[*]Test Results for the Following:
Ammonia Level? 0
Nitrite Level? 0
Nitrate level? 20
Ph Level, (If possible,KH and GH and chloramines)? 7.8
Ph Level (KH/GH) out of the Tap?7.8
Brand of test-kit used? (strips or drops?)API
[*]Tank size (How many Gals) and How long has it been running?20 gallon-2 1/2 years
[*]What is the name and size of the filter/s? Penquin 350
[*]How often do you change the water and how much?weekly-50%

[*]How many fish in the tank and their size?4" bubble eye, 3 " red cap oranda
[*]What kind of water additives or conditioners?
[*]Any medications added to the tank? no
[*]Add any new fish to the tank?no
[*]What do you feed your fish?pro gold, green peas, goldfish crisps
[*]Any unusual findings on the fish such as
"grains of salt",
bloody streaks, frayed fins or fungus? whiteness around the eye sac surrounding the eye
[*]Any unusual behavior like staying at the bottom, not eating,ect..? has eaten hand feed peas, but bottom sitting, listless

My black bubble eye has been bottom sitting for 2 days now. He appears listless but did eat when I hand feed him peas. He seems to have a whitish fuzz (??) around the eye sacs directly surrounding his eyes. Is this a fungus? Or bacterial infection? I did salt the tank yesterday morning when I first noticed the bottom sitting. I hand fed him 1 grain of Medi Gold & half green pea this evening so he does eat. Any ideas on what else to do?

This morning I added Fungus clear. Olive looks none the better. Should I be feeding her Medi Gold twice a day? I do have Metro Med as well.

I'm sorry to hear your beautiful black bubble eye is out of sorts. Have you recently done anything different in your tank care? Has there been a sudden change of temperature? When did you last do a big filter rinse/filter pipe/impeller clean out?

Which Fungus Clear meds are you using?

One of the 2 filter cartridges was replaced > 6 weeks ago. No changes in the tank. Bare bottom, water changed & wipe down 4 days ago, salt added 2 days ago.
No sudden temp changes as the water for changes is held for at least 24 hours in the same room as the tank.
I am using Jungle brand Fungus Clear.
Thanks so much for your reply.

It's a very hefty weight medication and shouldn't be used on the fish with no symptoms. Is it possible to treat her in a QT?

I notice my moor gets fuzzy/fungal spots when I'm overdue with filter media rinsing is why I asked about the filter. 6 weeks seems a long time to go without a rinse of the older one- are the cartidges your only filter media?

If you start feeding medigold you must continue with it and you shouldn't feed peas with those. Is she bottom sitting constantly or does she move around and then sit. The percentage of time bottom sitting is important info.

Can you see any redness (very tricky on black), any grey or white coating on the black, is she breathing well/normally, was her last poop normal/food colored?

Yes the filter cartridges are the only media in this tank. Should I rinse both cartridges?
And I am confused what is the hefty medication-the MediGold? I only fed her one pellet along with the green pea last night. Nothing this morning.
Her poop this morning was the color of green pea
The % of bottom sitting is 100%.She flutters a bit from time to time to change corners of the tank to sit.
Her breathing seems very normal although somewhat slower like she is reserving her energy.
She is actually in our QT tank so I don't have a tank to move her to.
I so appreicate your help...

No the hefty meds is the fungus clear It contains: nitrofurazone, furazolidone and potassium dichromate. These are strong meds but effective for a fish who needs them. Shouldn't be used for a fish that doesn't show symptoms.

I think you need more filter media. In the longterm. These fuzzy spots will come back if not. Bacteria, fungal spores, over time have a way of multiplying in tanks -it's just so hard to control. Its why disease kicks in over time/years in established tanks with no new fish or no new schedule change.. We have to either up filtration or add more filter media at least.

Anyway, the poop sounds allright. I don't think this is anything systemic because she is eating and her poop looks fine and she is breathing well. But she's feeling rough - the fungus meds should help.

Thanks for the clarification.
Should I feed her Medi Gold?
I will cleanse my filter media & decide how best to rearrange my tank set-ups to accomodate.

Personally I would not. Everyone has different opines on this one but mine is use medicated food when you know for sure there is an internal bacterial infection. They are completely useless for external bacterial infections and fungus/saprolegnia.

Thank you very much for your help. I will keep you posted...
Blessings,
Annette

Good luck and let us know how she goes

This morning Olive is not doing well.
She isbottom sitting and has a long thin very white long poo.
She also looks to be wasting in size?
Last night I cleaned my media filters and had feed her one Pro Gold Pellet.
Should I begin Medi-Gold?

If she is still eating well then yes go ahead Annette. Wasting is not good so start right away -good you have them

I attempted to handfeed her, but alas she spit out the Metro-Med Pellet. Tried 2x by hand held.
Unfortunately I know the signs...this isn't good.
Off to work and will try again to hand feed this afternoon.
Thanks so much Trink!

