Bloat... GF...    5/11/09
My 8" - 9 year old goldfish has been belly up on the bottom of the tank for 4 days now.
He had a problem similar to this before floating belly up on the top of the tank. I did as you directed. I put in the Epsom salts and only fed him peas. He was doing so well for the past 4 months. Now this. I put back in the Epsom salt.
Is there anything more I can do for him?
<Hi Linda. Do review diet and environmental conditions. If this is a diet thing, then repeat the Epsom/fibre regime as last time. Do note that Fancy Goldfish are rather prone to constipation because of their distorted body shape. But also reflect on the environment: aquarium size, filtration, temperature, water chemistry, water quality. If these aren't as good as they should be, then your recurring problem could be a reflection of that.
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebIndex/goldfish101art.htm
Cheers, Neale.>

Advice re. floaty fantail please!   3/20/09
Good morning WWM,
<Ave,>
I'm emailing to ask a question about my 4-inch (without the tail) fantail goldfish,
<Without the tail is called "standard length" in ichthyology, and is the normal way of measuring them, as it happens.>
who I've spoken to you about in the past and you've always been a great help. Thank you very much for your past advice and I hope you don't mind me taking advantage of your kindness again.
<By all means.>
The specific problem is that my fish has in the last week begun floating for several hours after eating. It's not causing him a problem swimming, eating and so on, but obviously I'm concerned. The floating is definitely related to feeding as I didn't feed him for a day, and no floating occurred. Fed him, and it happened again.
<Don't use food X. Use something else, e.g., pond plants, peas, daphnia. If the fish is fine, then stop using food X.>
It starts shortly after feeding and lasts for anything up to six or seven hours, and he always returns to normal after defecating. I'm worrying about swim bladder damage, stunting and God knows what (particularly stunting, in fact - it's probably totally biologically inaccurate, but I have a mental image of the food in his gut increasing the pressure on his swim bladder).
<Hmm... Carp do stunt, and it's common in the wild. Indeed, Crucian Carp for example are almost always stunted. So for Carp at least (of which Goldfish are a type) it doesn't really seem to be a major problem in terms of internal organs.>
Now the important information you'll need to hopefully help me; the tank is 27.5 UK gallons, it's shared with two much smaller goldfish (I know the tank's too small - I'm ordering a new one in the next few days).
<27.5 UK gallons is 33 US gallons, and ample for three fish.>
Diet is one and a half peas twice a day, they're gone in way under two minutes. Aquarium flakes are fed (underwater) at one feed per week, but when I tried feeding these they actually produced less floating than peas which was extremely confusing!
<Agreed; but in any case, cycle between foods and see what works. Maybe stop using pellets/flake altogether, and alternate between Elodea, peas, spinach, and frozen bloodworms (a couple times per week). Daphnia and brine shrimp are excellent laxatives, and could be used either live or frozen, as you prefer. It's the dried and freeze-dried foods that tend to cause constipation and thus bloating/floating problems.>
There is some Elodea in the tank as well. Water tests show pH 7.5, no ammonia, no nitrite, under 5mg/l nitrate - I change a third of the water per week to maintain these levels.
<Fine.>
Finally, while I'm emailing you anyway, do you have any advice on the necessary tank size for three goldfish (4-inch, 2-inch and 1-inch)? I was thinking of a Rio 240 (Juwel) tank as we currently have a smaller version that's been great; do you think this would be enough or should I be looking for something bigger?
<For three fancy Goldfish (which get to about 20 cm) then either the Rio 180 or the Rio 240 would be fine. In either case, I'd be tempted to add an external canister because the built-in Juwel 'Compact H' filters are pretty poor when it comes to mechanical filtration. They're fine with small tetras and whatnot, and have excellent biological filtration capacity, but they don't have enough "oomph" to move solid waste (dead plants, faeces) about effectively. The Eheim 2215 or 2217 for example could be picked up for around £60-90 and would provide excellent water clarity. Eheim filters last forever, and while these "classic" models are a bit fiddly to maintain, they're good long term value. On the other hand, if you're happy siphoning out the gunk from the Rio aquarium every week, then buying another filter might to be necessary. The Compact H filters take care of ammonia and nitrite just fine; it's just the solid wastes they're not so good about.>
If there's any other information that you need to advise me, please let me know and I'll respond as soon as I can. I hope you can help, and thank you very much for everything you guys do to help aquarists.
Oliver
<Don't actually think your fish is in any great danger. Fancy goldfish are pretty mutated, and we really have no idea what selective breeding has done to their swim bladders and digestive systems. Likely some quite bad things! Provided the fish is happy and healthy, I'd just play around with food options/frequency/meal size, and see what happens. Hope this helps. Neale.>

Re: Advice re. floaty fantail please!   3/20/09
Dear Neale,
<Oliver,>
Thank you so much for the advice; as usual it was very helpful. I'm glad to hear that this is hopefully not a major problem and will definitely be taking your advice re. swapping foods around, introducing some daphnia and suchlike. The advice on the tank was extremely useful too and I really appreciate it. Unfortunately my happiness at hearing the problem wasn't so bad has been somewhat mitigated by finding that one of the other fish in the tank has somehow wounded himself and developed some fungus in the wound (in a spot lying between the eye and the gills, but involving neither - so far). It never rains but it pours, I suppose.
<Grab some eSHa 2000 and treat promptly.>
I thought there must be a connection because it seems like such terrible luck (the goldfish have all been fine for years and to have this happen in the same week is horrible), but it does just seem to be plain misfortune. I hate to trespass further on your no doubt overtaxed time, but could you please let me know whether I've done the right thing about it? I carried out a water change, cleaned the filter media (only squeezing in water so as to keep the bacteria happy) and treated the water with Interpet No 8 (anti fungus and Finrot) which I really hope will do the job; I had some luck with it when I rescued the same fish from some people who were mistreating him a couple of years ago. Should I be doing anything else - and is this even likely to work?
<Interpet No. 8 contains an antiseptic/antibacterial called Phenoxyethanol.
To be honest, I have never found this product to be terribly reliable. Your own mileage may vary. I tend to use/recommend eSHa 2000 simply because it treats a wider range of diseases, is more reliable, and is much less expensive per litre of aquarium water. For whatever reason, Interpet sell big, over-packaged bottles with very dilute medications.>
Sorry to bother you again, I was really hoping to just be able to send a "thanks very much" email this afternoon...no such luck. Still, thank you very much for your time and patience nevertheless; again, I hope you can help.
Oliver
<Cheers, Neale.>

Re: Advice re. floaty fantail please!  3/20/09
Dear Neale,
Many thanks again - I'm ordering some eSHa 2000 today. However, obviously I can't have it in the aquarium alongside the Interpet medication. The Interpet stuff lasts 7 days; should I leave it in there until then, and then add the eSHa if necessary, or should I remove the Interpet stuff and add the eSHA as soon as I get it?
Many thanks for all your help - Oliver
<Hi Oliver. I'd let the Interpet medication run its course. The fish isn't likely to roll over and die just yet, so there's no urgency. If seven days later there's no improvement, use the eSHa 2000. Cheers, Neale.>
Hi Neale - terrific and thank you very much... now time for the crossing of fingers, methinks. My grateful thanks to you and WWM in general as always!
Oliver
<Happy to help. Good luck, Neale.>

