Hi, i posted in the breeding section that one of the babies has been floating upside down and has a red sore. So I apologize for starting a new thread here but i feel that things seem to be getting worse.

Ok, I know goldies should not live in overcrowded tanks but i have been raising 15 babies in a 27 gallon rubbermaid tank since they were 2-3 months old. Now i have 8 b/c i gave 5 away and 2 got sick.

So here's my info.

-27 gallon rubbermaid, barebottom
-8 1-1.5 inch goldies, 6 months old
-running for 4 months, 2 sponge filter, A lustar hydro 3 and a Elite spong filter(all i know is that the lustar 3 says it is good for tanks up to 40 gallons and i think the elite is good for 5 gallons)
-i change the water 3-4 times per week, i just did one 3 hours ago, between 40%-50%, including vacuuming poop.
-ammonia-0.25
-nitrite-0
-nitrate-5
-ph-was 6.0 but i added buff-it-up and did the water change and it is now at 6.8
-conditoners-Amquel+, NovAqua+

-the fish was fine until monday and then seemed to be floating a bit. As the week went on he started floating all the time and soon developed a sore on his belly. After helpful advice in the breeding section i put vaseline on his belly and fasted him and his buddies(i have no room for another tank) for 24 hours. But although his buddies got their meal of peas, the little guy did not eat. Surprisingly the following day he appeared to be able to rest a bit on his belly, even though he did flip over every now and then. I did have to lower the water level a bit so that he could get at the peas so by the time he was able to eat about 50 hours had past. The next day he was still floating a bit at the top upside down but could manage to right himself up again + his sore appeared to be healing, he was still a strong swimmer and he was able to eat. That was yesterday, today there's been a complete turn around, his sore that appeared to be healing is back and even looks worse, he cannot right himself up at all and has a hard time swimming. When he tries he spins a bit, hard to describe. Anyway, i did the water change, added Amquel+ to help w/toxins. Could the ammonia have made him worse? I will be doing more water changes until the ammonia is 0. Also, since i cannot put him elsewhere i read that using a breeding net to seperate the fish is a good idea, and since he cannot swim to the bottom, i can try to feed him in the net, is this ok? I know they shouldn't be living in a 27 gallon but i was suppose to give them away to a friend and although she says she wants them, she needs a ride to her place since she cannot take them on the bus + i cannot bring them to her place either. But i am giving her until this thursday to take the healthy ones or i will have to give them to another friend who wants them too.

Anyway, sorry for the long post, i just really want to help him.


thanks

karla

Hi Karla, 8 youngish fry in a 27 gallon with many waterchanges isn't a massive problem because the waste they produce is less then a full grown fish although the ammonia is a bit of a worry. Young fish don't do well with any level of ammonia and nitrites because their young immunities aren't as strong as those of older fish.

Other than that, you're doing everything I would do and at this age, for swim bladder issues to arise means it could be a genetic fault internally. Another concern is he seems to be off his food which may be an indication that something else is amiss.

If things get worse, I'd almost be inclined to separate him in another tub and try him on 1/4 dosage of meds but that's a little hit and miss especially for one so young. Other than the redness on his belly, flipping over and loss of appetite - do you see any other inconsistencies? Is he the only one affected?

Hi JenW, yes, everyone is perfect. Well several weeks ago the baby with a curved back got sick and started floating to the top, upside down. He too had developed a red sore. Well long story short, he got so bad I had to euthanise him. Soon after another one started acting strangely. I think though something was wrong w/his mouth b/c every time he went to eat w/the others he would act as though he couldn't put the food in his mouth, even though i squished the pellets almost to a powdery form. Well eventually he stopped trying to eat, always at the bottom of the tank and just kept getting worse. It was not until several weeks later and him getting weaker that I made the choice to euthanise him. The very next day, this guy who now appears to have sbd started acting strangely. I thought that maybe something in the tank is attacking the weaker fish, i don't know. But i want to give this guy a fighting chance even though i do not want to prolong any suffering. I might be able to fit my 5 gallon on my desk and perhaps try medicating him, in small dosages, or even add epsom salt.

Thanks JenW .


Karla