×
Retirement and forum shutdown (17 Jan 2022)

Hi,

John Howell who has managed the forum for years is getting on and wishes to retire from the role of managing it.
Over the years, he has managed the forum through good days and bad days and he has always been fair.
He has managed to bring his passion for fish keeping to the forum and keep it going for so long.

I wish to thank John for his hard work in keeping the forum going.

With John wishing to "retire" from the role of managing the forum and the forum receiving very little traffic, I think we must agree that forum has come to a natural conclusion and it's time to put it to rest.

I am proposing that the forum be made read-only from March 2022 onwards and that no new users or content be created. The website is still registered for several more years, so the content will still be accessible but no new topics or replies will be allowed.

If there is interest from the ITFS or other fish keeping clubs, we may redirect traffic to them or to a Facebook group but will not actively manage it.

I'd like to thank everyone over the years who helped with forum, posted a reply, started a new topic, ask a question and helped a newbie in fish keeping. And thank you to the sponsors who helped us along the away. Hopefully it made the hobby stronger.

I'd especially like to thank John Howell and Valerie Rousseau for all of their contributions, without them the forum would have never been has successful.

Thank you
Darragh Sherwin

Sick Goldfish

More
06 Jul 2009 17:36 #1 by Orca (Eoin Walsh)
I found one of my fancy goldfish stuck behind the filter three days ago and he will not eat or move off the bottom of the tank now.I have done a water change and put in some air stones but it is not helping so i need some advice to help him out :( :( :(

Please Log in to join the conversation.

More
06 Jul 2009 19:02 #2 by Fishowner (Gavin fishowner)
Have you tested the water ?

Please Log in to join the conversation.

More
06 Jul 2009 19:17 #3 by Orca (Eoin Walsh)
Replied by Orca (Eoin Walsh) on topic Re:Sick Goldfish
Water test are good and all other fish are ok and eating well.

Please Log in to join the conversation.

More
07 Jul 2009 08:24 #4 by mickeywallace (Michael Wallace Cath Woods)
Hi Orca
sorry to hear this. was there any signs of trauma to the fish.

my first idea would be that the swim bladder has been damaged.

i would suggest removing him to a hospital tank lower the water level to about 1cm/half inch above him and treat for swim bladder disease.

the reduced pressure will aid recovery. food wise offer one flake daily (target feeding may get results)and as usual remove what is not eaten plus during hospitalisation check water regulary.

and hopefully with a little TLC he will be back to himself

Mickey

Mickey Wallace & Cath Woods

Please Log in to join the conversation.

More
07 Jul 2009 08:52 #5 by nonie (leonie troy)
Put some epsom salt into the water in the sick tank. This really helped one of my goldfish when they had swim bladder!!

Please Log in to join the conversation.

More
07 Jul 2009 17:52 #6 by derek (Derek Doyle)
the internal organs and intestines of these fancy goldfish are all squashed up and they suffer from constipation.
the epsom salts might help.

30 tanks specialise in african cichlids, angelfish and various catfish

Please Log in to join the conversation.

More
07 Jul 2009 18:08 #7 by Orca (Eoin Walsh)
Replied by Orca (Eoin Walsh) on topic Re:Sick Goldfish
I put some epsom salt in the tank today.My goldfish is still on the bottom but moving around a lot more.

Please Log in to join the conversation.

More
07 Jul 2009 18:14 #8 by bren (brendan keenan)
Yes use epsom salts for dropsy and other poor signs of health and treat for 7-12 days,use air airation stone and feed lightly and remove uneaten food.I also put a heathy fish in with sick one ,just for company and all well today.

Please Log in to join the conversation.

More
07 Jul 2009 20:51 #9 by goldy (goldy .)
Replied by goldy (goldy .) on topic Re:Sick Goldfish
try some peas in their diet it helps with the constipation. If you have some left over from you dinner just take the harder outside shell off and take the softer inner part out and give it to them they usually scoff it and it seems to help movement:unsure:

Please Log in to join the conversation.

More
07 Jul 2009 20:59 #10 by Orca (Eoin Walsh)
Replied by Orca (Eoin Walsh) on topic Re:Sick Goldfish
I will try some peas but he might not eat.

Please Log in to join the conversation.

More
10 Jul 2009 19:43 #11 by funkychic (trish coughlan)
sounds like its his bladder to me , when my fancy goldie had swinbladder i used a pea held it to his mouth and i dosed the tank with treatment plus 20 percent water change . and it worked his fine now . hope your goldie be allright


trish

Please Log in to join the conversation.

