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Story:

I have lived with my beloved Pearls (a white goldfish) since 2001, and since 2002, she has sometimes suffered from swim bladder disease. For a couple of days, every couple of weeks or so, she had trouble sinking or floating. After a while, she became used to this "schedule," and usually just waits out her illness by "relaxing." Meaning she will just lie at the bottom of the tank calmly, and look around with her eyes untill she is well enough to swim around again.

We got used to seeing her this way untill now:


Emergency:

3 days ago, she started the same way: sitting at the bottom... but this time, I saw a red streak of blood on her tail. She didn't eat that day. Two days ago, she seemed a bit "deformed" (her "hip" is still wide, but her "torsoe" is much thinner than usual). Again, she wouldn't eat.

Yesterday, she was in the same state, but this time, had NO strength to move at all. Just breathe. I tried feeding her food and peas, but she spits them out...

Today, I see more "veins" all over her body, making her look like a blood-shot eye... She is still deformed. I don't know what to do

I changed almost 50% of the tank water as soon I saw her get sick, and put in aquarium salt. Also, I started her on Melafix two nights ago. Her tank mate, Paprika, is also recieving this treatment, as neither things are harmful

Help me help Pearls... my first pet... and most beloved... must I resort to putting her down?

First off, there's a sticky note @the top of this forum that lists all types of info you should provide prior to posting about a sick fish.

Most importantly we need to know tank size and water test results. Ph, ammonia, nitrIte, nitrAte.

Without that info we can only speculate that you're keeping it in a 10 gallon tank and it's suffering from stunting and septicemia.

^_^
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IS YOUR FISH SICK? READ THIS!!!*

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*this is a link



Last edited by trystianity at 15-Nov-2004 12:13[/font]

lol yes I read that, but that was a while back, and didn't remember to write those things in, sorry!

Tank Size: 10 Gallon. hexagon shape
Stock List (Quantity/Species): another goldie
Fish size for larger fish: 2" goldies + 1" tail length
Filtration: Ummmm it is the one that sucks the water up and spits it back out?? ^_^'

Ammonia: N/A
Nitrite (note the “I&#8221: N/A
Nitrate (note the “A): N/A
pH: N/A
Temp: Stays around 76 C

Tell us what you add to your tank or replacement water: Conditioners to remove chlorine/chloramine, aquarium salt.

Describe for us how often you use and how much: Whenever I do water changes, and as much as the instructions say

There we go. Thank you for your help!!

*By the way, I was actually afraid to give you the tank size, since I know it is wrong to keep them in such a small place When I got my goldies, I had no idea how to care for them, and the idiot store lady said they would be very happy in some lousy bowl ]:|

When I started learning, I saved enough money to buy them a sad little 3.5 gallon tank.

Saving more money, I managed to afford this 10g, which I got about a year ago. I am still in the process of saving for a bigger one

I want my fishies to be happy. . . was it my fault Pearls is sick??

Last edited by guppy_gal at 15-Nov-2004 12:28

Sad to say, but your fish are stunted and likely suffering septicimia.

Fancy goldfish require the 10-30 gallons each in a 55 gallon tank as a minimum.

Common goldfish (the ones sold as "feeders" require a much much larger tank and are really pond fish, not tank fish.

What's your nitrAte level.

The only thing you can do is get them in a proper size tank (55 minimum @least) or watch them die a nice slow death (what they've been doing since you got them really ).

^_^
[link=H2g2]http://hitchhikers.movies.go.com/upgrade.html" style="COLOR: #EB4288[/link] 2005 Don't Leave Home Without it[/font]

I edited my post while you replied

Ohhhh dear... I am so sorry for them! I am so mad at the sales lady at that store, and even more cross at my self for not learing b4 hand...

I looked at Pearls gain, and think it may be best to put her down... I filled a cup with her water, and am putting it in the freezer for a while. When it is cold enough, I will drop her in I can't see her suffer anymore

If you have a way of saving her, please let me know, but I think it is too late for her. I will work hard to get my remaining goldie a more suitable home before he shares pearl's fate

Last edited by guppy_gal at 15-Nov-2004 12:34

DO NOT FREEZE A GOLDFISH!

They will suffer all the way until they've actually frozen all the way thru....goldfish are able to withstand freezing temps and survive winter.

Take a kitchen knife and cut it's head off or hit it over the head with a heavy object. Those are the only two humaine ways of doing it short of an injection.

^_^
[link=H2g2]http://hitchhikers.movies.go.com/upgrade.html" style="COLOR: #EB4288[/link] 2005 Don't Leave Home Without it[/font]

Reading thru your water conditions again. Your tank was never cycled if those are your readings. If you're really interested in keeping fish I suggest a bit more study before getting any more fish. Remember that they're living beings and go thru pain just like a dog or cat.

Reading thru all of [link=this]http://www.fishprofiles.net/faq/begin.asp" style="COLOR: #EB4288[/link] will be a good place to start.

^_^
[link=H2g2]http://hitchhikers.movies.go.com/upgrade.html" style="COLOR: #EB4288[/link] 2005 Don't Leave Home Without it[/font]

I was told freezing them was the most humane way!!!! It was like going to sleep with the cold. . . .

Ok. I will get a knife Oh my poor baby!!!

Cycled? What do you mean by that??

Ok. I will get reading right away

THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR HELP!

Last edited by guppy_gal at 15-Nov-2004 12:56