Floaty, Bloaty Goldfish 2/1/09
My fish is an 8 year old feeder goldfish. He is in a 10 gallon tank. He is the only fish in the tank. His diet was exclusively "Goldfish Crisps".
About 3 weeks ago, he started floating bottom up in the tank. First, for only a few minutes then progressively to pretty much all the time. Towards the end of the second week his lower belly was distended. One week ago I found your article and immediately lowered the water and added Epsom Salt.
I feed only Romaine and peas. He stopped floating upside down on the top of the tank to right side down on the bottom of the tank. He doesn't care for the Romaine, but does eat approximately two peas (I chopped them up into
small pieces) morning and evening. His belly is not distended. But he just sits at the bottom of the tank. Gets a little excited when I put in the peas. Three days after I put in the first 2 teaspoons of Epsom Salt, I made a water change and added 2 more teaspoons of Epsom Salt. Your article said it might take a long time for my fish to recover and to make frequent water changes. My question: How often do I put in the Epsom Salt. If I add 2 teaspoons every time I make a water change, won't the water get too salty?
I feel really bad that I didn't do more research on what to feed my fish, he's always been pretty healthy. I will be getting plants and adult brine shrimp this week.
Thanks for your help with this. I hate to lose the little guy.
<Linda, the short answer is very simple: no, the water won't get too salty.
Provided you take out a gallon of water (say) and replace it with a gallon of water, then the water going out will take the same amount of Epsom salt as is being added by the new water. So you only add new salt with each water change, and note very carefully, it is BY FAR THE BEST approach to add the salt to each bucket of water at the same time you add dechlorinator. Mix both well. Once the salt has dissolved in, then add to the aquarium. For a variety of reasons, adding salts of any kind directly to an aquarium isn't a good idea. Now, the only thing to watch is that any water added to top up evaporation has to be water *without* Epsom salt.
Why? Because evaporation leaves Epsom salt behind. Cheers, Neale.>

Floaty-bloaty Goldfish...on one side only. ~ 01/09/09
Hello,
<Hi there Hillary>
I've had my Bubble-eye goldfish (Teddy, after Theodore Roosevelt) for about a year now; unfortunately when I bought him I was entirely mislead. He was about one inch long, and I was told that I could keep him in a bowl.
Within a day, I bought a 2.5 gallon tank for him because he was gasping for air.
About four-five months ago I bought him a 5 gallon tank when he came down with Swim-bladder disease. Unfortunately, this is as large as I can go with the tank right now, but I plan on getting a 10-gallon as soon as possible.
<... which won't be adequate>
I have two questions; first, he is ill again and I need advice. He has no appetite, sits on the bottom of his tank, and one side of his stomach is very swollen. I have changed the water, and will be doing partial water changes over the next few days (that saved him the last time he got sick), and added 1/2 tablespoon of Epsom salt. I am not feeding him until he starts swimming again, and I got him peas to eat when he can. I have been feeding him pellet goldfish food (which after I read the Floaty-Bloaty article I know now that they should only be used as treats). The food is why I was thinking it's malnutrition, but is it normal for them to only be bloated on one side? As his scales do not stand out.
<Less common that this condition/syndrome is unilateral than bi-... but can/could be "other than gas bladder involvement" here... Gut blockage, or gonadal, tumor...>
Next, I also learned from your site that goldfish should live in groups; so of course now I feel like a dog for having mine by himself. With a five gallon tank though, I do not think it would be possible to get another goldfish. Would it be possible if I were to do frequent water changes?
<Not really, no>
Finally, I'd just like to say that I hate pet stores for being so misleading.
<Such is the human condition... too easy to "buy" w/o sufficient understanding, relating>
Thanks for your help,
Hillary
<Welcome. Bob Fenner>

Floaty fantail !  7/9/08
Hi, Firstly thank you for your excellent site and all the great advice you give. I am writing about my fantail "Tickle" . We bought / rescued her (?) and two other fantails from a pet shop here that had the fish in 10 by 20 inch tanks (each fish measures 10cm from mouth to bum , not including tails - pretty big to be stuck in such a small tank we thought).
<Arghh! Sounds like you made a good rescue there!>
Anyway we have a 200 litre tank (sorry we don't use gallons here and I'm not sure how to do the conversion) with a giant Fluval 200 filter system. We have generous aeration , several living plants, and pebbles on the bottom of the tank. They share this with 2 3 inch black moors we got from the same place.
<All sounds great. Fantails and Black Moors generally get along fine, and 200 litres should be ample for 3 specimens.>
Two nights ago Tickle started to float. We had been feeding her floating dry food (no longer since i read your article) and before this she was totally fine. I gave her shelled green garden peas and she pooped quite a lot the next day (delightful as this is, the poop was green with what looked like air bubbles in a number of places along it). After this she started to swim normally. She was fine all yesterday and this morning then suddenly she started floating again! I'm new to fish keeping , but after reading your previous advice I can only assume it's either because she's been swallowing air or its due to a swim bladder problem. Have you any ideas on how I can figure out which it is? I wasn't sure if a swim bladder problem can just develop over night with no obvious cause? Water in tank is given a 50% change weekly, we use an ammonia remover, supplementary ammonia eating bacteria and stress coat. last readings were ph7, ammonia nil, nitrates very low.
<With Goldfish, the first thing to do is treat for constipation. This involves switching to an all-greens diet, and then adding Epsom Salts (cheap and easily obtained from any pharmacy) to the water. See here:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/FWsubwebindex/gldfshmalnut.htm
Bona fide swim bladder infections, where bacteria have invaded the body cavity and caused the swim bladder to turn septic, are actually rather rare.>
One more thing ! The other two fantails have spawned! I wasn't sure what was happening when they started chasing each other around and around the tank but there is now ( i estimate) 4 or 500 fry living in a another tank (3 weeks old today - very cute) . Problem is they are at it again! I don't think i have the room for 500 more fish! What am I best to do? I tried removing him to another tank for a few days then returned him but the second I did he started after the female again! The guy at the pet shop said they shouldn't spawn at all in a tank but he apparently does not know what he is talking about! Thanks in advance for any advice!
Nikki - UK
<It is very unusual for Goldfish to spawn in aquaria, so your local pet store guy is not actually misleading you. You are very lucky or unlucky depending on how you view these things! The simplest way to get rid of unwanted eggs to remove and rinse them off the plants and down the drain. Or you can leave them in the tank where they will be quickly eaten, particularly if you add something like an Apple Snail or Weather Loach to the system. Baby fish are rather difficult to rear, and while you may have 500 hatchlings, you honestly won't get that many to a size at which you can sell them. Goldfish tend to spawn when they are warm, so turning down the heater in your tank, if you have one, should help diminish their ardour. Other than that, good luck! Neale.>

Floaty Bloaty Goldfish  2/2/08
Dear sir,
I have a shubunkin gold fish, and has a very bloated body, he/she has had this aliment for the last six months, but no one can give me any advice about how to cure him. The fish is in a 8x12x4ft outside pool, he feds well, and has koi, and other gold fish in with him and seems healthy except for his rather bloated appearance and his scales are sticking out. Your article suggests that it could be the food I am giving him , can you suggest a food or a treatment I could give him hope you can help john
<Hello John. Plenty of advice on treatment and options for food here:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebIndex/gldfshmalnut.htm
Note the generous use of plant foods rather than pellets. Very important. Cheers, Neale.>

