When I went into my room just now, i noticed that my calico was stuck to the intake part of the filter. His tail was inside the filter, so I turned off the filter in order to help him swim away. He did, but now he's swimming so cautiously.... Looks hurt. His tail fins are really long, and usually he uses them all the time to swim, but right now he's struggling with his pectoral fins to swim without his tail.

Could he have injured something more than just his fins??

I'm thinking of leaving him in the tank and seeing what happens... I don't have a QT tank, so it's either I leave him in the big tank, or I put him in a tupperware bowl alone.

Oh, he didn't show ANY signs of being sick before this. I wonder if he just got pooped out, drifted towards the filter and simply got stuck.

Please help! i've had this guy for a while now, and am attached!

Just checked all the water params....

PH is a little high...8.0-8.5, nitrite 0, nitrate 0.

Like I said, he wasn't displaying any symptoms of anything until just now.

Poor guy!

Hmmmm, lets see whats going on here. I suspect that your tank may not be cycled. Do you understand the cycle of a tank? Read this: Cycling tanks


So, is your tank new or the filter/s new? If so, you are going to need to test for ammonia and nitrItes every single day. You'll also need to do waterchanges every day, according to your test results. If this is not done, your water will become toxic and you will have more troubles on your hands.


Just for good measure, can you anser the following questions:

what is the name and size of the filter/s on your tank?

How many gallons is the tank?

How many fish and how big are they?

How long has the tank been set-up and running?


Post back soon and well see if we can help you get your tank to be a good place for your goldfish to live........


Paul

wait hold on, by zero, i meant taht everything's fine. My tank has finished cycling, as it has been set up for about 6 or 7 months now. The only abnormality is the high PH.

Hi 1F2F,

How does the tail look? Does it look broken or blood shoot?

Please answer Paul's question on your tank size and other fish.

No disrespect intended but I think there is possibly something amiss if your nitrAtes are at 0ppm. A tank that has been set up for 6-7 months, and still cycled, should have measureable nitrAtes. Even the most heavily planted tanks will still have them. So, if you tested your tanks water and you got a 0ppm reading, either the test was done wrong, the tank had a denitrator coil, or you had just done a 100% waterchange before testing. I cannot think of a single scenario that would cause your tank to have 0 nitrAtes. Am I missing something?

Anyway, thats why I suggested you check the cycling page. I was/still am perplexed.

In all honesty, I think it would be for the benefit of your goldie if you go back and answer every one of the questions from the white box at the top of the page. With that info, we will be much better able to help.


Post back soon.

Paul

I don't tihnk I did the test wrong, I ran it twice...and came out with very little if not no Nitrates.

I have 3 fish in a 10gal (over stocked I know....but two of them are under an inch long). THis is temporary, until I can get a bigger tank.



captk, tail doesn't look bloodshot or abnormal in anyway. There's some splits in the very end of his fins, but other than that...there aren't any other noticable differences. MIGHT be kinked slightly, at the very end of his body --- this is leading me to believe that there may be something physically wrong with him.

I wasn't expecting him to last the night, but after I turned off my filter (just have the airstones going for now...letting the lil guy rest a bit) he seems A LOT better. Swimming around more than he was yesterday. Perhaps the filter & airstone/bubble wand create too much current for him??

(I'll now go back and copy/paste the questions from the top of the page)

Ammonia Level ? 0pm
Nitrite Level? 0ppm
Nitrate level?
Ph Level? 7.5
Ph Level out of the Tap?
Tank size(How many Gals) and How long has it been running? 10 gal, running for... 5 or 6 months?
What kind of Filtration? Just a filter that came with the tank kit... uh... no clue what it is.
How often do you change the water and how much? every 2 weeks, 100% change
What kind of Water additives or conditioners? water conditioner from my LFS
Any Medications add to the tank? none3
How many fish in the tank and there size? 3. 1)about 2inches. 2&3)half an inch
Add any new fish to the tank? Nope
What do you feed your fish? Tetra- "colourfin Sinking granules". Wardley "Goldfish Premium Flakes"
Any unusual findings on the fish? Such as "grains of salt", bloody streaks, frayed fins, fungus? Just torn fins from the filter
Any unusual behavior? Like staying at the bottom, not eating, ect..? Nope, he's eating...swimming...etc. just looks...hurt!
If you can what is the chloramines Level from the Tap? no clue

Oh, I just ran new water tests...and ^^those are them. Still 0ppm Amonia and Nitrites.

Well, from your description, he doesn't seemed to have damaged his tail much. Some goldie will get kinks in their tail. Can't all be perfect. Just keep a close eye on him. Keep the water good and fresh and give him some space. He probably exhausted himself trying to escape from the filter inlet. Let him rest for a few days and see how goes. If you see any other signs or symptoms, let us know ASAP.

if I might make a small suggestion....

Instead of turning the filter off, see if your lfs has a breeding net. It looks like a nylon type netting that is in the shape of a box. You could put him in that and keep him in the same tank. This will keep him from getting too close to the filter, expecially at night, when you can't keep your eye on him.

I hope he has a speedy recovery.

^^That's a good idea, I should see if I can get out to get one this weekend assuming he survives that long.

Thanks everyone!!

1F2F, I'm getting confused. From all your description, your fish doesn't sound like he is on death's door but you keep saying "I wasn't expecting him to last the night", "If he survive that long". What is his real condition? The two are not matching up.

Sorry about the confusion-- like I said before, he just looks...... hurt. He stays still for a long time during the day, but whenever I go into my room and turn on my light, he starts swimming. I dunno... I'm just not used to having an 'injured' fish that survives more than a day in it's condition. Most of my past fish...by the time I see the symptoms of something, they're dead the next day. That's what I was expecting with this one, but apparently he's not going anywhere!

Good news though, he is looking better yet! Still favouring his tail fin... using his pectorals like crazy, but looks good!