My goldfish has a really thick jelly like coat in which has grown in the past two days. I have no idea what it is and i need help. My gold fish still seems active but has become a little bit sluglish. I'm worried that this fungus looking coat will eventually grow over its gills. My pH readings in the old tank were normal, Approx 7, and the new tank i put them in is also approx 7. I have two gold fish and only one seems to be severly affected. I change the water in my tank once ever 2 weeks and has a filter in which is cleaned when the waters changed.
I dont know what to do. This jelly coat only seems to be getting bigger. Someone please help I'm worried it could result in death if left any longer.
Full Version: Sick Fish, Help
Hi chicky_chic,
Welcome to koko's.
Can you tell us more info about your tank and your fish. How new is the tank, size, etc.
Do you have any water quality kits. Ammonia and nitrIte is a must. If you don't have test kits, you should be able to take a sample to some fish store and have them test it for you.
BTW, how do you clean the filter? No scrubbing and soap, I hope.
Welcome to koko's.
Can you tell us more info about your tank and your fish. How new is the tank, size, etc.
Do you have any water quality kits. Ammonia and nitrIte is a must. If you don't have test kits, you should be able to take a sample to some fish store and have them test it for you.
BTW, how do you clean the filter? No scrubbing and soap, I hope.
No i don't have any water quality kits, just a pH kit. THe tank I've originaly had them in holds about 20L and i've had it for a few years. The new tank holds about 7-10L and i've only had it for a few months.
When i clean my filter i change the filter wool and rince with hot water.
My fish has deteriated in the past few hours, it has now become even more sluggish and is sitting at the bottom of the tank sort of floating on its side.
When i clean my filter i change the filter wool and rince with hot water.
My fish has deteriated in the past few hours, it has now become even more sluggish and is sitting at the bottom of the tank sort of floating on its side.
Just a hint for the future. There is no need to change your filter wool until it becomes so glogged it won't work anymore. It may look gross but it is actually a healthy colony of biobugs that breakdown fish waste into non-toxic form.
I'm not sure how much water you change every 2 weeks but 100% water changes are not recommended except in cases of emergency. Once again, if you change 100% of the water you are removing the good biobugs. A safer routine is 30-50% weekly water changes using a siphon to vacuum the muck out of the gravel.
Slime disease has many causes, including parastical and bacterial infections. Your fish may even have nitrIte poisoning but we cannot tell without a water test reading. Sadly, once they start lilting on their side the prognosis is not good.
I could recommend daily water changes of 30% in case there are high levels of ammonia/nitrIte in your water. This could occur as a result of replacing filter material and loosing all the good bacteria. Another tip is salting the water to .3%. This needs to be done gradually, over 3 days. Each day dissolve 1 small teaspoon of salt per gallon and add to your tank, this equals a .1% solution. Repeat for another 2 days and you have a .3% salt solution.
Salt will help goldfish handle nitrItes and will also kill most parasites. Aquarium salt, rock salt, sea salt and kosher salt are all ok to use. Do not buy conditioning salts as these contain different minerals and are used for a different purpose.
It is also recommended that you continue 30% daily water changes while the salt is in the tank so you need to add extra salt to compensate for the removed water.
I'm sorry but that's all I can think of, it may help your fish if it isn't too far gone.
I'm not sure how much water you change every 2 weeks but 100% water changes are not recommended except in cases of emergency. Once again, if you change 100% of the water you are removing the good biobugs. A safer routine is 30-50% weekly water changes using a siphon to vacuum the muck out of the gravel.
Slime disease has many causes, including parastical and bacterial infections. Your fish may even have nitrIte poisoning but we cannot tell without a water test reading. Sadly, once they start lilting on their side the prognosis is not good.
I could recommend daily water changes of 30% in case there are high levels of ammonia/nitrIte in your water. This could occur as a result of replacing filter material and loosing all the good bacteria. Another tip is salting the water to .3%. This needs to be done gradually, over 3 days. Each day dissolve 1 small teaspoon of salt per gallon and add to your tank, this equals a .1% solution. Repeat for another 2 days and you have a .3% salt solution.
Salt will help goldfish handle nitrItes and will also kill most parasites. Aquarium salt, rock salt, sea salt and kosher salt are all ok to use. Do not buy conditioning salts as these contain different minerals and are used for a different purpose.
It is also recommended that you continue 30% daily water changes while the salt is in the tank so you need to add extra salt to compensate for the removed water.
I'm sorry but that's all I can think of, it may help your fish if it isn't too far gone.
It also seems that your tank is a tad small for more than one goldie. Isnt it 40L to 10 gallons? Do you still have the larger tank they used to be in?
You may wish to use an medicated water treatment instead of salt. I noticed that you are Australia and suggest you try a Triple Sulfa treatment. It is very gentle on fish and treats a myriad of conditions.
If you do use the TS, I recommend you treat your fish in fresh water, treated with water conditioner and temperature matched to your tank. It is preferrable to use a container or tank without a filter as the TS will destroy any good biobugs that may exist in your tank.
If you do use the TS, I recommend you treat your fish in fresh water, treated with water conditioner and temperature matched to your tank. It is preferrable to use a container or tank without a filter as the TS will destroy any good biobugs that may exist in your tank.
yes i do still have the larger tank
Sorry to keep adding on more posts. Chishower noted that your tank is a tad on the small size for goldfish. 10 litres is approximately 2.5g and we like to recommend that goldfish have at least 10g each. Small fish can get by in 5g each as long as it is noted they may need larger accommodation in the future.
Your previous 20 litre (5g) tank would allow them twice the water they have now. I really think that whatever is ailing your fish now is a result of poor water quality. This is no reflection on you but it is almost impossible to maintain healthy water for a goldfish in a 2.5g tank.
Your previous 20 litre (5g) tank would allow them twice the water they have now. I really think that whatever is ailing your fish now is a result of poor water quality. This is no reflection on you but it is almost impossible to maintain healthy water for a goldfish in a 2.5g tank.
my fish last night only continued to get owrse and die early this morning, but thankyou for your help
I'm sorry your fish didn't make it.
I'm so sorry too.
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