My upside down black moor

Question
QUESTION: I have a beautiful black moor goldfish, I've had him for over 5 years for the past 2 days he has been floating upside down and trying to turn himself over and swim off but ends upside down again.  He is breathing okay it seems but doesn't have the ability to stay upright like he is unbalanced.  he also has a large bump on his top left back close to his fin which is maybe affecting him to swim, "I don't know" The bump has been there for awhile but has not concerned me to much but I think it does look a little bigger then before but is a solid black bump it has no discolor.  I don't know if it is a growth or a tumor, I sure hope not and if this has anything to do with him not being able to swim correctly around the tank?  i really don't know what to do for him and I don't want to loose him.  Do you have any advice for me and my black moor, it would be greatly appreciated.

         Thank You,
         Robin

ANSWER: Hi Robin,

The turning and being unable to right himself is swim bladder disorder.  SBD.  SBD is caused by dirty water.

The best way to right that condition is to do water changes at the rate of 25% every other day til the water is spotlessly clear.  Often, however, owners choose to just change the water completely, wash out the gravel and to aerate the tank heavily while the fish is sick, by dropping the water 1" below where it normally would go, allowing the filter unit's return flow to make some bubbles as it comes in, or by adding an airstone and pump.

The bump we can deal with at a later time.  It could be tumerous, parasitic, or it could be from him being a male, however I doubt that has much to do with the SBD.

SBD is curable.  It takes about a week once the water's parameters straighten out for the fish to do so also, but the most common cause is water conditions.  

If you'd like to send me an image of his lump, I'd certainly like to take a look.

Happy fish-keeping and I will cross fingers for his fast recovery.

Renee

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

QUESTION: Hi Renee
  Thanks so much for the advice about my black mohr unfortunately he has taken a turn for the worse he is still upside down floating on the top of the tank but has a huge lump on his lower back side that just developed about three days ago its the size of a small bouncy ball he still is breathing and has an appetite but I have to hand feed him. I first thought his condition was SBD then I thought it was his back fin that was broken because he was not using it and when he tries to swim he wouldn't move it and really wouldn't move that side of his body then this lump appeared I don't know what this large lump is maybe some kind of growth or tumor?

Answer
It's not a growth or tumor.  In goldfish it is common to herniate.  Often mis-diagnosed as a tumor, this is a common malady, but it uusually is fatal.

He can recover if you just change out the water and clean up his tank.  

If you don't think the little guy will make it, maybe you should consider euthenizing him with some cloves in a jar of water, and just let him go to sleep. :(

Poor fish.  I feel for you, because I love my fish and I know how much he must mean to you.

Renee