Fish acting strange - Please Help
- Thread starter jim123
- Start date
Fancy Goldfish flipping out
Every day is something.
I just observed my large fancy goldfish acting really strange. He swam down to the bottom of the tank and did a full flip around (upside down) then swam to the top. He did this a few times and is looking like he is struggling. Sort of seems like the current in the tank is too strong. This tank is about 6 weeks old and current has never been an issue before. The other fish are totally fine.
Sort of seems drunk.
Ammonia and Nitrites are 0. Nitrates are 10 to 20. I completed the cycle recently.
Any ideas?
Every day is something.
I just observed my large fancy goldfish acting really strange. He swam down to the bottom of the tank and did a full flip around (upside down) then swam to the top. He did this a few times and is looking like he is struggling. Sort of seems like the current in the tank is too strong. This tank is about 6 weeks old and current has never been an issue before. The other fish are totally fine.
Sort of seems drunk.
Ammonia and Nitrites are 0. Nitrates are 10 to 20. I completed the cycle recently.
Any ideas?
Uh-oh! I don't know what is wrong or how to help, but I wish you the best and hope mr fancy-face feels better soon! How long have you had him? Have you added any new fish to the 6-week old tank that may have brought something in?
Hi Jim,
I merged your threads so we can follow through one thread only and avoid confusions. I am on the firm belief your goldfish must be reacting to the effects of high nitrite in the last few days. I'd do another water change right now and test the water parameters again. If nitrite elevates again, do another water change and use salt this time to neutralize the toxic effects. Salt solution is only temporary until you make sure nitrite falls to zero.
I merged your threads so we can follow through one thread only and avoid confusions. I am on the firm belief your goldfish must be reacting to the effects of high nitrite in the last few days. I'd do another water change right now and test the water parameters again. If nitrite elevates again, do another water change and use salt this time to neutralize the toxic effects. Salt solution is only temporary until you make sure nitrite falls to zero.
yup just a bit too much nitrite... keep it monitored
the reason we convern nitrite into nitrate via the nitrogen cycle is because nitrite is incredibly harmfull to fish.. and 20ppm is really high for nitrite
consider yourself lucky you had no deaths, and congrats on getting your water level under control
the reason we convern nitrite into nitrate via the nitrogen cycle is because nitrite is incredibly harmfull to fish.. and 20ppm is really high for nitrite
consider yourself lucky you had no deaths, and congrats on getting your water level under control
Glad to see you made another update with a good news. Continue watching the water and the fish closely. Hopefully, the problem ceases.
I did some reading in a Hardcover Fancy Goldfish book and flipping over seems to be a sign to high Nitrate levels. My levels are between 10 and 20, and I know that is safe.
I was thinking, maybe since my tank just completed the cycle, the fish is not really used to Nitrates and was acting a little strange? Maybe he needs to get used to Nitrates?
I was thinking, maybe since my tank just completed the cycle, the fish is not really used to Nitrates and was acting a little strange? Maybe he needs to get used to Nitrates?
Sadly, even after the tank cycles, fish may die from either ammonia or nitrite poisoning. Ammonia poisoning can cause long term damage that can result in the kind of "drunken" swimming you are describing:
"Internal damage is occurring to the brain, organs, and central nervous system. . . . When ammonia is elevated for a long period, it is not unusual to lose fish even after the ammonia levels start to drop."
"Internal damage is occurring to the brain, organs, and central nervous system. . . . When ammonia is elevated for a long period, it is not unusual to lose fish even after the ammonia levels start to drop."
--http://freshaquarium.about.com/cs/disease/p/ammoniapoison.htm
