SICK BLACKMOOR

Question
I have had my blackmoor fish for 4 years. For the last few months he has been unable to maintain his balance and just lies listless on the bottom of the tank. However, he still tries his best to get food. The other fancy goldfish i have in the tank seem fine.

I change the water on a regular basis (once every 2 weeks) and have been doing the same for the past 4 years with no problems. When i change the water i do a full water change. He is in a 90 litre tank with 1 other fancy goldfish of the same size (about 4 inches). There is a filter in the tank that is the right size for a 90 litre tank. When i change the water in the tank I always try and make sure that the water is not too cold and as close to room temp as I can get it. I am not sure what the ammonia levels and PH is.

During the last few weeks he has looked really bad and can't seem to get off his right side. He just spends all day lying on the bottom of the tank.

I have been to the petshop several times to try a variety of treatments. I have tried a swimbladder treatment 3 times and am now trying an internal bacteria treatment which also seems to have no effect. I have also been putting in tonic salt and have tried changing the water conditioner. I saw online to starve him for 3 days which I did and have also tried feeding him peas.

The other day I phoned a vet to see if they would have a look at my blackmoor fish for me but was told that they don't treat fish. Any ideas as to what I can try next as he is not recovering but not dying either?   Thanks!

Answer
Hi, I have a great idea what's causing it.  Like most swim bladder disorders, there are 3 main causes.

1. Parasites
2. Filthy water conditions lasting a long time which deteriorate the fish's internal organs
3. Compaction

Without knowing the history of the fish (which you have nicely provided me with), I couldn't make the choices for helping you that I have, and so I wanted to thank you for the info so I can quickly come to an answer for you.

First of all, changing water like you do, you get an A+.  Good for you.  Every 2 weeks is essential to do a water change of at least 10%.

As far as the filtration goes, however, if the filter is rated to 90L and it's on a 90L tank, it's not appropriate for your fish.  

Goldfish are not like other fish.  They require huge amounts of filtration.  They are very good poopers, and it dissolves in the water fast.

Generally, a goldfish's aquarium needs a filter rated at least to double the aquarium's size.  This means if the tank is 20 gallons, and the filter is 20/40 gallons, that's still too small.  When you buy a filter, you absolutely never go by the top number.  Only the bottom.  Therefore, you would need 2 of those, as we're going to want filtration appropriate for a 40 gallon tank, though it's 20.  Goldfish simply need heavier filtration.  

My first advice is to add a second filter and/or replace yours with at least the 30/60 hang on back filter by any company who carries one (aqueon, penn-plax, marineland, etc.).

Second, my advice is to give the goldfish peas. Take frozen peas and grind them up in a coffee grinder (wash when done, lol...yuck) and then take them and begin feeding them to your fish.

The peas will loosen his bowels.  Perhaps this is an issue attributed not to water quality, but to aging.  

It's a very common goldfish/black moore issue, however.

Hopefully the peas will move things along.

My additional suggestions are to not do what other swim bladder disorder fish owners do, by letting food hit the bottom of the tank so the sick fish can eat.  It causes even filthier water.

We don't have readouts as to the water conditions, so let's take some water out and put it in a white bowl.  Is it crystal clear?  If it has any color at all...even a very faint yellow, then the ammonia is too high.  Time to wash out the gravel.

These are the best suggestions I can make.  It is rarely an internal parasite, and I do not advise adding anything at all to the fish's water to treat this.  It will make him sicker having chemicals.

Please write back if you have any questions and I certainly hope this reaches you back in time.

Happy fish-keeping.

:)

Renee