My Black Moor who is 2.5 years old seems to be dying. He is listless and lying at the bottom of the tank. He has no visible symptoms of any type. In June of this year he had fin rot but overcame it with Melafix. He is my happiest and most energetic fish and now he is just listless. He lives in a 55 gallon tank with six other goldfish. All of the other fish are doing great in the tank. His diet is goldfish crisps in the morning and then frozen brine shrimp or greens in the evening. I added some salt and melafix to the water this morning hoping that it would help. is there something else I should try right away to help him.

thank you
Debbie

Hi and First could you answer as many of the questions in the box above its helps us help you better Is it possible to post test results as it may well be a water quality issue.If you get a test kit or take a sample to your LFS and they will test it and write down the results for you.One thing I have spotted is your overstocked as a 55 gallon tank is only suitable for a maximum of 5 fancy fish.As each fancy fish requires 10 gallons of water with commons/comets they require 20 gallons of water each.

hi, if you are unable to test your water right away or get a sample to the petstore for testing, i think you should go ahead and do a big water change just in case it is the water, that way you can at least for now releive your fish in case there are any toxins in the water. I know you just added melafix in this morning but that will not help your fish if this is a water quality issue. But be sure to get your water tested asap.

Welcome to kokos


karla

Thank you both for the advice - I took a water sample to the pet store and the ammonia levels, ph levels, and nitrate levels were all very normal.

The pet store manager suggested that due to the very hot weather that we have been having here that it may be a swim bladder issue. We do not have air-conditioning so the water in the tank has gotten quite warm on some days.

The manager stated that there is nothing that can be done for swim bladder. Any suggestions would be helpful as I hate to see my poor sweet Sparky so sick.

There are things for swim bladder.One thing you can do is fast for 24 hours then feed peas for three days then peas twice a week instead of normal food.Also raising tank temp can also help fish with sbd .Here's a link for you to read on SBD.

http://www.geocities.com/swimbladderhelp/index.html

You should also consider getting a larger tank as the one you have is too small for ammount of fish you have.I would have asked the LFS to give you the exact results as what is normal for one breed of fish isn't always normal for another.Do you have another tank or a large tub you could move him to while he is ill.I have an emergency plastic tub like a rubbermaid when my quarantine tank is occupied and I need to isolate another fish.Is he getting enough food.

Did he give you the actual #'s for the water readings?Sorry,they don't always know what they're doing.What size /type filter are you using-how often and how much water do you change out?When was the last water change and how much was that?How long has this tank been up? How much salt did you add? Sorry,the more we know,the better we can help you.

The Pet store manager did not give me actual numbers on the amonia, nitrate, and ph levels.

He told me that I had good water quality and not to worry about changing it ,

The tank is 55 gallon has 7 fish - 6 of the fish are swimming aggressively and feeding. These six fish are about 5 yeats old.

My black moor is the only sick fish. He had fin rot in June and I treated it with Melafix, now he is 0n the bottom of the tank, barely moving and not feeding.

Would you be able to tell us how often you change the water and how much water you replace with each change? (as Devs asked). This is important to understand why your moor is ailing. Some larger, hardier fish can take more then say a blackmoor so I wonder if maybe the water needs to be changed. It's the things we can't see or test that could be causing problems.

Please post back soon

Thanks to all who have responded

Sparky made it through the night - he is quarantined in his own bowl.

Mostly he still floats on his side on the bottom. Every hour has a perodic bursts of energy and actually swims. He will not eat his favorite food which is shelled petite organic green peas. And his breathing seems shallow. I have inspected his body and his color is good, there are not sores or holes, His fin condition is good. So I am at a loss.

I performed my own water tests and ammonia was 0ppm and ph was 7.2 - this morning. The water temp is at 65 degrees. The amout of Doc Wellfish salt I added yesterday was about 1/2 teaspoon. I did add more melafix this morning as well.

My remaining fish which are all calico fantail goldfish from nooppee are all doing great, swimming strong, sparring each other for food and visibly look good as far as color and fin condition.

The last water change was in June when I cleaned the complete tank after Sparky had contracted and was cured of fin rot and a small cyst on his right side of his body-

Prior to that I do water changes about every other month - changing about 20 percent of the water and cleaning the gravel with a suction pump as I siphon

The filter system that I use is not the greatest - it is an AquaTech 30 - 60 power filter that uses carbon fliter cartridges. I usually change these when I change the water. I was changing more frequently but it seemed to have an adverse effect on my water quality.

The tank has been set up for four years and all of the fish are the original occupants with the exception of my black moor Sparky who I added to the tank about 2.5 years ago. He was very small but grew to be one of my biggest fish within a year. From nose to end of tail fin he is about 5 inches.

I did read the swim bladder information but I am not so sure that he has that disease as I mentioned earlier he will get a burst of energy and swim just fine. Any suggestions on what else I can do for him will be greatly appreciated.

Sorry - I forgot to list that the tank does have an air pump and I do use water conditioner.

You could do with gravel cleaning every week as Goldies are very messy fish.Water changes should also be done more frequently I do 10% water changes weekly and gravel clean at same time.With you being overstocked you really must do weekly changes minimum.When he swims is he flicking or lookind agitated in any way.

I just checked on Sparky and when he swims he does not look agitated it is a normal swim pattern but it uses all of his energy. After a brief swim he sinks bakc to the bottom and rolls onto his side. I don't want to let him just suffer and die. Should I euthanize him?

I will change my water more frequently - I have just had such good luck with my fish and tank for the last four years that I have not wanted to mess up my mojo. I am bit imtimdated by water tests and chemicals, etc...as this is my first tank and I have gotten pretty emotionally attached to my little finned friends.

Don't feel intimidated by tests and stuff its there for us to help keep our finned friends healthy.I would monitor Sparky and ensure his water is perfect.Remember to treat the water with water conditioners to make it safe.Give him time it can take up to ten days for a fish to show major improvement.When it comes to euthanizing I'm afraid only you will know when its right time if at all.One last thing what his poop like is it white,stringy or same color as his food.

His poop is white and stringy

His poop is white and stringy

thanks for the encouragement about the tests

He sounds like he's got an infection due to color of his poop.If you are in USA I would suggest feeding him some medigold or metromeds to help him battle the infection.

Heres a link on what goldfish poop can tell you about your fish's health

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

Forgot to add other option is using Maracyn 1 and 2 combined if you don't want to feed medicated food.Then if hes not eating the Maracyn may be a good start.

Sparky died last night.

Thank you all again for the help

Debbie

O no Debbie I'm so sorry . The infection must have been to much for him.

Sparky gone but the memory and joy you brought will live on forever

I'm so sorry Debbie