Dead

Question
QUESTION: my fantail goldfish *Matilda* is looking very ill. She stays in the corner of her tank up near the surface and often swims around backwards. I have also noticed that her fins and tail have become frayed/Split. her skin also looks as if it is furry. she shares the tank with another fantail goldfish *Tony* who I have noticed keeps nudging the underside of her. my tank has been set up for about 3 months and I have had this fish that long. The tank is 2 / 2 1/2 gallons. there are only 2 fish in there. i have a small filter that came with the tank, I am unsure what kind. I change the water once every 3 weeks and when I do, I change 1 1/2 gallons. I have also recently introduced a new plant. My fish also will not eat

ANSWER: Hi Lindsey;

The tank is just way too small for your goldfish. It's too small for even one. They may have grown since you got them so the problem is more evident now that they are producing more waste and they are just now showing signs of haveing trouble. Tony is probably the stronger fish and is now picking at Matilda as she feels sick from waste toxins. Fish just do that. Change 25% of the water right away and get a bigger tank as soon as possible. Change 25% of the water daily until you can get the larger tank. In the new tank, change 25% of the water once a week every week. A weekly water change is normal maintenance for all tanks and should keep everything stable for them.

Each goldfish needs at least ten gallons of water with good filtration such as a hang-on-the-back power filter. Goldfish are very messy guys even when small and because of their potential size they need lots of space. Here is a web page about goldfish to tell you more;

http://www.firsttankguide.net/goldfish.php

Here is my web page about new tanks to help you get your new one off to a good start;

http://www.xanga.com/Expert_Fish_Help

I hope Matilda and Tony feel better very soon...

At Your Service;
Chris Robbins

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank you for your answer. I seem to have measured the tank wrong... it is actually 8 gallons...thanks for your advice...Matilda died literally 5 minutes after you sent me a reply which reminds me, do fish pine? if so would a freshwater clam or a veiltail be good company for Tony?

Answer
Hi Lindsey;

That's a shame. I'm sorry Matilda didn't make it.

Goldfish seem to do just fine alone. There isn't room in your tank for anything else to safely live with Tony anyway. Each goldfish really needs at least a ten gallon tank all to itself with good filtration because of their potential size and the amount of waste they put out. Go to the link I gave you last time about keeping goldfish. It goes into more detail.

At Your Service;
Chris Robbins