More
10 Jul 2009 20:18 #12 by derek (Derek Doyle)
funkychic wrote:

when my fancy goldie had swinbladder i used a pea held it to his mouth


trish

?

30 tanks specialise in african cichlids, angelfish and various catfish

Please Log in to join the conversation.

More
21 Aug 2009 17:33 - 21 Aug 2009 17:33 #13 by Orca (Eoin Walsh)
Replied by Orca (Eoin Walsh) on topic Re:Sick Goldfish
I have another sick goldfish and need some advice.The fish is sitting on the bottom of the tank and not moving much.I think he has crashed and have done 3 20% water changes and put some epsom salt in the tank and no change.Water tests are all good.What else might help.
Last edit: 21 Aug 2009 17:33 by Orca (Eoin Walsh).

Please Log in to join the conversation.

More
21 Aug 2009 18:17 #14 by derek (Derek Doyle)
a pea held to it's mouth?

30 tanks specialise in african cichlids, angelfish and various catfish

Please Log in to join the conversation.

More
21 Aug 2009 22:57 #15 by Orca (Eoin Walsh)
Replied by Orca (Eoin Walsh) on topic Re:Sick Goldfish
A pea held to its mouth:huh: :huh: :huh:Did The fish take a bite.

Please Log in to join the conversation.

More
22 Aug 2009 20:07 #16 by derek (Derek Doyle)
fancy goldfish are not too hardy and prone to draughts. do you have a heater in the tank. if not it would be safer to add one. i would also reccommend adding tonic salts and/or giving a salt bath. make sure the ph is not too low as this will lessen the effectiveness of the filter.
good luck.

30 tanks specialise in african cichlids, angelfish and various catfish

Please Log in to join the conversation.

More
24 Aug 2009 21:56 #17 by funkychic (trish coughlan)
yep as in target feeding , sick fish ,

Please Log in to join the conversation.

More
26 Aug 2009 22:45 #18 by Orca (Eoin Walsh)
Replied by Orca (Eoin Walsh) on topic Re:Sick Goldfish
just in the door from work and have found a dead goldfish and one not looking too good.I seem to be getting hit with one thing after another with this tank.I did a water test and here goes
PH 6.0
AMMONIA 0.50
NITRITE 0
NITRATE 0

Could it be a filter problem.I have a interpet pf2 and a fluval 1 loaded with filter floss.
When it comes to the pf2 filter could someone give me a good scheduel in regards to cleaning and changing the filter sponges as i might be going wrong here.

Please Log in to join the conversation.

More
26 Aug 2009 23:16 #19 by reefpaddy (paddy kelly)
fill me in on the set up you have, is it open top or closed, how many liters the tank holds as much info as you can give me as there is obviously something wrong, have a look at all the fish closly have a look for infection whitspot finrot ect. have you introduced any new fish latly. what fish are you keeping a pic of the tank aswell wud help. air pump size. everything and i will get back to you asap.by your pic your obviously an experienced fish keeper but some times fresh eyes can make a difference. where is your tank sitting also. hope i can help
paddy

Please Log in to join the conversation.

More
26 Aug 2009 23:26 #20 by platty252 (Darren Dalton)
All the info you can give just like reefpaddy just asked.
Owen i cant remember what size tank you have but it sounds like one of your problems is the tank is under filtered for goldfish. They produce a lot of waste and need a filter with a much larger capacity than you would need for your average tropical fish. Don't mistake "larger capacity" for turn over or flow rate.

If you are around tomorrow evening drop into me with the dead fish. Stick it in the freezer to keep it from decaying.

Please Log in to join the conversation.

More
26 Aug 2009 23:35 #21 by Orca (Eoin Walsh)
Replied by Orca (Eoin Walsh) on topic Re:Sick Goldfish
The tank is an interpet 80lt.I have the two filters running and also have a eheim 3702 air pump feeding 3 lines so aeration is good.I have the tank in my sitting room away from the window and it gets no direct sunlight.The tank is set up over a year but for the last few water changes i cant seem to keep the water clear.It is cloudy and wont settle down.I would post a pic but have not mastered how to do so.I hope this info might help as i am at a loss to see what might be wrong.
Eoin.

Please Log in to join the conversation.

