Fungus or Ick?

Question
Hi!
I just got my first tank, an eclipse system 12(12 gallon). I did everything: pre-treated the water, added the aquarium salt etc. I bought four goldfish: an oranda, a fantail, a black moore, and the one we call "spotty". It looks like a moore, but it's white with spots. Anyways, oranda died the first day. The other three seem fine, but I see some white spots on the black moore (maybe because it's easier to spot on it). I am not sure whether it's fungus or ick, and I would like to know what to do and what meds to use.
Thank you.
Irina

Answer
Hi Irina;

If the spots look like grains of salt it is indeed ick. You will need to get some medication for it. The salt you already have is great to use for helping the medicine kill the ick. Also get a product called Melafix. The salt and melafix will help heal the wounds made by the parasite and from toxins of the break-in period, also known as "New Tank Syndrome". If the spots aren't like salt specks it is probably irritation from New Tank Syndrome toxins. They burn the skin, eyes and gills. Make a 25% water change right away to help lower the toxins and the fish will feel better. You may have to make water changes every day for a few days. If you have the water tested for the ammonia levels at the fish store it will tell you when more changes are necessary. It is helpful to get your own kits to test at home. The most common ones are for ammonia, nitrite, pH and nitrate. It's good to monitor these levels to make sure the water is good so the fish are healthy.

A 12 gallon tank seems like a lot of space but it's actually only large enough for one goldfish. While it's still in the break-in period it's especially hard on the fish. Here are two web pages that should be helpful to you. The first is my own about new tanks and the second is about the basic needs of goldfish;

http://www.xanga.com/Expert_Fish_Help

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

I hope they do okay...

At Your Service;
Chris Robbins