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Lion face goldfish problem

23 16:09:54

Question
Hello,
My mother recently purchased a lion face gold fish for my son.  We have had the fish just over two weeks now and it is in a 10 galon Biorb tank with an oranda that we just added last week.  I can't say when it started but I have noticed since we got the lion face that he has lost some scales.  I have noticed probably a half dozen of them in the filter since we've had him.  He doesn't appear sick, there is nothing sharp in the tank other than the ceramic media that is required in the bottom of this tank.  The two fish don't fight at all either and seem to get along really well.  I have checked the water quality and the nitrates, nitrites, amonia and PH are all perfectly fine.  I have turned the temperature down on the tank to basically nothing (my mother had insisted the information she had from the seller was that the tank needed to be approx. 80 degrees and I had initially turned the temp up to accommodate that).  I have added a little extra stress zyme and stress coat to the water as well.  Yesterday I noticed that on the bottom of his face there were two dark scales that appeared to be coming loose (the rest of his face is much lighter coloured).  He doesn't appear to be injured or suffering, is eating well and active.  I am new to gold fish and don't know what, if anything, I am doing wrong.  Please help!
Thank you

Answer
Hi Helen:  Goldfish are cold water fish so the heater is not needed. The elevated temperature may be has caused him to molt... He may also have gotten a bite or two from the Oranda... which is not uncommon. I would keep my eye on him and see if the molting continues.  If it does let me know... dave