Goldfish problems!!

22 Mar 2005

This is an appeal to anyone who knows anything about goldfish!!
Whoever said goldfish were easy pets?!? :shock:
We had a small problem last week when my bearded dragon had to be put down, I got myself in a right state over explaining this to my 3 yr old who, up until now, hasn't experienced death. Anyway, I took the honest approach and told her the lizard was dead and we wouldn't be seeing her again, she was up in the sky with the angels (ok... half honest approach). My daughter was obviously upset but luckily soon got over it once tweenies came on tv rolleyes

So, come weekend, we decide to invest in another pet, and decided to go for goldfish. bearing in mind I know nothing about keeping fish, but figured it must be easy. We forked out for a little tank complete with air pump, filter and even a little bridge for the fishy's to swim through. And we bought 4 goldfish. We set everything up as per instructions, much to my daughters excitement (obsessed with nemo). Come monday evening.. 3 of the 4 were flaoting. I took this lack of movement to mean that they were dead so got rid of them. The one remaining goldfish was looking very poorly indeed so we put it in a bowl of water so we could completely clean the tank out and start again.
Now the tank is all clean and ready to be used again, but the fish looks very ill (white bits appearing on it, kinda like mould).
So what I'm looking for really is advice.. should I put the poor fish back into the tank and hope it gets better, or should i cut my losses and buy some more? And if I do this how can I ensure the same thing won't happen again (don't think my daughter believes that the fish have all gone on holiday to visit nemo).
:cry:

22 Mar 2005

Sounds like tail rot. Very common problem. You can get an ointment from the pet shop to put in the water, but by the sounds of things, your fish is too far gone. Take it back to the pet shop, explain what's happened and ask them to replace the dead fish.

22 Mar 2005

It doesn't sound like anything you've done. Fungal infections and the like are common in fish, and though I'm no expert, I suspect these fish would have been infected long before you got them. You could try taking the live one to the vets for an asessment, but I doubt you will save it. They are easily stressed and with it being sick anyway, I suspect the journey would kill it. I would avoid going back to the same pet shop though you could try and get your money back. The rest of the fish in that shop could be infected too. get new ones elsewhere, but obviously clean the tank thoroughly before you put new ones in to avoid passing on the infection.
I have three goldfish and I do worry about them rather a lot. One especially is prone to stress... damn animals, who'd have 'em
rolleyes

22 Mar 2005

It sounds like your fish were infected before you perchased them.
Go back to the shop and complain.
It sounds like the fish has what is known as, white spot.
You can get treatment for it, but as the fish is new to you, then take it back.
You might want to get some water treatment, to nullify the chlorine in the water.
Also buy a book, books are quite helpful for a beginner.
HTH
A

22 Mar 2005

They had fin rot, as Bluexxx has said a common problem, don't buy any more from where you got them, the whole lot at the shop and tanks will be infected.
I've got a load in the fish pond outside which are healthy if you would like some of those pm me.

22 Mar 2005

Also when you set up a new tank or bowl you need to leave it with no fish for a while to allow the natural bacteria build up. You can buy conditioners to add to the water which contain these "friendly bacteria" they turn the fish poo from orrible stuff to nice stuff with out them living in the filters the water becomes poisonous. :cry:
Also dont change all the water as you loose the "friendly bacteria"
Hope this helps biggrin

And as said above buy a good book.
NCB

22 Mar 2005

Quote by Re-Lapse
It sounds like your fish were infected before you perchased them.
Go back to the shop and complain.
It sounds like the fish has what is known as, white spot.
You can get treatment for it, but as the fish is new to you, then take it back.
You might want to get some water treatment, to nullify the chlorine in the water.
Also buy a book, books are quite helpful for a beginner.
HTH
A

With the greatest respect whilst a book is usefull for the beginner they have little entertainment value for the child as books only float until their pages get wet and then they sink to the bottom and don't move, admittedly the descent can often be gracefull as the book sways from side to side , but it's only short lived.
No I agree your fish were probably diseased when you purchased them, fungal problems with fish are common. Clean out your tank, buy some more and try again.
It's likely that your one remaining fish will also die and in all honesty the vet isnt liable to do any more than you can do yourself. If you want to try, then over the counter fungal treatments that you add to the water are available. Can I suggest removing a smaller measurable amount of water from your tank and add the fish to it, buy an over the counter fungal treatment, add this to the water at the approppriate rate and see what happens.

22 Mar 2005

Quote by davej
With the greatest respect whilst a book is usefull for the beginner they have little entertainment value for the child as books only float until their pages get wet and then they sink to the bottom and don't move, admittedly the descent can often be gracefull as the book sways from side to side , but it's only short lived.

Sensible and well constructed advice as ever from Dave there. My suggestion would be to go and get a goldfish instead.