Re: Floaty Bloaty Goldfish   2/3/08
Neale, thank you for your reply, feeding my fish Epsom salts is going to be fun , I can not catch the little b thanks john
<John, you don't feed them Epsom salts! You put Epsom salts in the water! You feed them pondweed, tinned peas, Sushi Nori, live Daphnia, and other high fibre foods. You *stop* feeding them low fibre foods like flake and pellets. The Epsom salts in the water act as a mild muscle relaxant, helping the laxatives in the foods listed in doing the job of clearing out the insides of the Goldfish. Cheers, Neale.>

Re: bloated goldfish 12/3/07
Hi! My fish has finally had a poo! It was the thickness of my little finger- poor thing! Bloating gone now- thank God. Back to normal. I have learnt a lot. Do I do a water change due to the Epsom salts? or can I leave the water as it is? Thanx
<I'd personally keep adding Epsom salt to the water changes you do over the next week or two, and then stop. Do keep using plant foods and/or live daphnia exclusively for the next few weeks as well. Together, this will give your fish the equivalent of a Hollywood-style colonic irrigation! And, once the fish are certified A-1 healthy, make sure you keep the diet nicely balanced with green foods from here onwards. Cheers, Neale.>

Re: save my black Moor please!  10/19/07
Hi again! This is a follow up question from a while back ago. I have read the goldfish malnutrition page, and cut pellet food from my black Moor's diet. Now all he eats are blanched peas/lettuce/spinach. I have even used the special salt, and my black Moor is still floating upside down. I'm really confused now, and I just don't know what to do for my black Moor.
Sincerely,
Jennifer
<Hi Jennifer. As far as the floating goldfish goes, you have to be patient. It will take a few days for things to go back to normal. Which salt are you using? Make 100% sure you are using Epsom Salt. Some people seem to use "aquarium salt" instead because their aquarium shop says that's all they have in stock. ONLY EPSOM SALT will work; it's a muscle relaxant, and that's how it works. It's "saltiness" has nothing much to do with the cure! If you can't find Epsom salt in your aquarium shop, any drugstore or pharmacy will have it. In the meantime, keep up with feeding the plant foods to the goldfish, and look to see how things progress. Cheers, Neale.>

Goldfish bloat... likely env.   9/1/07
I have a 30 gallon tank with 4 peppered Corys and 2 bronze Corys. I also have 2 black moors 1's pretty big and the others just a baby.
i have a calico fantail (medium size) and a little orange and white fantail.
<Too crowded...>
I use to have a really big orange 1 but he died at the end of June. now 2 days ago i lost another goldfish (bubble eyed) to bloat. he was acting weird for like a week and then his scales started popping up so i really didn't try to save him because i tried really hard to save my other 1 but it was impossible. I have read that it can be spread to other fish. but how do they get dropsy???? i feed them at 3:00pm some peas, a little frozen brine shrimp block, and a little bit of flaked food. I put the food in the water not on top because i heard that that gives them bloat too.
thanks ,Brittany
<Your goldfish need more room than this my young friend... Likely the mal-affects of poor water quality and psychological lack of space are at root/cause... Please read here: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebIndex/gldfshsystems.htm
and the linked files above. Bob Fenner>

Upside down goldfish after 100% water change   7/22/07
Hi.
<<Hello, Laura. Tom here.>>
I have read through several of your responses but can't find quite what I am looking for.
<<Lets’ add yours to the FAQ’s and perhaps it will help others down the road.>>
My husband recently did a full water change because we have been having problems keeping our tank clean and our sucker mysteriously disappeared.
<<Full water changes are occasionally in order, Laura, but almost always these are needed when water parameters have “gone South”. When general housekeeping is the problem, smaller, more frequent changes are a better way to go, by far.>>
Well, all of the fish have been fine except one. She/He is upside down the majority of the time. I've read up on this and have been feeding him and the others the insides of peas and have been gently wedging the goldfish between the side of the glass and a net for a period of time, as I read that sometimes helps. The fish doesn't seem to be upset by this...seems almost relieved.
<<Okay. The shelled peas are a good idea, by the way.>>
We added the stuff to take out the chemicals with the new water and understand that the change probably stressed him out.
<<A likely possibility, Laura, but not the only one. Sounds to me like there’s something more afoot here, however. An otherwise healthy fish that becomes stressed by a such a change usually displays a different style of stressed behavior like uncharacteristically hiding or not eating.>>
He's one of those fatter-in-the-stomach orange goldfish.
<<One of the “fancy” varieties. Okay.>>
There are 2 others but they are much smaller and have not been affected. So, will wedging him really help him get his equilibrium back?
<<I’d hold off on doing this for the time being, Laura. Since the change in behavior was set off by the water change, constipation doesn’t strike me as a probable cause. If the diet of shelled peas and whatever “wedging” you’ve done hasn’t started the ball rolling to get your Goldfish eliminating waste, I don’t think continuing this will be of much help and may do some harm.>>
Should we not ever do the 100% water change, even once a year?
<<If water changes are performed on a regular basis at appropriate intervals a 100% change should never be necessary, not even once a year. The goal is to maintain stability in the tank at all times. Small changes not exceeding 30% help to keep the tank stable, i.e. whatever the fish have become accustomed/acclimated to. These also supplement the water with trace elements that have been lost over time. A full-scale change, however, can be overwhelming even if it appears to fly in the face of logic to us.>>
They already eat the sinking pellets because this fish became bloated once before.
<<Bloat or constipation isn’t uncommon for these fish which is why diet is so important. Not a bad idea, once things have settled out, to keep up a regular regimen of the peas (spinach, zucchini and brine shrimp also are good) to keep the fish “regular”. If you go with processed foods, make sure to stick with high-quality foods formulated for Goldfish and avoid “Tropical” flakes or pellets. The protein content of the latter foods may be to high for Goldfish to assimilate properly. They’re just not built to digest proteins well.>>
But it appears to be because of the water change. Happened almost immediately. Unless this fish ate the sucker and that has caused it.
<<Here is where I really get suspicious, Laura. Though you’re not specific about the species of “sucker” that you had, I would offer that a small species such as an Otocinclus could have been a temptation to your Goldfish if the Oto became weakened, or even died, as a result of the water change. Goldfish feed primarily on algae in the wild but are opportunistic when it comes to eating. Frankly, they don’t have the common sense that the good Lord gave dirt when it comes to feeding and are not above swallowing, or attempting to swallow, a small tank mate that might be found floating about. If such was the case, your Goldfish became impacted and little, if anything, may be passing through its system. Putting the whole picture together, this seems, in my opinion, to be the most likely scenario.>>
Anyway, don't really know what immediate things to do or continue doing or if the fish is just basically going to die.
<<What I would recommend is to remove the Goldfish to a suitably large container and prepare a bath with Epsom salts. The salts have a natural laxative effect and might very well provide some relief for your pet. Now, if what I think happened did, in fact, happen, there are no guarantees that the impaction will clear itself. Time to keep your fingers crossed and hope for the best. Stick with the types of foods I suggested earlier for all of your fish to avoid potentially complicating the situation.>>
Thanks for any feedback.
<<You’re quite welcome and best of luck. Tom>>

