my goldfish looks a bit ill :(

Question
QUESTION: Hi
I recently got a goldfish and brought a tank with filter etc (I have two fish at home who are 16 years old and apparently indestructable so I thought this one would be ok with the same stuff). The fish was fine for a week or so and very spritely but over the last few days his tail fins have changed to a reddish colour and look a bit ragged and he's covered in teeny tiny white specks. He has also become very lethargic and spends hours on the tank floor doing nothing or just hanging in one of the corners. What's wrong with him!!!??? please give me a few tips, I don't like seeing him like this :(

ANSWER: Zoe,    When you set up a new tank it has to cycle down. This is harder on goldfish than any other fish because of the amount of wastes they put out. We can fix this. I want you to do a 33% water change twice in the next week. He has a little ammonia burn but, I don't want to medicate your tank right now while your tank is settling but he seems to have a case of ich. The medication we are going to use is coppersafe. This way you do not have to remove your filter cartridge. Now this will not evaporate it is copper based and can only be removed by water changes. Therefore when you do your water changes try to estimate on the lower side and replace it. I think it is 1 tsp. per 10 gallons. What I mean by cycling is when your tank is trying to form a natural ecosystem. There was no bacteria in that tank until you added your goldie. When this happens your good bacteria starts to bloom and cloud your tank a little and settle eventually where it will live and do its job recycling your goldies waste products. In the meantime while there is no bacteria layer the waste build up in the water as ammonia. It is very strong and can burn your baby quick. It takes about 30 days or so for your ecosystem to be stable. Week by week it will get better. Yours might take a little longer because we have to medicate for ich. This will kill some of our bacteria. So you may get several blooms and your tank will be cloudy don't buy anything to clear it what is happening has to happen. Now the ich situation even though Goldies are a cold water fish he is also stressed. Make sure you have a stick to the tank thermometer on the tank on the bottom front left or right side and it is being kept at between 68 to 75 degrees. I keep my 9 yr old Black Mor at 72 degrees. If he is by a heating duct or a window and you are seeing drastic fluctuations get a temperature controlled heater. Most of the time it is temperature fluctuations that cause ich. Now with all this chaos going on while you are growing a whole world for your new baby you are going to have to keep close eye on the pH always 7.0. If you do not have a pH kit get one. This is all going to affect your ph for awhile. Sometimes when you have fish so long and now they are hardy and more tolerant of everything like pH, and temp you forget that they went through this too. Something great for all your goldies (yours, after it gets some growth going) is a frozen pea thawed under some water and cracked abit a couple times a week is good to stop constipation and helps keep swim bladder infections away and they love it. : ) Don't forget to remove the shell. If you look at their food it is almost always fortified with vitamin C. This is because in captivity they suffer from vitamin deficiency. You can get what is called a veggie clip from the pet shop (it is a suction cup with a clamp) and if you give them a maybe quarter inch thick slice of orange rind in meat out for the two of them they will really love it!!!! So, don't get discouraged, just treat him, do your water changes, and watch the temperature and pH......you will get your tank established. If you have anymore questions or problems let me know. Keep me updated. Good Luck, Tina

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi Tina

Thank you for the very detailed answer to my previous question. I am going to be moving my fish at the end of the week from uni (where we aren't meant to have them!) to my house, and my dad wants to move it into the tank with my other fish- that tank is well settled so would it be ok for my fish to move into it?

Answer
Zoe,     That couldn't be better. Of course, mom and dad may end up getting a larger tank when he grows up....lol They may chase him abit in the first couple days but, they are relatively peaceful and should be fine after letting your baby know he is the new guy....lol Good Luck in school Zoe !!!!!! : ) , Tina