Newbie w/ comets needs help!!!!

Shiloh - Welcome to AC.

First off those Comets will get very big (10-14" in the body). 10 gallons is nowhere near enough space to house them for more than 2-3 months. For comets you'll need to look at a minimum of a 55 gallon tank. If you can't supply that amount it is probably best that you give them to someone who can care for them. Goldfish can live for several decades with proper care.

Now as to what is going wrong in your tank.

The first thing to do is the change the water FAST! Nitrites are very toxic to the fish and will kill them in very little time. You probably should do two water changes per day of around 25% each for the rest of the week. Be sure to use water conditioner if you are on a municipal system because of the chlorine.

Now for a couple of questions.
It is a good idea to pick up a liquid test kit from the petstore so you can test your water. You will need at a minimum - Ammonia, Nitrite, & Nitrate tests. They sell these plus a few more in "master" kits.

Second what you are describing sounds like nitrite poisoning to me but it could also be Bacterial hemmorrhagic septicemia. This is a very serious infection probably caused by poor water conditions. If the symptoms continue to worsen even after you have cleaned up the water, you will need to medicate them with antibiotics. Any gram-negative effective antibiotic will work like Marycin II.

Shiloh - You are in the middle of what is called a fishy cycle. You will need to do at least one 50% or larger water change every day for the next 2 weeks. Feed them only as much flakes as they can eat in 5 minutes once a day for now.

Here is a thread on what is going on in your tank.

http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=84598http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=81388

This is also an article on how the basics for caring for goldfish

http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=97350

Two ten gallon tanks would be better than 1 but save your money and see if you can find a 55 gallon tank. You can get them very inexpensively on craigslist. If you can't find a 55 gallon, a 30 gallon tank will work for two goldfish for about 1 year.

Excellent advice there from TheV. :thumbsup:

However, we need to know what type of filter you have. Is it the type that hangs on the back of the tank, with a removable filter pad? Or the type that is connected by hoses to the tank? The type of filter and your water change/filter maintenance habits can affect how your cycle progresses, as well as how clean your water will stay.

You should definitely begin looking for a larger tank right now. Goldfish grow quickly, and young fish can double in size in only a few months. Keep in mind that a large tank can be expensive - it requires a large filter, large water changes, and also whatever decorations you want to add. If you can't afford a large tank or don't have a place to put one in your home, you should start looking for a new home for the fish.


I also have to stress that in a small tank, you will have a very hard time keeping your water parameters in check. You may want to buy a good "master" or "multi" test kit from your pet store, so that you can keep track of the parameters at home. A sudden spike in your parameters can be lethal, and without a test kit you won't know if that happens.

Best of luck!

All I can say is that I second what TheV and flaringshutter have said. Familiarizing yourself with the nitrogen cycle is very useful in understanding how a tank works on a biological/chemical level and will help in the long run. Definitely a good idea to start there. Good luck, and again, follow the above advise and you will have a much greater chance for success!

Shiloh, a Tetra Whisper is a fairly low-end filter, and if you can afford it, you will want to upgrade that filter soon. Since Whispers use a filter cartridge that needs to be replaced often, there is no permanent home for that good bacteria to live in. It is very difficult to maintain a good cycle, especially with goldfish, using a Whisper or any other hang-on-back filter.
For now, when your filter cartridge starts to look a little clogged, float a clean cartridge in the tank for at least three days to allow some of the bacteria to begin transferring to the new filter. Between cartridge changes, rinse the cartridge in tank water at least once a week. Don't rinse it in tap water, since the chlorine will kill all your good bacteria.
Lastly, beware of pet store employees. They are notorious for giving out wrong information. Do your research on anything they tell you. You can check out the sticky threads at the top of the "general freshwater" and "freshwater newbies" sections for some good information about cycling a tank and proper maintenance, etc.

As far as food (which you mentioned in your first post) - a high-quality sinking pelleted food (Omega One, Hikari, New Life Spectrum, Pro-Gold are all excellent brands) and leafy vegetables such as parsley, romaine lettuce, and mustard greens will keep your fish healthy and happy.