My Oranda has troubles swimming.

Question
Hi, i currently keep 5 fish i a large fish tank. They are all goldfish with double tails (fancy varieties). My orange Oranda who is about 2 years old and 7cm from nose to tail has recently started sitting on the bottom of my tank and seems unable to swim well. She tries to swim when i put food into the tank but is often unable to get any although she certainly has an appetite. Fot the last week i have been feeding her blanched lettuce, peas and bloodworm (frozen). Often when she is sitting on the bottom in the gravel she opens and closes her mouth very fast and breathes rapidly. The other four fish in my tank are all fine with no problems. I think she is a female but she has never breed.

Please help- i really like this fish and would be devastated if she died, Thankyou :)

Answer
Sophie,

When you say you have them in a large tank i am hoping you mean one that is no less than 75 gallons. If they are in anything smaller I suggest you get a bigger one. Goldfish are very messy and need a lot of swimming room. Is she eating the pea that you are trying to feed her? I am thinking the problem is over crowding. As I stated earlier, they need very large tanks. With that many fish make sure you are doing the weekly water changes as well. With the fast breathing try dropping in an air stone. This will add oxygen to the water. There is no medication at this time to give her since she is not showing any physical signs of illness. I would remove her and put her in your hospital tank and lower the water level a little so that it isn't that far for her to go to get the food. You might try sinking food as well. It will be in the best interest of all your fish if you put them in a larger tank if the one they are in is no less than 75 gallons. If after you try what I have suggested and she doesn't get better, or at any time she gets worse please let me know. Good luck.