S.O.S

Question
Alaska is my 3yr old Goldfish who has been to hell and back. Two yrs ago she became seriously ill, symptoms were a bent spine, lethargic, eyes filled up with blood. However after spending 3 months in a hospital tank with a minimum amount of tap water, changed daily she regained her health. Unfortunately her illness left her blind and on a strict diet of 2 peas per day (thus being the only answer to her digestive problems. However over the past 5 days it seems the peas are no longer sufficient in moving her bowels. after eating she lyes at the foot of her tank just above the air stone for several hours with her fins clamped in until she finally manages to pass feces. There after she becomes full of life again. Despite not being able to hear her cry I know constipation can cause extreme pain. I hope you can help in giving some advice on some sort of harmless laxative for my little friend. I feel she has fought so much and really does not deserve this. Hope to hear from you soon. S.O.S.

Answer
Hi Shaz,

Bent spines are usually the signs of either fish TB or internal parasites.  Because the fish recovered it may have been parasites as fish with TB that aren't treated with a human strength anti-tuberculosis anti-biotic will die, although I'm shocked that she recovered from anything equally as serious without some anti-biotics.

It's always best to vary a fish's diet.  If she is having trouble with constipation you can try and pre-soak some high quality flake food so that she takes in less air as she eats, eliminating constipation, and you can try some fresh orange slices or fresh spinach leaf.  It's always best, if you suspect constipation, to hold off on all foods for 3 days and then try orange slice or spinach leaf if the peas aren't working.

Usually fish won't clamp their fins over constipation.  This is usually a sign of water parameters being off or some other stressful event, such as an illness, but not usually constipation.  Have you tested for ammonia, nitrites and nitrates?  It's generally best to rule these out when fish are acting off.

But definitely try the fresh spinach leaf.  I usually cut a large leaf in shread-like form and clip it to the inside of the tank and let my orandas and moor make a day of it.

Good luck and let me know if anything changes: ) April M.