Re: upside down goldfish after 100% water change  - 7/23/07
Hi.
<<Afternoon, Laura. Tom again.>>
Thanks so much for your quick response.
<<Glad to do it.>>
I have learned tons from reading your website.
<<Happy to hear it, Laura, and thank you.>>
Since sending off this email below and before receiving your response I read about salt from your website. So I added 2 tablespoons of aquarium salt one time for my 10 gallon tank as specified on the box. And up until reading your response this morning was still feeding my "fancy" upside down goldfish the peas and gently wedging her between the net and side of tank - she seems to have gained an affection for the net.
<<Who wouldn’t? :) >>
Basically is still upside down. Se eats great and seems ravenous when the food is near - though I really have to work with her to find it at first. However it does not appear that she is emptying herself after eating.
<<What goes in must come out…or should, anyway. Therein lies our problem.>>
So a couple more questions. I am going to put her in another bowl by herself...with the salt treatment. Should I continue to feed only peas or soak some sinking pellet food first or not feed her anything for a period of time?
<<I would refrain from feeding her for a least a couple of days, Laura. Her digestive system needs to “catch up” and, right now, this doesn’t seem to be happening.>>
Also, my main confusion is whether there is a difference between Aquarium salt and Epsom salt.
<<Two different critters all together, Laura. Aquarium salt is pure sodium chloride. Epsom salt is magnesium sulfate. (The latter was tagged ‘Epsom’ salt based on the location (Epsom, England) where its medicinal qualities first gained popularity/fame.)
I have the aquarium salt and will head straight to the store to get the Epsom salt if that has some different helping aid.
<<The aquarium salt will have far less benefit than the Epsom salt would in this context. We want to get your fish “cleaned out” and the Epsom salt is fairly effective as a saline laxative.>>
Also, while my fish is in another bowl how often should I do the salt treatment and for how many days before she goes back in the big tank.
<<You can add the salt, via a water change with the salt mixed in with the fresh water, to the bowl and let things take their course. No real time limit here except that “bowl”, to me, equates to ‘small’. Therefore, you’re going to have to stay on top of water changes to make sure that we don’t leave her swimming around in “sewage”. If the Epsom salt is going to work its magic, you’ll see some results in a day or so. Right now, I don’t suspect anything wrong with your Goldfish that might be passed to the other fish. The “catch” is that it’s more efficient to treat her separately than trying to treat the display tank for something no one else has. Not good form, if you see what I’m getting at.>>
As for my comments below about our sucker fish dying. He came up missing at least 2-3 weeks before we did the complete water change.
<<Still doesn’t negate my supposition, Laura. I had an Oto that I couldn’t find for a week and a half that suddenly reappeared one day. The little devils have a knack for going MIA on us. (Mine showed back up with a silly grin, a tattoo and a T-shirt saying “I love Daytona”. Needless to say, he’s grounded. :) ) Seriously, it does happen.>>
Unfortunately, we did not know how much work was actually needed in keeping an aquarium. I had no understanding of water changes, vacuuming and so on. So this has been a LONG learning process.
<<I’ll let you in on a secret, Laura. The more you learn, the less “work” it is. There isn’t a hobby, that I’m aware of, that isn’t a “hands on” activity to one degree or another. To me, if keeping an aquarium didn’t require any effort on my part, it would be boring. As for the learning process, you’re writing to me and there isn’t something new that I don’t learn nearly every day. That part of the hobby never ends. Quite honestly, I hope it never does. ;) >>
So, the water change was more because the tank had just gotten out of our control and we didn't know what else to do to get the water clean quick - though all of the fish were acting normal.
<<A tip? Don’t ever go for “quick” unless your fish are going to die without it, i.e. an ammonia/nitrite spike, etc. Fish are more adaptable than we give them credit for. Change their environment too quickly, even when it’s for the better, and you run a risk.>>
Funny thing is that it was actually better right before the sucker died - he was one of the cheap little suckers - not the kind that grow to 18-24". Anyway, he came up missing the next day after my husband vacuumed and cleaned the tank (this cleaning was about 3 weeks before the 100% tank change) and it seemed like the tank went downhill quickly after that. We figured it was because the sucker wasn't there to eat the algae.
<<Sounds like something else may have happened, Laura. I’ve seen/owned some voracious “algae eaters” but have never seen a tank go “downhill” fast because of the lack of one. Been a long time since I’ve kept any Goldfish, too, though.>>
Still no apparent problems with the fish though. We went to the pet store and they didn't have any more little suckers. It wasn't until a couple days after my husband did the 100% water change that we found any evidence that he was eaten as opposed to just mysteriously evaporated : ) We found a small chunk of his spotted body : ( So that is why it seemed to be the water change that caused this fish’s problems but maybe it was from the sucker 2-3 weeks earlier.
<<Hard to put my finger on this one, Laura. I still think that your big Goldfish had a part in the fact that you only found “part” of your demised “sucker”.>>
So we are back on track with water changes and have a better understanding of the responsibility of fish care giving.
<<Very glad to hear this.>>
Hope our learning doesn't come too late for our goldfish Dorothy named after Elmo's fish on Sesame Street which is our 2 year old’s favorite show.
<<First, the learning never comes too late. Second, at the risk of dating myself, the only “Dorothy” that I’m familiar with was in the Wizard of Oz. Still, a fish close to your son’s heart must be saved, if at all possible.>>
So my checklist is as follows. As soon as I hear back regarding any difference between the salts, I will separate Dorothy and add the salt. Feeding her according to your response and anything else that you see fit to give instruction on.
<<I think we’ve covered all of the above, Laura. If I can give an assurance at all here, the fact that her appetite is good is HUGE! Sick fish usually show up, first, with a loss of appetite. I still believe she has something wrong with her “tummy” that she needs to get rid of.>>
Hopefully she will make it back into the big tank.
<<I’m with you on that one!>>
Anyway, thanks for your answers and website.
Laura
<<You’re welcome, Laura. When you write back again, I’d like to hear some good news. :) My best to you. Tom>>

Re: Bob F: Goldfish troubles and woes... Floaty, bloaty...   7/10/07
Hi Bob,
(Previous letters below)
I hope all is well, I know it's been a while since I've contacted you but things have been going pretty well up till now.
Recently Rupert has just been acting badly. :-(
A couple weeks ago, Though I give him a varied diet of frozen peas, brine shrimp and flake food, he started to floating to the top of the tank and not being able to swim back down when ever I gave him the brine shrimp or flake food. ( I only feed him every other day most of the time)
<No dried food period...>
I read that sometimes too much protein can cause this, so I've cut down his diet to just frozen peas. Which seemed to work, until I recently noticed him gasping for air at the top of the tank. I have wall of bubbles along the back wall of the tank so it is curious to me that he seems to need oxygen.
<Mmm, gasping likely due to distress, not oxygen>
Checked and all levels seem to be fine, change one bucket of water once every week, he's the only fish in a 20 gallon tank he's been living in for a year and half.. and nothing appears to be sickly about him. Fins are open, he's grown since I got him, and still bright and shiny orange, no ick or fin rot.. yet now he just seems to float vertically at the top of the tank and I'm not sure what causing it. He won't even eat anymore which I know is horrible sign.
<Fatty accumulation, perhaps damage to the gas bladder... A very common situation in/with fancy goldfish varieties>
The only thing I can notice that is strange, are these little tiny circular discs.. or spores? ( don't even know how to describe them..) on the inside walls of the tank. They are clear except for a brown dot in the middle.. I have no clue what these are. I almost thought they were dried water dots on the outside of the tank until I really got a close look. I thought maybe it was some sort of algae, but couldn't find anything that matched it's description. Could this be making Rupert sick? I try to wipe them off and they just slide a long with the glass, very hard to get off. What are they?
<Mmm, not likely a cause of trouble... maybe snail egg clusters...>
Is this the end of Rupert? :(
<Hope not>
Please let me know, if you have a chance..
Hope all is well.
M
<Please (re) read here: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebIndex/gldfshmalnut.htm
and the linked files above. Bob Fenner>

