

 

[sallyann]

ok, I remember years ago before chemicals were widely used for fish tanks, that tap water had to be boiled, probably to get rid of the chemicals added to the tap water.
the fish is now hiding in the castle again, how do you humanely put a fish down anyway, the guy at the pet shop, told me that you their is no humane way to kill a fish, probably more than his jobs worth to tell you how to do it.

 

[Miss Wiggle]

theres a number of methods, do a search on this forum for euthanasia and you'll find several topics discussing it. everyone has a different view as to what is right so it's best to have a good read through all the arguments and decide for yourself what you feel comfortable doing.

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

If you are treating the fish with an anti internal bacterial med then you are doing the right thing, however if you feel the fish is suffering and not getting better in the slightest then it may be worth putting the fish down- however as long as the fish is still eating and not getting worse than it already is, there is still hope that it can get better. The clove oil method is probably the best method for the fish if you do decide to put it down though, how large is the goldfish?

 

[sallyann]

thanks, I have looked at some internet sights on fish euthanasia, and some their are so many different views on it, I think I would favour the clove oil method, but don't know if I could do it, the fish has not got any worse, and refuses to give up, so I am stilling hoping for a miracle!!

 

[Miss Wiggle]

if he's not deteriorating then that's a good sign. what are your water stats like now?

 

[sallyann]

if he's not deteriorating then that's a good sign. what are your water stats like now?

Hi Miss wiggle, glad I caught you, the fish is at the moment in the med bath, I have put some food in too, as if I put it in the main tank the other fish just eats it, I have some of this bloodworm in jelly, is that ok? it did eat a little, I know why the filter has not been sufficient, because I used to turn it off on a night, along with the light, I am so stupid , but I honestly did not know, thats why it looks like the filter is not working!!
Anyway hopefully I am doing everything right now, thanks to you kind people, I am going to get a proper Ph kit tommorrow, as the liquid ones will be back in stock then, and they only had the paper ones, I have tested my PH, because i have a liquid kit for that and it is 7.5, can you just check this routine and if I am doing it right.
I take 2 litres of fish tank water out and place int he bowl for the sick fish then add the meds and swirl a little, I then add the fish for 1 hour, feed it, I then add 2 litre of tap water back to tank with safe water added, after 1 hour i put the fish back, I also teat the ph before and after the water change, which has remained the same.
BTW the fish is called bumtail!! my daughter said they named it that as it has a very long tail from its bum!!

 

[sallyann]

Just wanted say the goldfish still has some black scales, is this brusing? he has afew more specks near his tail and his fins still have some black tips, is this the meds?