Help

Question
Hi Jaymie
I recently asked you a question to which you replied that
you had already answered it for me once before. I have never
contacted you before so I am not not sure what you are
referring to. I have had a look through your FAQ but can't
see anything like my question. Can you please have another
look or let me know where the answer is that relates to it??

We have an outdoor pond that holds 1000litres of water. We
currently have approx 20 goldfish in it, ranging in size
from 5 inches up to 10 inches. We have had these fish for
over 5 years but in the last 2 months they have started
dying for no apparent reason. The water is clean rainwater
to which we add calcium to harden it up, the pond has a
filter and a water spray to add oxygen. Ammonia tests come
back clear. It is currently Spring in Australia so we are
just coming out of a very cold winter (lowest temps 0
Celsius - -2c) and the pond is out the back of the house so
has protection). The fish had been very sluggish, swimming
slowly, hanging out on the bottom and not eating. I figured
this was typical winter behaviour until they started to die.
Even tho I could see no evidence of fungal infection, I have
treated with a multi fix solution and most of the fish have
really perked up. I thought I had solved the problem until
yesterday when two more fish died. One of them had a problem
with it's fin - looked like fin rot - but the other is looks
perfect. He is a gorgeous pure white, no fin rot, no white
spot. He started off lying on his side on the bottom, but
would then swim madly around the pond, coming to the surface
really fast before slowly sinking to the bottom again. One
other fish did the same thing for days before dying.
Can you offer any other ideas for us to try? We love these
fish and it is heartbreaking watching them die one by one
when we are doing all we can.
Thanks

Answer
Saibeth,

Sorry about that, sometimes allexperts does its own thing. I did answer the question, but i guess it didn't post. The lying at the bottom on his side sounds like swim bladder. Treatment for swim bladder is:

Feeding frozen pea:

  Remove the sick fish and put them in your hospital tank. Fast them for 2 days, on the 3rd day take a frozen pea and put it in hot water. This thaws it out and cooks it. Remove the shell from the pea and throw it away. DO NOT feed the shell to your fish, they cannot digest it. Cut the inside of the pea in small pieces and feed them to your fish. Fast them again for another 2 days. If they are still bloated, repeat the whole process.

You said that the ammonia test came back clear, but what about nitrates and nitrites? The number one cause of swim bladder disease is poor water quality with over feeding coming in second. I am thinking that your pond water is the cause of the problem. I would do a 25% water change and add a good water conditioner to the new water before adding it to the pond. Do this for a few days, testing the water every time. Have you cleaned the filter? Goldfish are the messiest fish and everything they eat comes right back out as ammonia. They don't have stomachs to it is very important to do the water changes regularly.

I would also give him a salt water bath, instructions are below.


Salt water bath (dip): Get a container that can hold 1 gallon of water the same temp as the tank water. Add 1 teaspoon of aquarium salt that has been dissolved before adding your fish to that water. If you don't dissolve it first it can burn your fish. Let him swim in this water for 5 minutes, watching him closely the entire time he is in there. I want you to watch him in case he starts to have a problem, you can remove him from the salt water immediately. I would do this 2 times a day, but never in the same water. Always make fresh salt water every time you put him in.

Do this for a couple of days and if he isn't better, gets worse, or something new happens let me know.