Goldfish help!

[Alpha7Bravo]

My girlfriend's goldfish is not well. He spends most of his time at the top of the tank. When he tries to go to the bottom, he floats up again within a few seconds. His motor control seems to be suffering. He has started to swim upside down at times as well. What could be wrong? And can we help him?

I don't have any readings on the tank, though she had her water tested at a LFS today and they said it was fine. They also sold her some aquarium salt to add to the tank.

The goldfish lives in a 7 gallon filtered tank. The temperature is around 65 degrees. The filter can push him around a bit.

Any help would be appreciated. :huh:

 

[arbok14]

Sorry to say but I think he has a swim bladder problem. I cant really help from there becaue one of my fish just died of a swim bladder problem. It can be helped so it wont die so be positive.(I hate sounding depressing)

 

[Alpha7Bravo]

What are some ways to help alleviate a swim bladder problem? From what I have read I don't think there is a cure? Poor guy, she really loves that fish.:sad:

 

[fishcatch22]

well... did you cycle your tank? are you aware you can't keep goldfish in a tank that small since they produce too much waste for the filter to handle a grow quite large? if you reply no to these 2 questions, that may be why your goldfish is dying now. is it a fancy goldfish or a common goldfish? fancy goldfish are prone to swim bladder disorders, if you feed them flakes they may gulp air into their swim bladder, resulting in this. that is why most people feed fancy goldfish sinking pellets.

 

[Alpha7Bravo]

I'll be honest I don't have any readings on her tank nor can I bring my test kit to her place right now unfortunately. Yes, we do now know that her tank is to small for her breed. What can she do right now to help the fish?

 

[fishcatch22]

I'll be honest I don't have any readings on her tank nor can I bring my test kit to her place right now unfortunately. Yes, we do now know that her tank is to small for her breed. What can she do right now to help the fish?

sorry, i've never heard of a fish getting over this disease. you may need to out it down.

 

[Flaringshutter]

The only thing you could do for the long term, possibly, is make a sling like this website:

http://www.sullivanet.com/misc/fishie/addy.htm

Also, try feeding shelled frozen peas cooked in the microwave, it might help. If it does, next you'll need to find a) a much larger tank, and b) some sinking pellets to feed him from now on.

Otherwise, there's not much you can do. Sometimes these fish do just fine, as long as they get enough food. Other times, they die. It's really up in the air.