Goldfish, Floating, Feeding, and Disease - II - 04/06/2007
Thanks for the answer!
<You bet.>
I've read most of the articles in your site about feeding, bloating, before writing to you.
<Ah, GREAT!>
The water readings in my aquarium are:
Nitrite- 0
Nitrate- 30 mg/l
<Too high....  I'd rather see this at half that amount, or less....>
GH- 16
KH- 8 d
pH- 8.0
<What of ammonia, the most dangerous, most important?>
I've also checked the water supply in my town and the Nitrate is 25 mg/l, and we have a very hard water here, and this does not fluctuate.!
<Frightening....  And perhaps not "good" for human consumption....  At the very least, I would strongly recommend getting some live plants into the goldfish's tank to hopefully help with reducing this; you might also consider using a different water source, difficult though that may be to do.>
I have also a UV sterilizer, 11 W.  When the goldfish bloats and bleeds under the scales, he continues to swim normally. I also feed him with blanched spinach, pumpkin, broccoli, lettuce, and tiny bits of raw apple and orange.
<I would omit the starchy pumpkin, and the apple and orange, and include some aquatic plant material - Anacharis/Elodea, for sure.  I like for the majority of a goldfish's diet to consist of live aquatic plant matter.>
All the goldfish love it and behave/swim well when fed these foods.  However, he still got the disease swelling, bleeding, distorted jaw) and it's been like this "on-and-off" for 6 months.
<Very disconcerting....  When you give him the antibiotic food, how long do you feed it?  Is it the exclusive food at that time?  What is/are the active ingredient/s?  If this is not a dietary/environmental issue (I still feel that it may be, with those nitrate levels....), then I am somewhat concerned that, if it IS a bacterial infection, it has not been "cured" by the medicated food....  just "beaten back" some....  And if so, the bacteria may be becoming immune to the medication over time.  Just some thoughts/concerns....  Wishing you well,  -Sabrina>

Re: Goldfish, Floating, Feeding, and Disease - III - 04/12/2007
The antibiotic food I give the goldfish is Bakto tabs (produced by Sera). The active ingredient is Nifurpirinol, the label says the fish should be fed for 7 days exclusively with the antibiotic food, I even do it for 10 days (till all symptoms are well gone). This is the only medicated food in stores in Bulgaria and I think that the bacteria (if it is a bacterial issue) are becoming resistant to it.
<I would fear this as well.>
Can I prepare an antibiotic food myself?
<Yes, actually.>
I grew in a doctor's family and I am acquainted with human medicines. but for fish???
<You'd be surprised at how many medications used for fish are also things used in human medicine.  Here is one site that sells medicated flake food:  http://flguppiesplus.safeshopper.com/234/cat234.htm?5  I do not know if they can ship to Bulgaria, but it might be worth asking them.  You might also try Jungle's antibacterial food product, if you can find it or have it shipped.  Here is a link to it on one popular site; again, I do not know if they ship to Bulgaria, but it's worth asking.  http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/Prod_Display.cfm?pcatid=12788&N=2004+113021    You can find instructions and recipes for medicated foods online; here are a couple of links with ideas/suggestions:  http://thegab.org/Articles/MedicatedGelFood.html  On the next link, the important bit is under the section "Homemade Medicated Feeds":  http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/VM008  You will probably find a lot more results searching Google on recipes for medicated fish food.>
I try to do my best for water changes, no live plants in the aquarium--is it a great problem?
<Well, yes and no.  Goldfish certainly can live successful and happy lives without live plants in their aquarium; however, in your case, with high nitrate right out of the tap, it would be a really good idea to have something in the tank that would reduce this.  Since plants consume nitrate, it would help a lot if you had a hardy, fast-growing plant like Anacharis/Elodea/Egeria for them.  In the US, I know this plant is sold at a lot of places that sell pond plants.  Sometimes it's even called "oxygen plant" or "oxygen weed".  In pet shops, it's often sold as Anacharis or Elodea, sometimes Egeria.  Some shops even sell it specifically as a goldfish food - it really is that useful in a goldfish tank.  So, in your case, it would do double duty to help with your problems - it would help to reduce nitrate AND it would provide excellent nutritional value to your goldfish's diet.  You could reduce the amount you are feeding him a lot if he had plenty of plants to snack on, and it may be healthier for him.  I do hope this has shed some light and given you more avenues to think about!  Wishing you and your goldfish well,  -Sabrina>

Goldfish Floating   12/14/06
Hi!
I'd first of all like to say that your website has already helped me a lot with many of my fish-related problems. But now I have a problem that I can’t seem to
find the answer to:
<Let's see...>
I have an Oranda that I bought about 2 months ago. For the first month he was fine, no diseases or anything, but then suddenly he started to float upside down (often after eating).
<An important clue>
I looked this up on your website and found out that it’s probably due to a diet problem
<Yes>
and so then changed his diet to all vegetables (fresh or frozen that have been boiled, generally peas, beans). It had only been about a week after he started to float
that I changed his diet, hoping that he should be able to regain his normal, healthy state soon enough. But now it’s been at least 3 weeks and he still floats.
<"Takes a while...">
No longer upside down, just with his butt in the air so to say. I assume this just means he’s going to need more time for the new diet to take proper affect – he doesn’t seem to have a loss of appetite but he does float a lot (it kind of looks like he’s sleeping all the time). Even this, I could still accept as normal but now he also has some sort of white blotches that look kind of like fungus (definitely not ick) that have shown up on his dorsal fin and the base of his tail. Is this just because when he floats those parts are out of the water?
<Yes, likely so>
Or does he have something else?
<Perhaps... but I would try nothing stronger than salt treatments here... Perhaps a bit of Epsom and Aquarium type... See WWM re. Bob Fenner>
Thanks,
Erika

Goldfish has dropsy... Pea-feeding   12/8/06
> your article you said to feed the fish peas but how exactly do you do that after the skin is off.
<Mmm, I generally just "pinch them out" and feed the blanched pea inside as is>
I mashed it and it floated to the bottom.
<Mmm, I wouldn't mash...>
I so not think my fish can even get to the bottom.
<May need to keep such a debilitated fish purposely in a shallow water setting...>
Please explain.  Also, I have added Epsom salt about a 1/5 tsp since I have only a on gallon tank.
<Too small>
Tell me what else I can do.
<Read... and soon... show your concern by engaging, educating yourself... then acting... http://www.wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebIndex/gldfshmalnut.htm
and the linked files above. Bob Fenner>
Millie

Re: goldfish has dropsy, feeding peas    12/9/06
I have mashed to the point where he could it and dangled it from hemostats.  He would eat it and spit it out.  I did not think they could eat a whole blanched pea.
Millie
<Ah yes... can/will pull on the mass till part of it is freed. Bob Fenner>
 

