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A friend has a black goldfish, the type with the puffy eyes. It is sick, but we don't know what is wrong. The skin that surrounds the puffy eye has gone a gray colour and his fins are looking like they are stuck together. There doesn't appear to be any fungus or other spotting to the fishes body. He's eating okay, but spends all his time in a cave that is in the tank. He only comes out to feed. she has taken her water sample to LFS to be tested and they told her the parameters are all fine (eg ammonia 0, nitrite 0 and nitrate 20). The temp in the tank is about 28degress (82.4F). The tank is 55G. Water 25% change about every 10 - 13 days (maximum between changes 13 days). I hope this is enough information for you to be able to help this sick fish.

Cheers
TW

One problem is that the water is too warm. Goldfish would do better if the teperature was in the 70s. It may be a problem achieving that temperature down under without a chiller. Although nitrates are 20 ppm, the fish may perk up by shifting the water changes to a regular schedule or every 7 days.



__________
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I concur...way too hot for a goldfish. It will stress the poor thing out and eventually kill it.I'm thinking icreased water changes (30% every week at least maybe twice a week) and cool that thing down slowly to 75 or less if you can.

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~~Melissa~~
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Thanks for the advice. I'll pass it all on. The temperature isn't because of a water heater, that's just how hot the temperature in her house is making her tank. I know for sure she can't afford a chiller and she doesn't have air conditioning - but I'll suggest maybe a fan blowing on the open tank. That was suggested to me also, when my tank reached 31 degress.

So do you think the temp is causing the problem around the eyes & fins?

Cheers
TW

Certaing a temperature problem to start of with. I also would add a lot of airation, 30% water change weekly. Is the water treated first with dechlorinator?

Are there any lights and a top on the tank?

This will increase the heat as well.

Floating a few ice cubes could also help


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Id also turns the lights off, if there is a fungal infection, it will help reduce symptoms. A lot of fungal infections are not always immediately apparent. It could also be the beggining of velvet.If the lights are contributing to tank temperatures it may be better to leave them off,a goldfish can tolerate an unlit tank as long as the room is bright for many weeks. Do up the oxygenation, a coldwater fish will due to principles of oxygen absorbtion in colder water be used to a higher amount of o2 than tropicals, take it seriously, it might help save its life.

The eye could be pop-eye, so its possible your test readings might be off. Goldfish can cause incessant ammonia spikes in small tanks. Whats the tanksize?

Thanks for everyone's advice. Tank size is 55G. I'll pass all the advice on. Is there a med for pop eye that I could suggest to her?

Cheers
TW

Hi,
I managed to get the tank water down a fair bit, especially with the cold weather down here. However the poor little guy got worse and died on Sunday morning.

The tank water is now sitting at around 20 degrees so, its at least 10 degrees cooler.

Thanks for the Help.
Shell