Hi all,

I am in desperate help or my Goldfish Frodo.

He is nearly 5 years old and he is very lathargic, his body has all swollen up, has what looks like black burn marks on him and looks like he has fin rot.

He is swimming at the top of the tank gulping down air.

I have checked for the amonia levels and I have done a 50% water change, he does not swim away when I put the net in to lift him in fact I think he wants to go..

Is he dying or can anybody help me please?

I am in tears here and need help for my buddy - PLEASE HELP URGENTLY!

many thanks

Dave

Hi Dave. The black burn marks are likely ammonia burns. You say you've tested the ammonia levels? What was the reading it gave you?

At the moment, I would recommend keep doing water changes and he'll eventually recover.

Unfortunately the swelling up doesn't sound good at all. Are his scales sticking out like a pinecone? If so, it may be too late to save him.

The amonia readings were ok

His fins are out like a pine cone

Dave, would it be possible to fill in as many answers ot the Qs in the box above this section.

This way the experts can help you out as best they can.



This sounds like it could be Dropsy.

http://www.kokosgoldfish.com/Dropsy.html

Don't despair the experts will be along soon and can advise you in how to try to cure it although you need to know that many times it is fatal. XX

Test Results for the Following:
Ammonia Level?
+2
Nitrite Level?
Dont have a kit
Nitrate level?
Dont hava kt
Ph Level, (If possible,KH and GH and chloramines)?
?
Ph Level out of the Tap?
?
Tank size (How many Gals)
3ft by 1ft
How long has it been running?
2months
What is the name and size of the filter/s?
Fluval 1
How often do you change the water and how much?
changed today 50%
How many fish in the tank and their size?
1 - 5year old about 4inches
What kind of water additives or conditioners?
?
Any medications added to the tank?
Fish Safe, Disease Safte and Tap Saft
Add any new fish to the tank?
no

What do you feed your fish?
Flakes
Any unusual findings on the fish such as "grains of salt", bloody streaks, frayed fins or fungus?
Dark Marks on body and on tail (looks like fin rot)

Any unusual behavior like staying at the bottom, not eating, ect..?
Eating fine, gulping air on the surface and is very lathargic, he is swollen up and looks like a pine cone

Thanks for filling that in Dave.
I've mailed one of the Moderators to come and help you, so sit tight.
XX

Thank you Kila,

Judas looks cute

I have two myself :

Brodie - 2 1/2
Morgan 2.

Dave

Sorry, a +2 ammonia reading is not okay. It's a very dangerous level.

It sounds like your fish has been exposed to this high ammonia level for a prolonged period (hence the burns), and has succumbed to dropsy. But I would still recommend doing an immediate water change of 90% to get the ammonia down to near 0.2 and adding Prime to detoxify the ammonia that's left.

Considering you've had Frodo for 5 years, there has to be a reason there's now been this high level of ammonia after all this time. Have you done anything major to his tank or filter, which would have killed off all the good ammonia-converting bacteria? Like doing a total clean out and washing everything under tap water? Or buying Frodo a completely new tank?

This tank has only been running for two months, so I am assuming that when you changed tanks for Frodo, you damaged or killed your beneficial bacteria that make up your tank's cycle. Hense - the ammonia.

As the others have said, it is essential that you get the ammonia levels down to as near zero as possible as soon as possible. I suggest that you do another immediate 50-80% water change and test again. IF the ammonia is over 0.25ppm, change AGAIN. Do not forget to treat the new water for chlorine before adding it.

That done, now you need to address the dropsy - for the scales sticking out like a pine cone are a sign of dropsy - a dangerous, and often deadly, bacterial infection that can come hand in hand with high ammonia/nitrite readings.

The best medicine for dropsy is a Baytril injection. For the size fish that you describe you will need 0.15 millileters of 2.27% solution Baytril for the fish. Do you know a veterinarian well? They may be able to either sell you this med or inject your fish for you.

If this option is not available, the next best option you have is Maracyn I and Maracyn II, antibiotics that work together in a tank. They are available at the local PetSmart type store. Get them both. It sounds like you have a..... 30 gallon tank? Most likely. That will be three tablets of each type med per day for 5 days at least. Most likely it will take several rounds. One of the Maracyns (II? I think?) needs a double dose on the first day. Plan for this - you will need 3 X 5 or 15 tablets of each at least.... or more, so buy the big package. It is more cost effective.

Adding in 1/8 a teapoon of EPSOM salts per 5 gallons of water will also help reduce the swelling. Remember that when you do your water changes, you will need to measure how much water you take out, so you can replace the salt in the same dosage. For example, if you change out 10 gallons, you will need to add back in 1/4 teaspoon of epsom salt to the new 10 gallons you are pouring back in the tank.

Epsom salts can be used at the same time as the Maracyn I and II.

One more thing to get at the store. Look for a product called Prime or Amquel+. Either of these products will detoxify ammonia, nitrite and some nitrate from the water. It stays available for your beneficial bacteria to use, but detoxifys it for the fish.

