Goldfish not eating, on bottom, environment

Question
Our very old goldfish is not eating, he's in a corner on the bottom, a place he doesn't usually hang in and he won't eat.  We've had a lot of problems with green stringy algae lately, we have been doing partial water replacement, the ammonia levels are 0. He has red streaks but his fins aren't clamped. The water looks milky. HE looks milky! Naturally he's all silver, but from the front his color just seems different, like he's coated in something.

We've had him a long time but he was pretty much care-free, so we don't have a clue. Lately - since a new, bigger tank, it's just been one thing after another. Everytime we ask the local fish store about what could be wrong they get hung up on how old he is and they're eyes glaze over.
Thanks!


Answer
To an extent, yes this is old age and there isn't really much you can do. The water quality is fine but you still have problems with the water? Get a phosphate sponge and see if that helps. Do a 50% water change and buy some bottled spring water to put back into the tank. Sometimes there are additives in local tap water that are not taken out by water conditioners (like fluoride) that will react and make the water cloudy.

He may also have a bacterial infection that isn't doing him so well. Pick up some Maracyn or Maracyn II, take the carbon out of the filter, and give him a full treatment. It may perk him up. If not, it's really just best to let him be in his final days.