my sick fishie

Question
QUESTION: I rescued a one eyed fish(goldfish)  from a pet store about a month ago.  He
was there for about 5 months and had never been sick and really did look
healthy.  So, "Jack" came home to meet Goldie and Pinky(also goldfish).  I have
had them for about 4 years with no real problems.  Well, a month later after a
typical water change my Goldie started to float upside down  and i treated her
with maricyn-two ...it didnt get better.  Then pinky got bulge eyes and ended
up with a white film all over her.   Both fish died.  It was soooo sad for us.  We
had them for so long.  Ok, i tried to treat them with maricyn-two,
Coppersafe,Maricide and maroxy. "Jack" seemed to get a bit better on the
maricide untill today.  He has black spots on some of his fins and outside of
his gills and it seems that his mouth is protruding.  I have a 20 gallon tank
with 2 filters on and a bubbler.  I don' want to lose him....HELP!!!

ANSWER: Hi Stephanie;

I'm so sorry you lost them. We do get attached to our 'finned friends', don't we? What a shame. Let's see what we can do to help Jack;

Black marks usually indicate ammonia burns. Ammonia can rise in an established tank when the biological balance has been disrupted. It can be from overfeeding, overcleaning, overcrowding, and sometimes medications can disrupt it too. Once the problem is corrected and the biological balance is restored the ammonia and nitrite will drop again. Water changes should be made to help the fish through it in the meantime. Make a 25% water change and test the ammonia. Test for nitrite too because after ammonia goes up and starts to drop sometimes nitrite comes up too. Your fish store can do the testing for you or you can get your own kits to do them at home. You may have to do them daily until the situation resolves itself. Make a 25% change, but no more water than 25%, and do one every day that ammonia or nitrite is elevated.

If he seems to have trouble closing his mouth there may be swelling inside. This can be from bacterial infection or just from elevated toxins in the water. Let me know what you find out after the water tests. If you have the fish store do the tests, find out exactly what the readings are. Don't let them just say "it's okay", or "it's a little off". We need actual numbers so we can detect progress as you try to correct it.

At Your Service;
Chris Robbins

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

QUESTION: Thank you very much Chris.  I will do 25% water changes until the water  gets
tested.  I had removed the carbon and the ammonia inserts from the filters while
using medicine, should i put new ones in?  Should i stop all medicine?  Jack
seems very active, he is eating (despite his mouth) but the black spots are still
there..thanks for the advice.  I will let you know what happens!    Stephanie

Answer
Hi Stephanie;

You're very welcome! The water changes are probably enough for now so as long as he seems okay you can stop medicating. You can put the carbon and ammonia inserts back in now too. If he seems to get worse you might want to treat for internal bacterial infection but test the water first. Aquarium salt and Melafix would be very good to use even if the water is okay. They will help his ammonia burns heal.

Good luck and I hope he keeps getting better...

At Your Service;
Chris Robbins