You will most likely need to change your water every day - testing each day - to keep the ammonia down to under 0.5ppm. I prefer 0.25ppm. After you change, you can add in the next day's dose of Maracyn I and Maracyn II, re-ad in the necessary epsom salts and add in a good dose of Prime. It is nearly impossible to overdose with this product and it can do miracles at keeping the water in order until your next water change.

Please post back and let us know how all is going..... we care.

Oops, sorry Daryl. I missed where Navy Dave answered the question about the tank being running for 2 months.

Perhaps your pinned thread about high ammonia and sick fish might be helpful as well.

Daryl he is in Scotland.
I agree that the new tank is cycling and the fish is being put through the ammonia stage and will probably be going through the nitrites as well.

I agree too that you need to do at least a 50% water change to bring your ammonia down to 0 and keep it from getting near 1.
Tomorrow get a test kit or strips for the nitrites and nitrates and ph.
Do another 50% water change tomorrow as well and buy dechlorinator too.

The tank is big enough for the fish but filtration is really inadequate. You need a fluval4+ on that tank and regular gravel cleans as well with a gravel cleaner.

With the fish having dropsy your best course of action is clean water and epsom salt as Daryl has mentioned.
A heater will help as well and have that steadily going up to 80f.

Im really sorry we dont have the meds in this country to help and its touch and go whether this fish will live.

Thanks for the advice everyone,

I moved into a new house about three weeks ago with the new tank (used about 20% of the original tank water the rest tap water with tap safe)

I have done an 80% water change (I did a 50% change yesterday) I have also added tape safe, disease safe and swim bladder treatment to the tank and a teaspoon of aquarium salt.

I have also used the tube cleaner on the stones (picked up a hellava lot of dirt), I just hope this clears it up

He is still like a pine cone but is sitting it the bottom of the tank not moving all that often, every so often he sprints to the top of the tank tries to get out of the tank and then drops back down to the bottom like a stone.

I have measured the tank its 33cm (13 inches) long by 24cm (9.5 inches) high.

Is the filter ok for this size of tank ?

I dont think he is going to pull through

thanks everyone.

Dave

Its not a 3 foot tank then. It probably holds around 5 gallons which is way too small for any fish.

I think you seriously need to get a tank thats at least 20 gallons for the size of the fish, though I really think sadly its too late.

Some sad news people

Frodo died about half an hour ago, I went down to Pets At Home to get the relevant stuff and when I came back he was :sleeping.

I am devastated!!!! He was given to me nearly 5 years ago, and I cannot stop thinking it was my fault for not changing the water or if I done anything else to cause his death. I saw him at the top of his tank a couple of days ago but didnt do anything then as I thought he was only taking in oxygen

:rip
I am sorry Frodo
Rest In Peace Buddy!

Dave

I'm so sorry, Dave. Five years is a long time to have Frodo and then lose him.

With your recent move and tank clean, you basically experienced what they call 'new tank syndrome'. Should you decide to get another fish one day to replace your Frodo, there's a lot of helpful info on this site (on the menu on the left on the first page) about setting up a new tank and filter and watching the water parameters to avoid the same thing happening again.

I'm so sorry Dave. You did what you thought was best and you tried. I had the same thing happen to a fish of mine a couple years ago. But have really learned about proper tank care after that.

Frodo sadly has died from Dropsy very quickly. Probably better than suffering for a long period of time. Again so sorry for your loss.

Thanks Guys,

I appreciate what you have said.

I will be replacing Frodo in a few months time - got a baby due end of August so it maybe a few months away yet.

I will set up the tank and have it up and running at least 2 weeks before I get the fish (think it will be called Gandalf).

I went to the Pet shop and spend £35 on testing kits and other things but it was to late. In a way I am glad he has gone - he looked in quite a bit of stress and pain - one black mark was over his eye and he kept bumping into the plants, filter and the side of the tank. He is in fish heaven with his 4 brothers (who all died this year too they were all between three and five) so to loose them all in one year is very heartbreaking.

I now have tank testing kits so it will be put to good use. I now wish I had never changed tanks - he might have still been here if I hadnt :.

thanks

Dave

I'm really sorry you lost him Dave, but once he got to that stage it was better that he went quickly.

For your next fishy friend you can do lots of research on Cycling of the tank, minimum tank size etc...
It's great that you got all the water tests, it takes all of the guesswork out of water quality. Best money you've ever spent, believe me!

Here is a fabulous article that you can print off and keep written by Emma.

http://www.kokosgoldfish.com/KeepingGoldfish.doc

(Thanks for complimenting Judas. He is cute but he's also a little demon!! )

Hi Kila

thanks for the word doc - seems like I still have a lot to take in before I get 'Gandalf'.

would you like a pic of my cats? whats your email and I can send them.

dc_123_1999@yahoo.com

Dave