My problematic Oranda seems to have another problem. He has a dark spot near his eye that is particularily new. I have no idea what it is. He yawns often, but I didn't think it was a problem before I read it here. I thought that it was okay to yawn because he has the swim bladder problem and I assumed that it was what helped.

I don't have any tests because my mom doesn't want to go out again cause we just spent 70$ on my fish already >_< and she wont go unless it's an emergency.

-30 Gallon tank (Running for 7 months now, since last June)
-Penguin 150 Filter
-Just changed 50% of the water, although used to change 50% of the water every 3 weeks. I plan on changing 20% every week from now on.
-I have two other fish,each about this long |-------------------------------------------------| (Sorry I dont have a ruler T_T)
-I use Aqua Plus tank conditioner
-No medications
-No new fish
-He has a red spot that I think is a scratch from a rock (Took it out), Strange dark thing on his tail on the edge. Seems to be part of the tail. On my Ryukin as well. And then he has the strange mark by his gills.
-Yawning, but other wise acts normal.

Heres a picture:
http://img411.imageshack.us/my.php?image=handelspotux2.jpg

*Sorry if the picture is bad, I circled the part though. He seems to only want to get his good side.
**That is not the tank I keep him in, I just use it for taking a better picture and when I clean the main tank.

Okay, Ive been checking out my Oranda closely, and I'm really curious about the thing on his tail. He does seem to swim spastically sometimes. My Ryukin also has a dark mark on her tail.

Im wondering if it's parasites, because of the symptoms. These problems only seemed to arise once I brought in my Oranda 3 or 4 months ago. I feel like an idiot not seeing these as problems before.

If someone does declare it as certain parasite, could they break the directions simply please? I'm still kinda new to goldfish and all the names of the different desieses and medicins really confuse me.

But Im going to buy tests on Saturday. I might be able to get the medecin as well if I find out what it is before then. Thanks in advance for anyone who can figure this out!

Are the black spots just colour of the skin, like a bruise on a human or are they raised and like a bump? It is hard to tell from the photo.

If they are just the colour of the skin, then I think they are signs of healing ammonia burns. It could be that your water quality has now improved since you are doing regular, weekly water changes. You may have had water quality problems before and now that the water has improved, the fish are healing. Black spots on the skin are most often a sign of healing, which is a good thing.

It is good that you are getting water testing supplies. The most important tests are ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and ph.

If you can't get test kits right away, most aquarium and larger pet stores will test water for free. If you do this, ask for the numbers, not just good or bad.

Please post the test results back here when you get them.

I usually change about 30% of the water in my tanks once per week, along with vacuuming the gravel or siphoning the bottom of the tank if barebottom.

I hope this helps and please feel free to ask questions.

It's kind of like a big black bump underneath the skin, kind of like a rock (but it's not Im sure). But the red part that I thought was a scratch immedietly cleared up after I changed the water so thats a good thing. Thank yoou for your help!

I was checking on Handel and lifted him from the tank to look at him and it SEEMS like a bump but it might be colouring. >_< I wanna get those tests quickly. -__-'

Would it be wrong of me to assume it's flukes? And would treating for flukes just in case hurt my fish even if they dont. Just wondering.

No, it wouldn't be flukes. Is there any way you can get a better picture?

It could be argulus (fish lice).

Maybe you could check out the pictures on this page and see if you think it likes like fish lice.
http://www.2cah.com/pandora/Disease.html#Argulus

Fish lice can appear like dark brown or greenish discs on the skin. They are about 1/5" of an inch in diameter.

No, it doesn't seem to be that. Maybe you were right about it just being the burn. Since its as though its in the wen by it's eye I can't see it perfectly. It looks like a bump but it might not be. Thank you for the help. I will keep an eye on him to see how he does. Thanks again!

Ok, then. Keep up your water changes and keep the water pristine. When you get your test kits, post the results back here.

Please keep me posted on your fish's progress.

Okay, well I went to get the tests today...and the store was closed >_< So i have to go tomorrow... but the fish seem okay, other then his SBD problem he seems content and normal.

Have you tried fasting the fish for a couple of days to see if the floating problem is swimbladder or food related?

I havnt. I always just assumed it was genetic because he's been floating since I got him almost four months ago. Should I still try the fasting even now?

Wait, sorry. Actually I'm pretty sure that I might have fasted my fish once for two or three days because I went away on vacation. Now I get someone else in my family to feed them, but on that certain occaision, last time I left food to my brother he overfed my fish and it died. o_O Soo, they didn't eat for a couple days that time.

But I was wondering about trying to feed peas. I really don't understand how to properly feed live foods. Like peas from a can? Maybe there should be a stickied post about feeding live foods?

Don't know if this is the best way but this is what I do.

For feeding peas, I just have a pack of frozen peas in my freezer (I made sure I got ones that have no additives like salt etc just 100% peas) and I take out 1 or 2 peas for each fish. I then put the peas in a little bowl, add some water and squish each pea so they pop out of their skin. I then pop the bowl of de-skinned peas and water in the microwave for about 45secs. I then rinse the peas several times in cold water to cool them. I then have another container in which I get some water from the fish tank and I take the peas out of the tap water (discard the tap water) and put the peas in the cup of tank water. I leave them for a few minutes, break them into smaller pieces (like halves or quarters) then feed them to my fish.

Like I said, I don't know if this is the best way but it works for me and my fish love the peas.

Wow, thanks! That helps alot. Ill try to get some frozen peas tomorrow. I've been worrying about how to feed live foods, not just for SBD, but also for treats and healthy fish! Thanks again!

Katrina,
Your method of serving peas is great. Frozen peas are the best to use. I generally microwave mine with a bit of water, let them cool, then pop them from their skins and smush a bit between my fingers before feeding. So, pretty much the same as you.


Kitteh,
What I would do, is fast the fish for a day or two. Then feed the peas for a couple of days. See, if this helps at all. Sometimes it will be constipation or food related problems that makes a fish floaty.

Another food that my fish love is blanched zucchini. You just cut the zucchini in wedges (like deep fried zucchini ), then microwave the chunks for a few minutes in water. Microwave until soft. When it is cooked enough, it will sink. Cool and feed. The goldfish love the soft centre part and if you have any bottom feeders, they love the skin. Larger goldfish will eat the skin, too, but if it is left behind by smaller fish, you can just remove it.

Oh, thank you! I think I'll tried the zucchini as well! n_n Actually now I only have two fish in the tank because I bought a 10 gal as a hospital tank for my Ryukin. My Tigerhead thinks that her tail makes a wonderful meal -_-'