my new orange oranda

Question
my new orange oranda seems to be sick but i can't figure out with what. she/he seems to have a moldy or slimy looking growth around it's dorsal fin (very little). it lays at the bottom of the tank and just stays there however it will come to the top when its time to feed it. right now i have it in its own 5 gallon tank (quarentined from the other fish). she seems bloated. we thought she was constipated or eggbound but the slime or mold around her top fin has me uncertain. we didn't feed her last night as we were following through for the treatment for consipation. please help me find out what dsease this is!

Answer
Hi Corinna,

Sorry your oranda isn't feeling well.
It could possibly be some type of fungus. It is good that you  have him in a quarantine tank. Be sure that you keep it very clean since dirty water will only complicate things more.

You said that he seems bloated--do the scales seem to be sticking out? If so it could be dropsy. If not then it may be that he is a little bloated and constipated. You said that you were following through with the treatment. I wasn't sure just what that was but I always try feeding a slightly cooked green pea that has been peeled.

I am going to list a few medications that you can use to treat your fish. Read about them and decide which one you feel is best. One is called Fungus Elimnator and it is made by Jungle. It treats a variety of symptoms.
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/Prod_Display.cfm?pcatid=4815&N=2004+113021

Another medication is Maroxy by Mardel.
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/Prod_Display.cfm?pcatid=4845&N=2004+113021

Hope your fish gets well soon. Hopefully, he will make a full recovery.

Hope this has helped,
Karen