Goldfish and Floating--Please help my Fred - 10/18/06
Hi!
<<Hi, Holly. Tom with you.>>
I'll looked through your site, but I'm afraid all I am now is more anxious, without any answers.
I came home this evening and noticed my Fred was a little lethargic. I got him about three months ago. He's just an average goldfish, bought at the Wal-Mart. We have him in a one-gallon bowl with a filter.
<<First off, Holly, Fred needs to be in a much larger tank. There's just no realistic way to keep the water in a one-gallon bowl stable enough for the long-term health and well-being of any Goldfish. Please note that if Fred's of the Common or Comet variety, he can, under proper conditions, grow to a foot in length. (No, I'm not making that up!) :)>>
He seems to be sinking, if such a thing is possible. He's normally a pretty active little guy, but today he looked like his was struggling with his little side fins to swim, and he'd get to the top of his bowl and kinda ... sink to the bottom.
<<Likely a swim bladder disorder, Holly. Common among Goldfish if they're fed too much or don't have enough variety of "good" foods in their diets.>>
I have no idea what to do. He's only about two or so inches and he's very important to me.
<<Let's fall back on one of the easiest things to do which is to feed him a "shelled" pea. This has a purgative effect if he's compacted. Brine shrimp, which you can buy either frozen (thaw first!) or freeze-dried, will also assist in cleaning him out.>>
I hope that you guys answer regularly.  I fed Fred this evening, three of those tiny Tetra fish crisps, they're little round thingies, and the box recommends one chip for each inch of fish. We've been feeding him three in the morning and three at night.
<<Better not to feed Fred at all for the time being than to even cut back on his usual regimen. Don't worry about him "starving". Fish can go for quite some time without food.>>
Might it be my fish is just overweight and needs to flush out his  system?
<<That would be my estimation of it, Holly.>>
Please help! Fred's the only pet I have (the only kind I can have, actually) and I don't want him to die.
<<Look into a bigger tank - 30 gallons is what I would recommend - with an appropriately sized filter. Don't be afraid to go a little "overboard" on the filter size. Goldfish are messy critters and it would be nigh onto impossible to over-filter his home. Read up on aquarium "cycling" if you haven't already and feed him the peas and/or brine shrimp to see if we can get the swim bladder issue resolved.>>
Holly
<<Best of luck with your pet, Holly. Tom>>

Suffering Goldfish?   8/16/06
Help! I've apparently been torturing my Calico Fantail, as a result of my absolute ignorance. We have had  "Mr. Fish" for nearly five years.
<!? Surprising for what you state below>
He has always been active, hungry, and healthy, so I assumed I was doing things right. A couple of months ago he started to float upside down a lot, at various levels in the water, but was able to turn over, swim and eat whenever he saw me approach. Now he can't turn right side up( but still eats very well, and passes stool alot). And so, I found your website, and found out I've done it all wrong.
He has, since we got him, lived in the same 5 litre hex tank, aerated but not filtered. I have never fed him greens, checked the pH, or apparently done anything good for him! I didn't know I should be doing these things, and certainly no one has ever told me.
Is it too late?
<As long as the animal is still alive, no>
Please tell me if there's anything I can do to help him from this point on. I will NOT flush him down the toilet as everyone I know has suggested. Despite our unintentional lack of proper care, we love that little guy.
I would really appreciate any help or advice you might give.
Thanks,
Sharon
<Please read here: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebIndex/gldfshsystems.htm
and here: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebIndex/gldfshmalnut.htm
and the linked files above. Bob Fenner>

Re: Suffering Goldfish?   8/17/06
Hi, Bob and everyone,
<Sharon>
Thanks for your reply. Sadly Mr. Fish died the very evening I sent you my questions. I really appreciate your response, and the excellent info that
you sent. We will make sure we have the right environment available before bringing goldfish into our home again.
Again, many thanks.
Sharon
<Sorry for your loss. Thank you for this update. Bob Fenner>

Headstanding goldfish  - 8/9/2006
Hi
  I have written several times, and the help offered has been useful. I have another problem with one of my fish. Moby the goldfish has not been himself the past 24 hours. He hovers at a 75 degree angle to the base of the tank, head down.
<Not good>
This morning he has started to rest head down on the top of the pump head. He appears to eat normally (gannet like and first to the top as usual). He is a little quieter than normal.   
  The tank is approximately 70 litres, and contains a comet and 4 minnows. We do a 25% water change each week, with PH, ammonia, nitrite and nitrate all within normal levels, as listed on your site. I add some aquarium salt to the tank each water change, following the correct dosage as on the side of the box. I also treat the tap water with King British Safe Guard, and add Tetra Aqua Easy Balance and Nutrafin biological aquarium supplement in the correct doses. The tank has an undergravel filter
<Not the preferred filtration with goldfish>
and a pump head with tube attached to aerate the water.
     I feed the fish on a mixture of goldfish mix (frozen helpings of daphnia, bloodworm, and vegetable matter in a small block), daphnia, spinach, Mysis, and vegetable mix - all frozen and defrosted as needed.
<Very nice>
I rarely feed flakes, never more than once every 2 weeks, and feed only once a day. The fish also have live plants to nibble on in the tank.
   <Very good>
  Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I really don't want to transfer him to the hospital 'tank of death' (named because all fish that have gone in have never come out!!).
     Paula
<It may be that this goldfish has developed some sort of "fatty degeneration" internally from being "too well fed" on high-protein foods... and the cure will be to simply feed less or to turn to foods with a much lower protein concentration (less than 20%)... It could be that the fish is experiencing some form of gut blockage and that the trapped gas is causing a loss in orientation... here I would treat with Epsom Salt: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebIndex/saltusefaqs.htm
Lastly in my "best guess" choices will be some type of gas bladder damage... Goldfish, minnows in general, the lower teleosts/advanced bony fishes are physostomous, have the ability to take in, release gas from this bladder via the mouth... but there can be instances of constriction internally... these are very hard to "cure"... but may be related to the first two possibilities. Bob Fenner>

Bloated Goldfish   8/6/06
I have just read your web page. It has a lot of good sensible info.
One of my baby goldfish is so fat I think its going to burst. Unlike the one in your picture, it is fat at the sides. It eats heartily swims chases the other
fish, but I take it is bloaty. Can I treat it in the pond [1001 gallon 8 fish some 5 years old all healthy except this one] or should I remove it?
My only problem being my tank indoors has 8 fry in it so I don't have anywhere else at the moment. Can you please advise? thank you
< Warm summer temps have stressed many cool water fish.  This stress results in a diseases called bloat. I would isolate the fish into a separate container and treat with Metronidazole and Nitrofurazone. It would be too expensive to treat the entire pond. Any suitable container will do.-Chuck>

Re: Bloated Goldfish Research  9/12/06
Chuck. Thank you for that. Do Goldfish Dr's exist? Is there any point in trying to do any further investigation? If so, do you have any suggestions. - We are in Oxford
Thanks Clare
<Not much money for vets in helping common goldfish, they do have vets for very expensive koi. I would research the koi websites for articles on bloat/dropsy and see if any actual research was done related to goldfish. I know these vets actually inject medication into the fish to get them treated. Check local koi clubs for a possible vet reference.-Chuck>

Bubble eyes gold fish - buoyancy problem  - 07/03/04
<<Hello, Karen. Tom here.>>
I've read your FAQ about buoyancy problems in Bubble Eyed Goldfish, but it's not clear on how to correct it. Is it a matter of changing the food or is it the water?  This just started in the past week. He's been in a new tank for about two weeks. He's about 2" long and just lays on the bottom.
<<The first question I have to ask, Karen, is whether, or not, the tank was "cycled" before you added your Goldfish? I'm thinking, "New fish. New tank. Two weeks. Yep. Could very well be up to his "bubble eyeballs" in Ammonia." Sounds like I'm coming off as being facetious but, I assure you, I'm not. Your fish isn't laying on the bottom due to a buoyancy problem like a swim bladder issue. That would manifest itself by him/her not being able to swim in a normal fashion. Test your water or, have it tested at the fish store, and find out what the exact readings are for Ammonia, Nitrites, Nitrates (if any at this point) and pH. If you have detectable levels of either of the first two compounds, you're going to have to do some major water changes. In fact, that's exactly what I'm going to recommend
anyway. Change out 30% of your tank water ASAP adding a good dechlorinator to the new water. I'd suggest that if you see any improvement in your fish, we're likely onto the "culprit". If the water tests lead you to suspect a lack of complete cycling, Marineland makes a product called BIO-Spira which will come as close to "instantly" cycling your aquarium as any product on the market. (Don't waste your money on "wannabe" products. BIO-Spira must be kept refrigerated at all times. Off-the-shelf products will do you and, your fish, no good.) You might also look at the size of your tank and read up on what these fish will require. Within a given amount of reason, it's pretty hard to have these animals in a tank that's too big since they produce a good deal of waste. He's little now but I'd like to help ensure that he doesn't stay that way, if you get my meaning. :) Tom>>
Karen Boden
<Probably could have added this:  http://www.wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebIndex/gldfshmalnut.htm .  -SCF>

