My Sick Oranda

Question
I have recently treated my fish for white spot and it has been fine for a couple of weeks.  The last couple of days I've noticed she has black lines on her fantail and yesterday when i went home they have seem to have spread to her fins as well, and her body looks a bit darker she has a patch of black where she was a nice colour before, she also seems to be of her food and swimming more to the top than she normally does she doesn't seem her self.  I rang the pet shop this morning and they advised me that they do change in colour but have offered me a water test, I'm just wondering if you would agree or if you have any different ideas.  Thanks  

Answer
Dear Tracey,
Black smudges and black markings are most often caused by scarring from ammonia burns. These "ammonia burn scars" are due to either an uncycled aquarium--or one that has had it's beneficial bacterial colonies destroyed. The very logical reason for your Oranda having this dangerous problem is because I noticed you mentioned having recently treated her for White spot. Most medications such as White spot treatments will destroy the beneficial bacterial colonies (There is really no way to avoid it) and once this happens and even when treatment is over, the aquarium has lost it's biological (bacterial) filtration and cycling must begin all over again. This is why it is important to have a quaratine/hospital tank setup or at least waiting to be setup so you do not wreck your main aquarium. But this doesn't matter much now.

Have you gotten to test your aquarium's water? Most likely you have some ammonia or nitrites present in your aquarium water. These two levels are extremely dangerous to all fish even in trace amounts. During medication treatment and then during re-cycling your aquarium afterward, daily large water changes are very important when ammonia or nitrite levels rise. A 50% water change is essential whenever your ammonia raises above safe bounds on your test kit. Always remember to insure the replacement water is dechlorinated with a properl water conditioner and the temperature is equal to that of your aquarium at every water change.

What I would do for your Oranda is insure her water quality is in the best possible condition. A test kit would really be best and come in handy greatly. Since your aquarium is probably cycling you'll need to closely moniter the ammonia and nitrite levels by daily testing and doing those essential massive water changes when any of these levels go above safe bounds. Goldfish are always big waste producers and if your Oranda has put on some good size as they tend to do, this can be even worse. Insure she also has ample filtration, use good carbon and zeolite in the filter along with sponges/fiber to help with water quality, always make sure the filter is running efficiently but be sure you don't overclean it.
Also try to use Amquelplus or Prime water conditioner whenever you do water changes to further help with ammonia problems.

Hopefully soon with time, your goldfish will heal up and the aquarium will become cycled and established again. For now, try your best to keep ammonia problems to a great minimum and everything should straighten out.

Best wishes and I hope this helps!
Karen~