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hi guys.

i've got an issue with a black moore in my 35G

he's only about 3-4cm long, and up until late yesterday he was fine.

now i find him swiming on the bottom of the tank along the gravel. his mouth is moving a fair bit.

it doesn't look like he can swim up or anything, but yesterday he was fine.

i've had him since about august. is it his time to go? or is there other issues here?
the ammonia level was 0

help.. ??

Hi Stu! Okay, some more info please, so we can narrow this down. What other occup[ants are in the tank? What temperature is the tank? PH? Readings for NitrIte and NitrAte please, as those can make a goldie feel pretty crappy fast too.

3-4 cm? That is one tiny goldie! I just love baby black moores, they seem to be all tail

Sounds to me like flukes or another parasite from the breathing heavily and lethargy, but get back to us with those numbers asap and we'll see what we can figure out

Also, it's definitely not his time to go! Goldfish of ANY type can live an average of about 15 years if given lots of room to swim and grow. Your little baby has a long way yet, and should definitely outgrow that 35 gallon, getting to about the size of a grapefruit with huge fins Honest to God!

Here's a great sight about goldfish and Koi health:

Koi Vet

and when it's back up and running, Goldfish Paradise (www.goldfishparadise.com) is excellent for learning about your gorgeous fishy!

Last edited by guppylove1985 at 05-Jan-2005 19:04

the Temp is 79 F

and he's in with platies and mollys and a few black widow tetras. oh and a sucking catfish and has been since day one.

wouldn;t poor nitrate and nitrite levels man that other fish would suffer too.

i've also noticed that the tops of his eyes are getting white, i supose where his eyebrows would be and his dorsel fin is in pretty ordianry nick thats going white on the tips of it too. also the back fin is getting shorter by the hour..

ammonia: 0
ph 6.8
nitrate and nitrite are fine.

here are a few pics
http://www.stuartsmithmusic.com/fish/barry1.jpg
[link=http://www.stuartsmithmusic.com/fish/barry2.jpg
]http://www.stuartsmithmusic.com/fish/barry2.jpg
[/link]
http://www.stuartsmithmusic.com/fish/barry3.jpg



Last edited by stuquarium at 05-Jan-2005 20:33

wouldn;t poor nitrate and nitrite levels man that other fish would suffer too

Generally yes, but it depends on the fish. If he is the most stressed of all of them, he will be the most affected. So Nitrite is 0, and nitrate is less than 40 ppm? Well done.

He's got some nasty fin rot, adn I don't think he's gonna make it, sorry stu. I would separate him into a quarantine tank ASAP if you have one, as finrot is contagious and you don't want to get him more stressed from the other fish.

There's a few things wrong with that setup. Goldfish generally belong in a species only tank, as they have different needs than most trops. Your tank was very overstocked, even though it doesn't seem like it. I'm guessing that sucker fish is a common pleco, which are poop machines and grow huge like goldies. Your tank would be much better with just the trops, minus the goldie.

As far as treating him goes, once you have him separated (in something atleast 5 gallons) let's get out the meds. You'll want to add aquarium salt at a concentration of 1 tblsp per gallon (0.3%) as this will help to retard the finrot. Melafix, if you have it will aid in healing. A combination of Maracyn I and II for the antibiotic will be fine, or you can use Jungle Fungus Eliminator. Melafix will NOT heal this on it's own, the fish needs some antibiotics. Fast.

I'm sorry to say I don't think little Barry will make it.

If you want to do goldies again, I would recommend getting them their own tank that's big enough to have a couple of them as they are very social critters.

your right GL

Barry Passed Away only minutes ago.

now that he's out of the tank, what can i do to stop this fin rot spreading ?

originally Barry was a gift. and my 1st fish in a 2 gal tank. so i got hooked and upgraded .

guppylove, in Aus we are unable to get maracyn. Can you tell me what antibiotic it is or if tetracycline would do just as well?

Stu, antibiotics are tough to come by in any lfs. You might find remedies that claim to have an antibacterial effect but they are generally useless. If tetracycline is just as good a treatment then I have some I can give you.

---

Before you criticize someone walk a mile in their shoes. That way you're a mile away and you have their shoes.

thanks lindy! any help is great!

this is will stop it from spreading ?

Hi Stu, sorry you lost him. That last pic didn't look too promising. A fish on his side, is generally a fish that is checking out.

Maracyn is erythromycin. I think you will have an easier time getting tetracycline and tri-sulfa in Aus.

When an infection strikes, it doesn't take long to attack them internally. Rather than medicate the tank on the assumption that they may have caught the illness, I would look at each fish carefully for any signs of finrot or other infection (fuzz, film, fin erosion, lesions, lethargy or unusual behavior). If all fish look ok, I would dose the tank with Melafix, and if you have it in AUS, Pimafix. The two together are strong antiseptics, but won't hurt the good bacteria and cause ammonia or nitrite spikes.

I'm thinking someone may have nipped the black moor's fin starting the problem. Hopefully, it is limited to him.

Did you notice him scratching or flicking/rubbing against objects in the tank? If so, then it may have started with something like costia or chilodinella. This would require a different treatment for the tank.

I also agree that goldies need to be in a species only tank. While goldies can live in lower pH, they also tend to do better in higher pH.

Last edited by Cory_Di at 05-Jan-2005 22:28

thanks CoriDi.

a while ago he did get his fins nipped by a tiger barb. i moved the tiger barb out of that tank.

i was thinking i should so a water change now?
then and some melafix tomorrow?
good idea?

i think it's only him thats got it, one of my mollies. spotted has a little orange tinge on its sides. but thats not it is it ?

If so, then it may have started with something like costia

OH GOD!!!! Don't mention Costia around me lol

By the way, the goldfish Paradise forums are back up! Sorry to be a little off topic...

I'm so sorry about little Barry stu I definitely agree with Cory Di on not dosing the main tank without making sure the other fish are ill first. The suggested combo of Melafix and Pimafix is also a very good idea. Clean water and those two meds should keep everything going fine

thanks.

no other fish look like they have fin rot at the moment. i'll keep an eye on them,

the water change is due tonight. and i havent got any melafix or that other stuff yet.

ok so it's been almost 24 hours since the fin rot death
no other fish seem to have the symtoms.

what should i do now ?

You an either just keep watching, or dose melafix just to be safe. I mean, I would watch closely as in stare at each fish for several minutes daily and study them.

will do

thanks Cory_Di