EMERGENCY!!! Small Blackmoore

Question
Hi, thank you for the info. I took the fuzzy stuff out of the fish, I'm wondering if it is ok the not use medicine and let the fish heals itself. The reason is my fish is very small/weak, I'm afraid it would not stand medication (Two of my same kind and same size fish died in ick curing process) Please respond, thank you very much.


-------------------------
Followup To
Question -
Hi Chris, the flipping over solution seems to be working in progress. Thank you. However, I discovered another problem with my small blackmoore this morning. On the fish tail, I saw a fuzzy white spot. I'm guessing it's fungus, but I saw info on the net regarding it only affecting fish skin and didnt say anything about tail/fin. What is it and what should i do? Please help quick!

Thank you so much.


-------------------------
Followup To
Question -
How often do you make water changes?

I usually do it once a month, and I change little less than 50% of water.

Do you vacuum the gravel?

Yes I do.

How long has the tank been set up?

It has been setup for many months, but recently I cleaned out the filtre.

What kind of filter does it have?

It's one of those normal power filtre where it bumps water up, go through foam and carbon then pour back down.

Thanks.


-------------------------
Followup To
Question -
Hi Chris:

I own 2 redcap goldfish (midsize). Since I have owned the red one, it has always been flipping upside down at times. Besides that, it is living a pretty healthy life with a pretty big appetite. However, recently, the silver one is also flipping upside down. Its movements and appetite slowed down and this morning, it was flipped upside down on the bottom of the aquarium, not moving at all. When I approached, it flipped back up but it still has slow movement and less appetite. The red one is acting like usual. What's happening to my silver one?
I have a 10gallon tank, 3 fish (2 redcaps about 9cm from head to tail, and 1 blackmoore about 4cm in length)
I have filtre running and temperature at 72. I usually feed them sinking pellets, but I fed them peas this morning. Please HELP!

Thank you so much.
Answer -
Hi Cecil;

Keep feeding the peas and make a water change of 25%. Also add 1/2 teaspoon of epsom salts to the tank after the water change. It helps with constipation. Don't feed regular food until the fish are acting more normally. When it is time to feed the pellets again, let it soak in water for a couple of minutes before adding it to the tank. It will avoid any dry food going into them too quickly.

After you have done all that, I need a little bit more information from you if I could;

How often do you make water changes?
How much water is replaced when you do?
Do you vacuum the gravel?
How long has the tank been set up?
What kind of filter does it have?
How often do you change it?

Let me know as soon as you can.........

Chris Robbins



Answer -
Hi Cecil;

There may be raised toxins in there from the filter change. It is best to rinse the old one out in a container of tank water and re-use it whenever you can instead of replacing it. Beneficial bacteria lives in the filter that removes fish waste toxins (ammonia and nitrite). Every time it is replaced, this beneficial bacteria is removed. These toxins can cause the fish to act lethargic and be very sick. You might want to have the water tested at your local fish store. Nitrites, nitrates and ammonia are the three to test for. Nitrates are okay at levels of 40 ppm or less, but ammonia and nitrite are very toxic in small amounts and should always be 'zero' in an established tank. If these two nasties are elevated the tank needs a daily 25% water change until they begin dropping on their own from re-developing bacteria. If the fish are still turning upside down, add a pinch of epsom after the 25% water change to replace what came out with the old water.

If nitrates (the low toxicity one) are the only one elevated then just do the weekly 25% changes and they will slowly drop over time as long as you don't overfeed. Nitrates are the end result of a naturally balanced bio-system (your tank) and are only removed by water changes. It goes like this;
*The fish make ammonia (poo and pee)---
*First kind of bacteria eats the ammonia and makes nitrite---
*Second kind of bacteria eats nitrite and makes nitrate----

Nitrate is low in toxicity and is removed only by water changes in our closed-system aquariums. Out in ponds, streams, rivers and lakes, nature uses plants to consume nitrates. (Natural fertilizer!) Some indoor fish tanks have enough live plants to remove it too. It just can't be duplicated in all aquariums. Especially with goldfish that eat plants before they grow big enough to consume enough nitrates. They love those veggies!

It would be better to make water changes every week instead of once a month. Goldfish are deep-bodied and messy fellas that get very large. They reach a size of about 15 to 20 centimeters, just in body alone without the tail. They need at least 10 gallons per fish at that size, 20 is better. And they get so pretty too!

I hope yours get well soon......

Followups Welcome

At Your Service;
Chris Robbins

Come on over and join us on the freshwater fish forum at About.com to get even more information too;
http://freshaquarium.about.com/od/questionsanswers/a/naavigateforum.htm

My member name is ChrisR62. See You There!          
Answer -
Hi Cecil;

It's probably a fungus infection from an injury or from toxin burns. Get some Melafix to use for it and it should heal up just fine with the water changes. Melafix has natural ingredients that fight infection as well as helping soothe the wounds. If the area affected is 'cottony' looking, net the fish and gently pull the white part off with a damp papertowel. If it doesn't come off, don't force it. It's just that it will heal faster once that dead infected part is removed. This also removes the major part of the fungus so it can't spread to anything or any other fish. If it turns out to be saprolegnia fungus, it likes decayed food and waste too as well as the tender gills on your fish. Better to get rid of it when you can.

Hope he gets better soon....

Followups welcome

At Your Service;
Chris Robbins

Answer
Hi Cecil;

It may heal on it's own, but it might not. Melafix does not stress the fish in any way because it is not a traditional medicine like ick treatments are. Ick treatments and fungus/bacteria treatments will burn their skin and can make them feel worse at first. Melafix actually soothes the injured areas, helps skin and fins heal and is a good product to keep around for emergencies. It can be used along with the other meds to help keep them from hurting the fish so much too.

Followups welcome

At Your Service;
Chris Robbins