Goldfish, Fluctuating Environment, Mal-Nutrition - 06/22/2006
Hi Guys, great site.
<Thanks, we're glad you enjoy it!>
I have a Ryukin goldfish (Big Ben), that appears to have either Dropsy or constipation.  I recently did a filter change on my canister filter (2 weeks ago) and as always seems to happen all of the fish react badly and the tests go hay-wire Ammonia Nitrate and Nitrite all show toxic levels a day after the change (is that normal. I do use a de-stressor).  
<This is not normal, and not okay....  You absolutely must find a different/better method of maintaining this system; "shocking" the system in this manner can be fatal to your tank's inhabitants.  Do not make changes large enough to cause the tank to "re-cycle".>
The rest of the fish appear to be back to their normal habits and all of the tests are showing perfect or near perfect except for the Nitrate which is still off the scale at 160.  
<EXTREMELY disturbing....  This should be less than 20ppm....  Either your tank is grossly overstocked, grossly undermaintained, or has something that is "causing" this extreme nitrate level.  You must address this urgently with significant water changes, daily if necessary, and fixing whatever problem is causing this - e.g., if you are overstocked, either upgrade tank size or downgrade your fish population....  For a general rule of thumb, we recommend 15 to 20 gallons per goldfish for a system.>
Am I doing something wrong with the filter change? (
<Apparently so, yes, though I suspect you are heavily overstocked as well.  Without knowing what you did with your filter change, I can't tell you for sure how to change what you are doing.>
I change 10% of the water religiously every week and only give them enough food for them to consume in 2-3 min)  Back to Big Ben.  For the last 3-4 days he has been sitting on the bottom of the tank hiding in the live plants I have not seen him eat and his whole body is swollen and his scales appear lose, he rarely moves and when he does it is a brief trip to about the middle of the tank and then right back to the bottom.  
<The disturbingly high nitrate, and possibly an inadequate diet, are at "fault" here....  Though these two issues can be corrected, I do not know if you can do so "in time"....  I urge you to act quickly regarding that nitrate level.>
If he doesn't eat is there another way I can treat the constipation, (If it is constipation).  
<Please read here:  http://www.wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebIndex/gldfshmalnut.htm and here:  http://www.wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebIndex/gldfshsystems.htm .>
Thanks for any help,  -Sam
<Wishing you well,  -Sabrina>

Floaty Bloaty Goldfish - 06/20/2006
Why is my lionhead floating on his back?  Every time he goes to the bottom he floats back to the top. Other than that he likes fine.  He just started this today (06-17-06).  Will he die  or will this affect my other fish which is common gold.  Please help.  Thank you,  -Nancy
<Please read here:  http://www.wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebIndex/gldfshmalnut.htm .  Wishing you well,  -Sabrina>

Goldfish Nutrition - 06/20/2006
Hello
I have a 35 gallon tank with a black moor about three inches long.  Over the past few days he mostly sits on the bottom of the tank as if he has swim bladder issues.   I feed mostly live or frozen foods, blood worms, brine shrimp.  
<Too high in protein, by far....>
Water quality is fine, 0 ammonia, temp 72, ph fine.  No external signs or trouble on the black moor.  Is there really an effective treatment for him?  Also, I have one of those ammonia indicator color wheel things that stick to the inside wall of the tank.  What do you think of those?  
<They're neat, but can be inaccurate - be sure to use a regular test kit as well.>
I'd sure appreciate any help I can get for my fish, Thanks, Lisa
<Please read here:  http://www.wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebIndex/gldfshmalnut.htm .  Wishing you well,  -Sabrina>

Non-Native Speaker, No Information - 05/23/2006
Hello,
My name is Anam.
<Hi, Anam, thanks for writing in.>
I have a problem with my fish.  She is breathing alright.  Her appetite is fine.  But she is floating on the surface of water. She tries to swim but she fails.  She could not balance her. Please tell me what to do. I am really worried.
<Anam, I don't know what kind of fish she is, or how big her tank is, or anything else that I might need to know to help you.  Just as a guess, try reading here:  http://www.wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebIndex/gldfshmalnut.htm .>
Thanks
<Wishing you well,  -Sabrina>

Re: Goldfish passing gas  5/23/06
Hello, Tom.
<<Hello, Alfredo.>>
I have received word that the medicated goldfish food is at the frontier of Mexico and I am awaiting its arrival.
<<Okay.>>
I have a couple of questions meanwhile (I am sorry to bother you).     
<<It's no bother.>>
I saw Lucy the Lionhead pass gas today. A small bubble came out of her anus and floated to the top of the tank. Is this normal? If not, I hope its related to the stomach parasites that you mentioned, as the food that will be arriving will cure them.
<<I don't know if I would characterize this as "normal" but it's certainly possible. Typically, you would expect to see a gas buildup due to constipation but a bacterial or parasitic infection can do the same as part of the reproductive cycle of the "bad guys".>>
Also, the spots on Lucy`s head are gone. I remember reading that the hood on lion heads grows by little white dots that form on the ´mane´ by a secretion or something of the like.
<<My concern was the red spot you noticed in place of the white lump, Alfredo. The white markings you refer to during growth actually disappear due to color changes on the fish. In the case of Ich, flesh is torn away when the cyst erupts leaving a small wound in its place. That's what worried me.>>
Anyhow, I am ready to medicate her with the plan you proposed. I am a bit confused with some of the data and have some silly questions regarding.
<<Nothing "silly" about clarification...>>
After raising the temperature you suggested that I increase the salt solution to 2-3 tablespoons per 5 gallons and to maintain this level until Lucy shows no signs of white spots and, then, for at least three days after the spots have disappeared. 
<<Yes.>>
Do I add that amount of salt once during the duration of the treatment or is it a daily dose?
<<Just once. The salinity will stay fairly constant until you do a water change.>>
When should I stop the treatment given that the white spots have already disappeared (let us hope)? 
<<The salt treatment is completely safe for her and, even without a recurrence of any white spots, you could easily hold the salt at this level for five days to a week without harm. Just keep the aeration up in the tank during this time.>>
Also, should I siphon to remove the Epsom salts that I had put in for Mimi before adding the 2-3 tablespoons per 5 gallons?  
<<I would do this, yes. Always a good practice to do a good water change prior to any type of treatment. This optimizes the water conditions and allows you maintain the medication/treatment in the tank without fear of water conditions degrading drastically.>>
Would you recommend giving Mimi some more Epsom before the medication arrives?
<<Yes. The medication will be most effective when her system is clear of any built up food. Probably wouldn't hurt to go without feeding for a day or so, as well, so that she's hungry when you feed her the medicated food. Side note: Follow the directions with the food but keep an eye on Lucy. If her feces start showing normal, dark coloration, stop treating her with the Metronidazole. (The directions suggest three days of medicated food then four days of regular diet repeated over a period of four weeks.) Don't continue repeating this if things return to "normal". Metronidazole is very potent and may even become toxic to the fish in large dosages. Normally, I recommend following directions to a "T". Not this time, however.>>
I appreciate your patience and help, Tom. Thank you very much,
Alfredo
<<Happy, once again, to help, Alfredo. (Sorry about being "tardy" getting back but I was out of town over the weekend and we lost power at the house yesterday for several hours.) Tom>>

