My goldfish Milly has had 1 scale that has looked a bit red for a while now but this morning we noticed it's grow and is now bulging out about 5mm . The scales are still on but right at the center of the bulge is some broken skin. I was scared this was dropsy but its not really that kind of bulge. It's smaller and more ulcer-like.

It looks horribly sore but she doesn't seem to be bothered by it at all.

Is this an injury that's got infected or something? And how would I go about treating it?

Our water levels are

Ammonia = 0
Nitrites = 0
Nitrates = 5
pH = 8

In the past she's suffered from Tail Rot but that's cleared up completely with the use of Myxazin (I think it's called something else in America).

So I've started using the Myxazin again because it says it can help treat all wounds, ulcers and abrasions.

Please help.

I took these 2 pictures. Sorry about the quality - I'm awful at using a camera and they move pretty quickly. You can just about see what I'm talking about, although you can't see the broken skin very well you can see the lump.

//EDIT// sorry about the size of the images. I'm trying to

it looks like a cist. keep your water levels good. and add melfix or some aquarium salt in the water. add 1/2 tsp per gallon.

ok. I already use salt and I think Melafix is the American equivlent of the antibiotic I'm using.

Thanks for the help

Okay Hun this is not good. I had this on my Dede and since your in the UK Emma might have to help you with trying to find this stuff I had to use to get ride of it......


I had to raise the temp up to 79-80F, Maracyn one for the first dose, Maracyn 2 for the second dose (antibacterial MEds), them Medigold for 21 days. Water change of 30-40% between each Maracyn...

Also Epsom salt of 1/8 teaspoon per 5 gals of water...only once. before each dose.

Hi Jenny

Sorry to hear about poor Milly - that lump does look sore!

I have some Medigold here which I will gladly post to you if you email me your address (I am in the UK so it won't take long to get to you). My email address is emma@featherpen.co.uk.

I would also do as Koko suggested: increase the tank temperature to boost her immune system, and add Epsom salts to help her osmoregulate at the wound site. Also keep her water quality as close to perfect as you can - this in itself will help her recover.

Let me know if you need the Medigold.

Than you Koko

Oh gosh. I don't have any idea where to find that stuff. I'm worried about using too much medicine because it might harm my other fish Lilly and I don't have a quarantine tank (plus if I move her into quarantine I'm afraid she'll get stressed out and get iller because they hate being moved anyway). The infection can't spread to Lilly can it? Because if so maybe I should look into getting a quarantine tank...

Maracyn is the same as the Myxazin I'm already using, I just checked. I'm not sure where I could get the Maracyn 2 though as we don't really have a specialist shop around here. I've just been using 1 drop per 5 litres of the Myxazin every day into the water like it says on the packet to do.

I'm so worried about her. It looks so painful but it doesn't seem to be affecting her at all. She's still feeding properly and is just as lively as ever, playing with her sister. Surely this is a good sign?

Also since my last post a white crust has formed in the middle. I don't know what this is but I'm scared it some kind of fungus or something to make the problem even worse.

Also, do you know what could have caused it? So I can make sure the original problem is sorted out so it doesn't happen again? Thanks

I hope she gets better.

Wow, Emma, thank you for the offer about the medigold. I will see how she gets on in the next couple of days and bear that in mind if it gets real bad. Unfortunately I'm afraid my mum may be slightly wary of giving our address out to you, not that I don't totally trust you (I do), but you know how it is...

Thank you anyway though. Do you know if there is an alternative you can buy here?

Sorry for posting three times in a row but it won't let me edit my posts again.

I just checked and the white bit has turned all cotton and is starting to trail along as she swims. It's fungus then right? So it's even worse now

I'm so worried about her