Red Cap Orandas

Question
When I saw my red cap oranda, I noticed in its tail it had red lines(maybe it is blood), it also had a red spot on it's tail. Can you help me?

Answer
Good evening, Dulce, and happy holidays.

Red lines on the fins, unless they are a genetic pattern, are a bad sign, usually an indication of ammonia poisoning. If your tank is established, there should not be any ammonia or nitrite levels present, but check your water to be sure.

Use a test strip or liquid test kit (preferable) to see if there is any detectable ammonia or nitrite. Levels should be at 0 ppm. Nitrates should be less than 20 ppm. Nitrate levels consistently over 40 ppm can cause health problems.

You might want to also take a look at your pH levels to see if there has been any drop or spike as of late. Constant pH levels are very important. Low alkalinity (which "buffers" pH) in your tank can cause pH levels to be erratic.

My advice to you would be to do a 25% water change with dechlorinated water that is the same temperature as your tank. Add aquarium salt at 1 tablespoon per 10 gallons and increase aeration in the tank by adding an airstone. Watch for other symptoms such as shredded fins or fin rot. Ammonia poisoning is usually accompanied by respiratory distress, so watch for gasping at the top or hyperactive gill movements.

Lastly, do take a look at http://www.kokosgoldfish.com which is chock full of excellent information on goldfish health and care, with a section on many common goldfish diseases.

Good luck! Feel free to write a follow up.

Nicole