I have had a black moor goldfish for about 2 years now named Sketti. I have noticed that his fins are getting a bit ragged but they do not have the tell tail sign of Fin Rot - The white border. I was feeding him a moment ago and also noticed that his gills are blood red on the inside. Im not that knowladgeable about goldfish and I was wondering if that was a concern for him. He just got a new tank yesterday with a filter and he has been spazzing out ever sence I put him in there. He almost looks stressed, then every so often ill look in there and he will be sitting on the bottom and not moving at all. Im really worried about him, hes the only goldfish that i have ever had that has lived over the 1 year mark with me, then again I havent had a goldfish since the 5th grade. If anyone can help me I would really appriciate it.


Kel & Sketti

Hi Kasper,Welcome to the forum.I'm going to move this to the Diagnosis section so it can get the help that you need.If you could answer as many of the questions up above in the red area as you can,that will help us to determine what the problem may be. I also want to ask if you treated new tank water with a water detox,and did you evenly match Sketti's old tank temps to his new one.

I treated the water with Aqua Safe. And I floated him in a bag in the water for about 2 hours.

as for the ammonia level and the nitrate levels I havent a clue.
The tank size is about 5 gallons
the filter is called aEZ Change#5 Cartridge and its about 2 in by 4 in
I partially change the water every 1-2 weeks depending on how it looks, I always treat the water 3 days in advance and leave in in a gallon jug for the 3 days to make it the same temp as the tank.
There is only one fish in there (Sketti)
I add nothing to the water excepet the Aqua safe
No meds
No new fish (he eats them)
I was feeding him Wardly Goldfish flakes for the longest time, Then I switched to the Wardley Goldfish Crumbs that sink, because he was swallowing a lot of air, I give him a pea once a day.
He has frayed fins all over his body, and his Gills are bright read. there is not white on any of the fins except the front two, but I heard that its just beacuse he is a male.
Hes eating but he will sit on the bottom for long periods of time, if hes not doing that hes swimming from the bottom to the top as fast as he can. When I walk up he comes off the bottom and looks at me.

WHat kind of setup was your fish in before? DId you cycle the tank or just treat the water and put him in?

Thank you for helping me out Devs, and thank you for welcoming me =)
I hope someone knows whats wrong with him, Or if Im just being paranoid .
Im a complete newb when it comes to the care of a goldfish,and I hope to learn more on this site. Skettis the only pet Im allowed to have at my apartment I have grown severely fond of him.

Thank you again Devs

Kel

He was in a 1/2 gallon bowl, and then a 3gallon tank both of them did not have any filters. I would just treat the water, float him for a few hours and put him in.

Hey Kel, How big is Sketti? I looked back & realized that you said you've had him for two years in a bowl,then a 3 gal. tank.It won't take long to figure out on here(the forum) that Sketti is tough just for living like that for two years. Man do you have some reading ahead of you! There's so much to tell you .... Kel,Goldfish have the capabilities of getting 10 inches or bigger.They are probably one of the dirtiest,but most lovable fish you could have chosen though. Because of their major waste producing,& the size they can grow,it's recommended to keep them in at least 10 gals. of water per fish. A good filter is also needed.Recommended size is something that filter's10 X's the size of the tank that you're keeping the goldfish in,so a ten gal. tank would need a filter with a gph(gallons per hour) of at least 100. You have kept Sketti in a bowl,and then a 3gal. tank. You mentioned that you partially change Sketti's water every 1-2 weeks.Because of the massive waste that Goldies produce.Sketti probably needed his water changed daily while in the bowl,and probably every other day while in the tank.Even though he's not got the typical white edges on his fins,he's showing signs of poor water quality. I know that this is soooooo much to take in,so I'm going to advise you to read a few articles,or people will think that I'm writing a book here. I want you to go to the Home page and find a) 10 healthy steps to take care of a goldie, cycling a tank,and read over them when you get a minute. Have you ever used Aquarium salt in Sketti's water? You may want to pick some up at your LFS. Sketti is probably feeling a little under the weather,and also stressing from the new tank and filter. Using the salt sometimes eases some of their stress,and also aids in some sickness's. Talk to me Kel,tell me what you're thinking about now.....

I was reading your post over and spotted No new fish(He eats them)and I had to laugh out loud,although it's not really funny.Kel,What kind of fish were you trying to add with Sketti? Curiosity has got me now.

Thanks for the info Devs. I read about them getting that big on this site =) At the moment though hes only about 2-3 inches. He was teeny when I got him. the only other typs of fish that I was adding with him were goldfish. I wanted two black moors but he seems to dislike them. He ate his tank mate Meatball, whom I bought with him, Im not sure if it was becaues meatball died in the night or he killed him. Later on I put another black moor (Marinara) in there with him and the next morning it was floating with hunks out of him. That was about july of 2004 and I havent tried again. I dont know if hes overly agressive or if its beacuse the fish were sick and died and he ate them. Apparently Sketti likes to be in solitude, or hes got the hankering for fishie flesh

Because hes in only 5-6 gallons of water should I do a partial water change every couple of days to make up for the lack of space? Or do you think I should get him a bigger tank

Thank you again for the info, Ill be surfing this site today and tomorrow.
Is there anything else I can do to make the water quality better or to make him more comfy? Im going to get a gravel vaccume tommorrow when I cash my work check so I think that will help. Is there any type of medication I should give him for the fins and the red gills?

Kel

No I have never used Salt in his tank before.