Please help my lionhead!!  - 04/24/2006
I have a lionhead named Jefferson who has lived with us for about 4 months. She lives in a 5 1/2
<A bit small, consider upgrading in the future.  Goldfish are messy, and foul the water quickly.  More water means a healthier fish.>
gallon tank equipped with an internal filter of 5 to 10 gallon size. We change roughly 40% of her water by vacuuming the rocks every week to  2 weeks.
<I would do every week in a tank that size.>
She eats TetraFin goldfish fun food brand floating pellets supplemented with Hikari Betta Bio-Gold
<Too high in protein.  I wouldn't feed this anymore.>
and sun dried gammarus for her digestion. She has a few floating bunches of elodea but other than that she is the only person in our tank. The problem is that this morning she seems to be having real trouble staying at the level that she wants to be at in the tank. She looks absolutely normal accept she seems to be too buoyant. She can stay reasonably submerged by swimming but when she stops she starts rising again. I've tried gently squeezing her sides as I hear they can have trouble passing eggs. This did nothing.
<You really shouldn't do this.  I have heard of trained professionals helping a fish to pass blockage, but the risk is extremely high to the fish if this is not done correctly.  Consider that our first reaction if a human is suffering from some digestive blockage is to look at their diet, not start squeezing their stomach!>
I also tried to feed her peas but she doesn't like them.
<She may not recognize that they are food.  A few days of fasting ought to be enough to change her mind!>
She accepted a gammarus so she will still eat. I don't know what to do. Please help me to help Jefferson!!
<Most floaty Goldfish are this way due to inappropriate diet.  Low quality flake foods and high protein foods are especially bad for your fish.  They cause intestinal blockage to form.  The closest wild relatives of Goldfish enjoy a variety of plants supplemented by surface insects.  You need to change your pet's diet, right after you fast the fish for a 3 to 5 days.  1 TBSP / 5 GAL Epsom Salt (you can find it at your local Pharmacy) may help your pet pass the blockage.  Here is WWM article on this topic: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebIndex/gldfshmalnut.htm
Good luck!
Jason N.>

Lola, the Pampered Picky Eater - 04/19/2006
Hi Sabrina
<Steve!  Good to hear from you!  I hope your Abelmoschus crop is doing well - I'm still interested in trying to grow this plant some time.>
This is about Lola, the large fantail.
<I do very clearly recall.>
She was very stable for several months on a diet of mashed, cooked, peeled peas, cooked zucchini, and minced, boiled greens.  When I feed her the greens, she has large, dark green, well formed stools, which she doesn't have with the peas.  
<Sounds like good goldfish poo.>
Other vegetables like mashed, cooked beans and carrots seem to constipate her--as evidenced by a period of immobility and large, well formed stools.  
<Immobility is definitely a symptom to avoid....>
I was--and am--concerned about a varied diet so I thought I would give both goldfish (Golda and Lola) some defrosted, frozen brine shrimp enriched with Spirulina for protein.  I was hoping...    They both loved it.  
<Adult frozen or live brine shrimp is another very good food to use to help correct constipation, actually, as it is very high in "roughage" content.>
Golda was fine, but 3 days after the seafood, Lola stayed on the bottom, dorsal fin clamped, barely moved and barely ate!   
<Yee-IKES!  Any possibility that this was coincidence and related to some other variable?  Water parameters ideal, I trust (ammonia, nitrite ZERO, nitrate less than 20ppm)?>
She didn't interact with Golda at all--even though Golda was constantly nudging her, trying to get her to move.  This was the worst she had been ever.  
<Disturbing.>
The next day, a long, irregular white thread started to emerge from her anal spot.  I had read that this was not a good sign.  
<Indeed....  Can be a symptom of a number of internal complaints (including constipation), but usually associated with parasites.  I would probably wager that it was from constipation (again).>
After fasting for a day, I returned to her usual diet of peas.  It has been 3 days of slow recovery--and a few long, thin green stools-- but she is definitely improving and eating more!   
<Ahhhh, good.>
Today she raised her dorsal fin when I fed her and she actually started to resume her old feeding behavior of chasing Golda away from the peas so she can (try to) eat them all.  (Golda is no dope--she sneaks in when Lola isn't looking and gulps down a lot.)  
<Heh!  I'm glad she's improved....  Whew!>
She is still "resting" with clamped dorsal fin but not nearly as much.  Now when I enter the room, she gets up and swims around.  It appears that mashed, peeled peas are the only food she can tolerate without digestive distress.  
<What about the other greens that gave her well-formed stools but no distress?>
I read that a constant diet of peas can cause cataracts.  
<To be honest, I wouldn't know - however, a diet of only one thing can in fact be harmful, just for not giving "well-rounded" nutrition.>
I am completely at a loss.  Just about everything besides peas causes some distress as evidenced by immobility and then large stools.  (When she gets just peas, I never see stools.)  Yikes!  Could she be that fragile?
<Yes, she really could.  "Fancy" goldfish are notorious for having digestive issues, and once in a while they can be as bad as Lola.  "Fancy" goldfish are bred to be (literally) deformed - deformed, shortened bodies leads to deformed "innards", too.  In Lola's case, deformed to the point of being dangerously unhealthy.  For this and other reasons, I am not a fan of selectively bred fish; I'm still not even sure where I stand on things like fancy guppies and long, fancy finned Bettas....  But I won't get on my soapbox now, I promise.>
What do I give her for better nutrition?  
<Hey, I don't know if I'd written this before our last correspondences:  http://www.wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebIndex/gldfshmalnut.htm .  In Lola's case, I would try with some aquarium plants like Anacharis/Elodea/Egeria....  Maybe also some floating water lettuce or watersprite, as these plants have tasty dangling roots that would be of good nutritional value.  If it were me, I would also experiment by keeping a small tub outside with water lettuce or watersprite in it and "change out" the one(s) I keep in the tank every few days - this way, not only would the plants have a chance to grow their roots back, but you'd be brining in some nice tiny little organisms living on the roots that would also be consumed by the goldfish, adding more nutritional worth.  I canNOT speculate how this would cause Lola's sensitive tummy to react, but if it were me/my fish, I would try it.  You know her better than I do, though, and know better what you can/should risk....  A tough call with the experiences she's had thus far.>
How much protein does she need?  
<Mm, not a great deal.>
Has anyone tried baby food with goldfish?  
<I don't know....  Honestly, I fear this would foul the water significantly and very quickly, so I wouldn't recommend it.>
Do I need to boil the greens even more than 5 minutes?
<Nah, even 5 minutes is longer than I do; they just need to be soft enough for her to munch.>
As usual I am so grateful for your help with Lola.  
<And I am glad to be of service to her and you.  Thank you for your diligent care of your animals!>
Steve
<All the best to you,  -Sabrina>