22 Mar 2005

Normally with our tropical tanks we have to have them set up and running for a few weeks before putting any fish in the tank. it may well be that the tank, gravel or onimants wernt clean.
i would suggest cleaning them in slt water, then rinsing them off in normal water, settig up the tank and pump and leaving it running for at least a week before putting any fish in
smile

22 Mar 2005

sounds like white spot to me we have two large tropical tanks and 4 ponds and now and again we get a fish in with it, you can buy treatment for it from your pet shop.
the fish may have not shown signs of it in the shop as i can be brought out byt he stress of moving also as it was a new tank with tap water this would have also set problems of as you would have had none of the bacteria in the tan the fish need to live.
i would treat this tank and just leave the one fish in it for at least a couple of weeks, and then maybe add one ( a cheap one) and see how it does.
also make sure that you do regular water changes (take the water level down a few inches this will keep the water clean and the good bacteria in.
Clarrich

22 Mar 2005

Update.. little fishy is now swimming near the top and on its side... so don't think it has long left to live :cry:
When we purchased the stuff the guy said to leave the tank for 24 hours running before adding fishor purchase some stuff to dechlorinate etc the water and assured us if we did that we could put the fish straight in.
I cleaned the tank out yesterday evening and filled it up again and it has been running without fish since so think I'm going to go and buy a couple of cheapies to put in.
Thank everyone for your advice.. at least now I'm pretty sure I didn't actually do anything drastically wrong to cause this.
If all else fails I'm going back to reptiles!!!! lol

22 Mar 2005

Quote by davej
It sounds like your fish were infected before you perchased them.
Go back to the shop and complain.
It sounds like the fish has what is known as, white spot.
You can get treatment for it, but as the fish is new to you, then take it back.
You might want to get some water treatment, to nullify the chlorine in the water.
Also buy a book, books are quite helpful for a beginner.
HTH
A

With the greatest respect whilst a book is usefull for the beginner they have little entertainment value for the child as books only float until their pages get wet and then they sink to the bottom and don't move, admittedly the descent can often be gracefull as the book sways from side to side , but it's only short lived.

I would have suggested a book on ships, as I think this might stood a better chance of floating.
As this is about Goldfish, then that would have been inappropriate.
There again kids only have a little attention span anyway so it probabbly does not matter.

22 Mar 2005

Quote by xxdevil69
When we purchased the stuff the guy said to leave the tank for 24 hours running before adding fish or purchase some stuff to dechlorinate etc the water and assured us if we did that we could put the fish straight in.

Don't know about goldfish - but I just set up a tropical fish tank and was advised to leave the water (with declorinate in) for a week before introducing fish, and even then to start with certain hardy types.
Still sounds defintely like your fish were diseased when you got them though. Place I get mine from give a five day guarantee on their fish, which is kinda reassuring. And no probs so far! (touch wood). Fish don't "travel" well though - and the shop should put a destressor in he bag. Also carry them very carefully. Good luck kiss

22 Mar 2005

Some great advice here, I think I have to cocur the fish were infected when you purchased them.
John

22 Mar 2005

If yourve got a water butt in the garden, try filling with raining water, some fish prefer this acidic water. certainly better then tap water that is filled with chemicals..

22 Mar 2005

It sounds like theyve gone off . It may not be too late , even past sell by date fish can be revived , just drizzle a little extra virgin olive oil and add some fresh dill and sea salt over the fish and bake in the oven slowly wrapped in foil .

23 Mar 2005

Quote by Re-Lapse
It sounds like your fish were infected before you perchased them.
Go back to the shop and complain.
It sounds like the fish has what is known as, white spot.
You can get treatment for it, but as the fish is new to you, then take it back.
You might want to get some water treatment, to nullify the chlorine in the water.
Also buy a book, books are quite helpful for a beginner.
HTH
A

Yep sounds pretty much like White Spot. You can get a liquid decontaminate to put in with the fish but its only really useful in tanks with a lot of different fish such as tropicals.
Complain bitterly to the person who sold you your fish and buy from elsewhere in future!
the Laird

23 Mar 2005

Quote by Silk and Big G
It sounds like theyve gone off . It may not be too late , even past sell by date fish can be revived , just drizzle a little extra virgin olive oil and add some fresh dill and sea salt over the fish and bake in the oven slowly wrapped in foil .

.. you can actually help revive fish by putting them in a bowl with some water and adding a drop of salt and some whisky (only know it works for fresh water fish.. not sure about others!!)
Unfortunately my final fish passed away yesterday afternoon, but we now have 3 new ones from a different shop and they are looking a lot healthier and happier so I'm hoping it was just the shop where I bought them from!!

23 Mar 2005

Quote by xxdevil69
.. you can actually help revive fish by putting them in a bowl with some water and adding a drop of salt and some whisky (only know it works for fresh water fish.. not sure about others!!)

no your getting confused, thats Neilinleeds that you can revive like that, but it needs to be a bath instead of a bowl and some Stella instead of the whiskey, the salt is fine cos he has got corns anyway.

23 Mar 2005

Quote by Silk and Big G
It sounds like theyve gone off . It may not be too late , even past sell by date fish can be revived , just drizzle a little extra virgin olive oil and add some fresh dill and sea salt over the fish and bake in the oven slowly wrapped in foil .

What's the speed you wrap the oven in foil got to do with it?