Hi, want to ask a question about my 3 month fry Maxi. He is still in the fry cage 'cause I'm afraid that his parents will eat him, though he is rather fat. When I watch him from above his right gill is "sticking out" more than the left. Is there any disease like that?
Test result attached. I have a TetraNitrite test also, result 0. Filtration Eheim 2010. I clean up after him every day and change water once a week. Added some salt.
He is alone in a small fry cage, his three parents outside. No new fish or plants. He eats freeze dried brine shrimp, color flakes and a little pea. Eats good and very active. Tried to take a picture but to blurry. He has a very, very small wound(a scale) on his neck and his tail fin is a little "thin" on the tips. He does not seem sick and the water is okay, no new things. Is it the fry cage?
Have I forgotten something?

I've noticed that some of my fish have a little flap at the edge of their gill cover that seems to curve out away from the fishes body (like a frill on the hem of a skirt). Does this sound like what you're seeing? I was concerned about this too but someone told me it's just genetic variation (like big nose, small nose).

It would be unusual to be on one side only - but genetics in goldfish throw up trillions of variations - ask Daryl.

I agree with Annette - if you like this little fish and have the room and time to give him the benefit of the doubt, keep growing him out and see how he develops. He does nothave to be "perfect" to be a fine tank companion for you and your other fish.

If you notice any other problems with the other fish in the same tank, you may wish to look into a possible infestation of gill flukes. Since it is only on one side and the others seem OK and he seems happy, best bets are that that is simply the way he has been genetically created.....

Breeders of goldfish say that out of 1000 baby goldfish, you will get only 100 worth growing out and only 1 in 1000 that displays the conformity it takes to be called a "well bred example" of a specific breed.

Yes, I thought it might be so. He's the only survivor of my fry so I will keep him. He and his parents are happy and active so I don't think there is any disease.
Thank you!

Hi Anette

I'm glad it turned out okay and not a disease after all.Good Luck with Maxi and I can't wait to see his new pics

Thanks! I'm going to buy him a small box/tank where he can live a couple of months until pond time! There will be more space for him to grow and swim around and develop properly! I thinks he will be very happy for that, can't wait!
Hope my husband won't trip over it! He don't like things on the floor in front of the tank!

I bet Maxi will like his new tank. It must be special to raise him from an egg.

That's great! I'm sure he'll be very comfy in his new tank.lots of space to swim in and explore Good Luck!

Yesterday Maxi became 3 months old, and as a gift he got a new home! It is a Fly Box (flajbox in swedish) and I think it is about 10 gallons, I'm useless in maths. But he's got a lot of space, and he has water, gravel and a fake plant from the other tank. He also has a blue airstone. And he is happy! I was nervous of course if the move should stress him, but he's okay and he's eating, so I guess he likes his new home! I will try to get some pics when I come home from work!

Happy 1/4 brithday to Maxi, his new home sounds lovely and i look forward to new pictures, well done for being a good fish mum!

Hi again. I just want to know what the signs are for gill parasites or flukes. Is that the same thing? Is salt good treatment, I don't think we have the same medicines in Sweden. I wonder beacuse Maxi's other gill is rising now. He made one flash when I was watching, otherwise he's acting normal. But I know he flashed a couple of times when he was a small fry. He is now 4 months old. I will test his water but he has no filter, I make water changes every day, some fresh water and some from parents tank.
Grateful for any information!

Unfortunately I think there's a little nitrite, the test turned light orange. I'll clean, change water again and add some salt. If the tank is 10 g should I add 10 teaspoons of salt? That's much!

It sounds a lot but it's not. That's the recommended dose for maintenance salting, you could even salt up to .3 if you wished for nitrItes. Since it's only a small nitrIte spike then .1% should be sufficient to help.

Try adding 3 teaspoons at a time over a 12hr period. This way your Maxi won't get stressed.

Ok, thanks! Since I change some water every day I'll replace the salt. Maxi is doing fine this morning!

Here is a top view pic where you can see the other gill cover has "opened up". It is not as curled up, yet...

Is that a disease or a genetic defect? I think it makes Maxi a little dragonlike, maybe it's a new variation of goldies, the dragonfish... ?

Anyone knows?