Amadeus the oranda got stuck in the filter intake two days ago. He's been acting really off ever since, sitting on the bottom and moving really slowly. Last night I moved him from the cycling 50 gallon to the established 20 gallon where the ammonia and pH aren't all over the place. Today he's even worse, he's sitting on the bottom and rolling on his side. I keep thinking he's already dead, but then he'll move his gills or swim just a little. Right now he's laying on his side in his bowl (submerged in the tank on its side so the fish have a still place to rest), but he swims away weakly if I try to grab him.

We were doing a big project this weekend and later noticed some plexiglass shavings floating on the surface of the tank. We scooped them out right away, but I'm afraid Amadeus may have eaten some. The other fish are all fine.

Ammo 0ppm, Nitrite 0, Nitrate 5, pH 8

Tank: previously 50 gallons refusing to cycle, ammonia perpetually 1ppm. Currently 20 gallons with a penguin filter, established at least a year, 3 small goldfish, one 2" without tail (it's missing), overstocked temporarily while the big tank cycles, water changes anytime the ammonia registers on the API test.

Been using Amquel+ and salt in both tanks, Melafix in the 20 gallon trying to regrow some fins.

No new fish. Was feeding Tetrafin flakes, just started Hikari oranda pellets this week.

Amadeus has had some black streaks in his fins for the last week or so, we've been attributing it to the high ammonia, part of the reason for moving the fish.

Yikes I'm sorry. Poor Amadeus How did he get stuck in the filter intake? This usually happens to fish that are very weak and perhaps have some disease issues. Even a very powerful filter intake should not be more powerful than a fishes ability to swim away from it. It makes me wonder if Amadeus has been not well for some time.

Accidents like this are very traumatic & can send fish into shock and he may take a few days to recover. Don't give up on him. I would just keep the water good and get him to eat.

Has he any external symptoms and how has he been behaving the last few weeks or so?

This morning I was sure he was gone, but when I scooped him up in a cup his gills and mouth were still moving, so I put him back in the bowl in the tank.

Amadeus has been suffering from the high ammonia in my cycling tank for several weeks now, lots of hanging around at the top of the tank very listless, but he had been eating well. Right now I think he's too weak to eat, he's just laying on his side and barely moving.

Keep him in a quiet area where he can rest and keep his water pristine. It's up to him if he is strong enough to pull through.

I hope he does well

He died this afternoon. Hopefully he went peacefully, snoozing in the fishbowl.

I'm very sorry sweetie.