Update!
Olive is none the better this afternoon. Still bottom sitting and occasionally scooting around. Again I tried to hand feed her Medi-Gold but she keeps spitting it out. I am soaking a couple of pellets & will try again when they are soft. So frustrating to get her to eat...

Still updating on Olive.
Yesterday evening I was able to handfed Olive one Medi-Gold pellet that I soaked in water to soften it. This afternoon she is still bottom sitting with her breathing very slow. I noticed this morning her pectoral fins seem to be sticking out perdendicular to her body almost rigid. Also her gill color is dark red. Is that normal? Since she is ill I really don't remember what color they should be. I am going to try to feed her the soften Medi-Gold again later.
I feel so helpless!

oh smilingfish !!!I am starting to know your frustration !! Tucker has popeye and does not like the meds !!! I hope everyones fish pulls through ..I can't offer help but only my full understanding of the frusturation and my support

Thanks dear for the support, as I am feeling quite upset by this episode with Olive. She is so not well. Do you know if red gills mean something?
And I am too am beginning to wonder if the season change has created water temp problems for everyone.
Ok, be strong...we gotta keep fightin' for our fish!

smilingfish I just read (not here on kokos)that bright red gills could mean bacterial infection of the bloodstream ...and then I read it means healthy gills ???........I hope someone will chime in soon

Yes, a chime would help but I believe Trinket & Pixie are asleep over there.

here is a pic of popeye hope this work http://www.kokosgoldfish.com/2002/popeye.jpegs I am not sure how it would look on bubble eyes but this is what Tucker looks like this will work ssroll down to popeye and there is a pic http://www.kokosgoldfish.com/disease.html

link didn't work

I put a new link..edit at the same time FC

Darn, it's hard to tell what exactly is wrong with Olive. Even if she had popeye it is still more a syptom than an actual illness. The problem is making sure we treat the illness. One of our red bellied pirahanas had a horrible case of popeye and it took at least a month before she returned to normal behavior although her left eye is whitened with scar tissue.
The good news is Olive definitely ate another pellet of Medi-Gold a couple of minutes ago. My daughter and I had our faces pressed to the face of the aquarium to make sure we saw if she spit it out. Now at least that is 2 pellets she has had in the past 2 days.

thats good maybe what she has had is making her feel a bit better and getting her strength to eat my fingers are crossed ..goldfish are stubborn peeps they eat like pigs ...until you tell them it's good for them

So true...kinda like my kids!

Smilingfish how are things today?

I am a little anxious that you are mixing metromeds and medigold as these are very different and will cause probs if mixed. You should keep to one treatment plan for best results. Glad she's eating.

Temp changes can cause bottom sitting, but the fuzziness or pop eye is different. A pic would be wonderful. Do you still have the Jungle Fungus Clear in the water and what are your water params now as those meds will kill bbs.

Hi Trinket,
None the better with Olive.
She ate one pellet of MediGold last night which is the only med she has received except for the Jungle Fungus Clear. Her breathing is slow & labored. There are times when she is not moving her gills nor opening her mouth at all. Looking back over the chain of events I most likely feel she is suffering from the water temp change. Last Sunday when I did a 50% water change, I used conditioned water that had not "rested" for 24 hours. I feel badly that this may have created the problem.

We check the parems today, the only thing different is that the nitrates are @ 10. They is most likely due to me cleaning the filter media.
I will do my best to get a picture online this evening.
Again I so appreciate your help!

Olive consumed one more pellet of Medi-Gold last night although I fear she is worse this moring. She more weak & unable to move her pectoral fins. Notice how they are pulled underneath her. Below is a photo of her taken yesterday evening. Notice the whitish area around her eye within the eye sacs. This began @ a week ago. Not sure if is a disease indicator but she did not have it previously.

Pics are sooooo helpful. That is cloudy eye Smilingfish, it is a little different from popeye in that if its caused by bacteria (and not eye flukes or water issues)it can be treated with water born antibiotics like Maracyn 2. Not fungus meds

Is it possible to get some Maracyn 2 and do a large water change to clear the tank of the fungus meds.

Yes I have maracyn 2 and can do the water change, if it's not too late.
Obviously I misdiagnosed Olive's condition which lead to mistreatment, how frustrating.
Thank goodness I don't have this problem diagnosing my patients. Dentistry is far easier for me than treating my fish.
Trinket you have been a great source of help & encouragment.

Ok, did a 75% water change & added the maracyn 2.
Olive is now in a corner of the tank taking in few breaths. She looked up at me as I was staring at her, she sifted her eyes like she was trying to communicate. Or maybe I am just hallcinating...