EMERGENCY

Question
My goldfish is 5 years old and living in a one gallon fish bowl. I know it is not the best home but he has been absolutely healthy for five years! Now his dorsal fin has fallen off and there are large black patches around the area. He cannot control his swimming and has periods of bottom sitting and spinning as he swims. Please help!

Answer
Hi Erin,
 Unfortunately that doesn't sound good.  As you say, a one gallon bowl is a pretty tough place for a fish to live and it is likely that the years are catching up with him. The most important thing you can do is to change his water.  I would change half his water now, and then do the same thing tomorrow and the same thing again the next day. Hopefully, that will help.

-- Ron C.
  rcoleman@cichlidresearch.com
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