possible illness

Question
Hi Chris, my 55 gallon tank has been set up for 6 months. It has 3 shubunkin 4-5 inches long, 1 common goldfish 4 inches long, 1 fancy tail goldfish 4-5 inches long and a pleco about 8-9 inches long. I have two filters each are supposed to be for 60 gallon tanks. One is a bio-wheel and the other one has the three system cleaning system. the ph, ammonia and nitrite are ok. I change the water 25% every week and do add salt.  Currently one of the shubunkin's stomach is swollen and a thready white material is flowing from their anus.  I also noted that one of the shubunkin and the fancy tail gills are all bumpy like they show on the males and I was unsure if a female gets fat when they are going to lay eggs or if this fish is sick and needs to be separated and treated with antibiotics. Any help you can give would be appreciated.
CeeAnn

Answer
Hi CeeAnn;

I would try a change of diet before using medicine. Sometimes slimy thin feces can be caused by internal infection by bacteria or parasites, but can also be from intestinal inflammation and can clear up from just feeding veggies as high fiber foods. Goldfish are mostly vegetarian and we often forget that and feed them dried foods with too high a protein content and not enough fiber. Try the veggies for 3 or 4 days. Feed no other foods at all but veggies for those first 3 or 4 days and if it isn't better, look to a medicated food for parasites and/or bacteria.

I feed my goldfish one or more of the following several times a week to keep them "regular";

Spinach, romaine lettuce, cooked peeled peas, cooked green beans, cucumber slices, squash slices, cooked shredded carrots, spirulina algae, and cooked broccoli (tops only). Any of these can be rinsed and just dropped right into the tank. They can be nibbled on for several hours. A side effect of feeding a lot of dark green veggies and carrots is that the fish become more colorful after about 3 or 4 weeks. Any red, yellow or orange colors naturally on the fish will become brighter. So it's more than just good for their digestion!

When your fish is feeling better you can also give them thawed frozen brine shrimp a couple of times a week. Each tiny shrimp has an exoskeleton that "scrubs" the inside of the intestines as well as the added nutrition of algae that the little shrimp eat still inside them.

Water changes are very important too. Especially in a goldfish tank because they are so messy. Replace 25% of the water and vacuum the gravel every week. A clean tank is the best way to keep your fishes' immune systems strong and healthy.

At Your Service;
Chris Robbins