More
26 Aug 2009 23:52 #22 by platty252 (Darren Dalton)
Whoops! sorry for spelling you name wrong.
How many fish are and were in the tank?
If you are getting reading of Ammonia and the water is cloudy i would guess the tank is over stocked and/or under filtered.
If this is the case you may have to remove the fish and strip the tank giving it 100% water change. Don't clean the filters and acclimatise the fish like you would introducing new fish. feed the fish very lightly.
This is something i would not normally recommend and it wont solve the problem if the tank is over stocked. This is just a quick fix that will only last a few days before you are back to square one.

Please Log in to join the conversation.

More
26 Aug 2009 23:55 #23 by platty252 (Darren Dalton)
I meant to ask is there any carbon in the filter longer than 4-6 weeks? If there is it could be leaching nasties back in to the tank.

Please Log in to join the conversation.

More
26 Aug 2009 23:57 #24 by reefpaddy (paddy kelly)
okay, everything seems to be sound equipment wise and positioning wise. get a thermometer if you havnt got one just incase your room is heating up to unusual temps, also this is a long shot but do you regulary spray deodirant lynx ect. in the room.has it a closed lid. how many fish have you got in the 80l, how much do you feed,do you siphon the gravel.if you have a lot of fish in the tank. yoou may think about ditching the internals and adding an external. again i will answer asap. and i wud take platy up on his offer and bring the fish over to him. hi platty by the way, long time no post:laugh: couldnt log on for the last few months for some reason.

Please Log in to join the conversation.

More
27 Aug 2009 00:11 #25 by Orca (Eoin Walsh)
Replied by Orca (Eoin Walsh) on topic Re:Sick Goldfish
I have 5 fancy goldfish all around 1 inch but i also have 2 rescued fish in it which are 3 inches each.1cm of fish to 2 liters.So 11 inch =27.94cm =55.8 litres.Do i have this right.

Please Log in to join the conversation.

More
27 Aug 2009 00:13 #26 by platty252 (Darren Dalton)
Hi Paddy. I haven't been on much in the past month myself. You will be delighted to here i'm just back from the red sea.
I can nearly smell the envy:laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

Please Log in to join the conversation.

More
27 Aug 2009 00:22 #27 by reefpaddy (paddy kelly)
nice 1 platty any pics for me, im sure the camera is full of them . my missus always snaps when we go ANYWHERE there is a decent fish tank as her memory stick does be full of fish pics by the end of the holiday. ill look forward to seeing the snaps.
orca
when and where did you get these rescued fish(what are they describe) from and when did you start having probs.there is defo something wrong we just have to pin point exactly what it is .how long has the tank been set up,exactly how many fish have you lost.

Please Log in to join the conversation.

More
27 Aug 2009 00:30 #28 by platty252 (Darren Dalton)
I dont know what the suggested stocking capacity is for gold fish. I know it's not the same as tropicals.
It dosent sound like you are over stocked if you are doing frequent water changes.
Maybe you are over cleaning the filters and this is why you are getting readings of ammonia.
I would lightly clean (in tank water) one filter one week and then the other the following week. By testing the water you should be able to tell when you need to do water changes. Set yourself a target of say 10-20 ppm of Nitrate (lower would be better). When the tests show more than this do a water change to dilute the nitrate. You will soon get into a routine.

Please Log in to join the conversation.

More
27 Aug 2009 00:39 #29 by Orca (Eoin Walsh)
Replied by Orca (Eoin Walsh) on topic Re:Sick Goldfish
A friend got them with a free tank and they were on a 50lt tank for a few years and in a very poor state.I think one is or looks like a wakin goldfish and the other a comet.The tank is set up a year and a half and the rescued fish went in around june but the set up is up and down since january.Do you think i am over stocked or might need a bigger filter.

Please Log in to join the conversation.

More
27 Aug 2009 00:55 #30 by reefpaddy (paddy kelly)
ideally an external would serve you better, but not so sure thats your problem though, bring the fish to platty, if you can, he loves all that disecting stuff. and lay off the spray in rthe room. leave the windows open aswell are you siophoning the sand with your water changes and keep an eye on the tanks temp, as the heat these days can have your tank up or down 3 degrees which could be stressing the fish out. if this is the case i woud recomend u add a heater just to give them stability. obviously dont heat too much as this will just strees the fish out more and cause them to grow to quick.diseases can lye in your aquarium for ages, thoes rescued fish could be causing a prob too. as i say try get the fish to the fish doc(dr platty)and we might be able to work out what the prob is.

Please Log in to join the conversation.

Time to create page: 0.088 seconds
Powered by Kunena Forum